In the US after the war, my dad was asked to speak at various civic groups, but that ended pretty quickly when they realized what he had to say. While they were very curious and respectful, domestic audiences mostly spared from direct contact with war were not really ready to hear details of man's cruelty to man in Japanese POW camps.
Early on in their Asian work crews, the prisoners--he was part of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army--learned there was no easy escape, despite what we would think of as rather minimal security. There were generally few situations with Hogan's Heroes-style huts in neat rows. Most often, there were not even any fences. One was told the limits of their movements: "Don't go past that road, not beyond that stream, not beyond that berm." Those that did were shot. The lessons were learned quickly and the prisoners were resigned to their captors' deadliness. Escape to where? There were no friendlies that would risk hiding them. Even if they got through the initial line, a 500-miles in any direction was all understood to be Japanese controlled.
Later, on Japan itself, Fukuoka #17 (pictures, testimonials, etc. findable via Google) was made up of rows of sleeping quarters. Most prisoners worked in nearby mines.
A bright spot was working within distance of fishable waters. As it saved on rations, the Japanese would sometimes let prisoners fish, though most often not for personal gain, but to be shared. Boy, did my dad love to fish!
After not mentioning it for decades, Dad admitted that after the presumed "big ammo dump" at Nagasaki went fooooom, the guards became disoriented and many deserted their posts. Though they might have gotten often a few rounds, the guards that lingered were taken apart by prisoners, limb from limb, sinew from bone. Such were the suppressed visceral responses as they finally found expression.
The prisoners took over the camp and formed details that forayed into the countryside. Ultimately, they met up with Americans on the ground not far from Nagasaki, and made arrangements for prisoner evacuation to Manilla, the Phillipines.
A friend mentioned just this morning how, in his opinion, those that survived really tough situations like a POW camp were really hardy souls that often lived to be 80-90 years old or more. My dad only made it to 68, and though he was tough, I think the radiation exposure from Nagasaki made his health in his last six years miserable.
HF
Incredible story, thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Not sure if any of you have read the NK news these days.
“The U.S. ever-escalating hostile acts against the DPRK over its satellite launch have finally pushed the situation to the brink of a nuclear war.”
http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm
The entire propaganda site is off the hook.
Pyongyang, April 7 (KCNA) — It is the steadfast resolution of the Workers’ Party of Korea to enable the Korean people to fully enjoy a socialist cultural life under the highly civilized conditions and environment and to make a beautiful and sound way of life prevail throughout society, Rodong Sinmun Sunday says in an editorial.
It goes on:
The U.S. imperialists and south Korean warmongers have gone to extremes in their moves against the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
However, the service personnel and people of the DPRK are replete with strong guts and firmly confident of victory.
No matter what grave situation is created and no matter how desperately the enemies may work, the service personnel and people are creating a highly civilized and beautiful life at all their posts and worksites, looking forward to a rosy future. This is their proud tradition.
They don't make men like your dad any more. And 400,000 servicemen just like him died in that war.