Remember Edgar Whitcomb?

03Dec2005 | MKBorders

[Amish]

I do remember him. Thought he was dead. Wasn't he on the "Death March" in WWII? Good governor and good conservative as I recall.

[bilhosty]

This is his portrait.

http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/govportraits/whitcombe.html

[rainbowtrout1]

Col Whitcomb was on Batan and Corredor; however, he escaped in April 1942, to Corregidor. The Defenders captured on Corregidor were not on the Death March. At the surrender of Corregidor, Lt Whitcom and one other man swam for hours through dark, cold shark infested waters back to Bata'an. They were turned into the Japanese who took them to Ft Santiago- a place of tortures and death. Through deception, they were released into Santo Tomas (STIC) as civilians, (where my mother was one of the Army nurses held POW. She knew many of the hidden military in STIC). He was selected for a prisoner exchange (under his disguised name and identity)and returned to the US. In 1945 he was sent once again to the Philippine, and Japan. A man of great courage and sensitivity, he never forgot those he served with, including the Angels. He is still alive and I hope to interview him for the Flying Column Writing Project, about Santo Tomas and the hidden military in the civilian internment camp.

[IUMBASCL]

My mother, Gertrude Higgins, taught at the school in Hayden, and she was always proud of the fact that Mr. Whitcomb was one of her students. He gave my mother an autographed copy of his book Return To Corregidor.

There is a nice museum in Hayden, with much Whitcomb memorabilia. It either is the original Whitcomb home or is at least close to it.I believe my Irish Grandfather ran a tavern close by for a while, and also had a farm a couple of miles from Hayden.

Mr. Whitcomb stayed in Naples, FL for a while and kept a boat on the Bay here in Southwest Florida. Wish I could have met him! Don Brown, Naples

[IUMBASCL]

As mentioned in a reply to a previous post, my Mother, Gertrude (Higgins) Brown taught there and was always proud that Mr. Whitcomb was one of her students.

[DutchTee]

I visited with the Gov. yesterday and found him to be as sharp as a tack, remembering events that happened 70 years ago as through it was yesterday. He and my uncle (B-17 pilot, later KIA) were in the same squadron in the P-I on 8 Dec 41. He still lives in Rome, IN on the banks of the Ohio River, but in a different refurbished home than the one shown. It's really a fantastic home for a truly fantastic American patrriot.