Day 4 - Half Way to Zero

The San Fernando Train Depo where soldiers on the death march where shoved tightly into railroad cars for transportation (over 100 men in a car that should have held 40).

Wayne Carringer, a survivor of the death march, told us his story as he stood in front of a memorial at Camp O'Donnell.

Brandon and Sarah with their veteran Jim Collier.

"Jorgy" stands in a restored railroad car like the one that carried him to a P.O.W. camp.

One of the many markers that lines the path of The Bataan Death March.

Generally, there was a restriction when loading a boxcar during WWII. It was called the 40 and 8 rule. This meant that the box car's maximum capacity was forty people or eight horses; however, we found out that this rule was never observed. We learned this at Capas Train station which marked the start of the final march to Camp O'Donnell.

Inside the station, artwork depicts the horrors of the march.  Many old guns that the Japanese used during this time were on display. While looking around, our veteran, Mr. Jim Collier, turned away from a picture saying that it was too horrific to even look at. I think several men felt that way.

After our time at the train station, we continued to Camp O'Donnell where 1,600 Americans died. In tribute the the Death March, we stopped our tour and walked the final kilometer to the camp. Once we arrived, we came across an actual  boxcar used for the transportation of prisoners from San Fernando to Capas. Wayne Carringer, Warren Jorgenson and Jim Collier, who all are veterans on this trip, were transported by a cart similar to this during their time here during WWII. Mr. Collier remembered being crammed into the tiny car with over 100 other men. Although he was put through this horrible experience, he was constantly telling us how other men had it worse. He said that the Death March would have been too much for him, and that he would not have survived. He experienced awful conditions, more than we can even grasp, yet he still gives the credit to his fellow servicemen.

Camp Cabanatuan, where Mr. Collier was a POW, has been one of our favorite stops because of all the stories he shared. One of our favorites was the story about the Marines' dog named Suchow.  It was a mascot among the men and was never harmed in any way. However, another dog had a more fateful encounter with the prisoners. After "borrowing" the dog, the men left a note saying that because of the lack of protein, the dog has been eaten. It was wonderful to hear him laugh! Mr. Collier also told of how they would eat monkey stew. He went on to say that POWs will eat anything. We are continually blown away by the reality of his experiences.  For example, when we were in the camp, we walked to where the hospital barracks once stood. While he was there, Mr. Collier had malaria and dry beriberi. The hospital was set up with 24 barracks, with Zero Ward being the last stop. Men in Zero Ward had zero chance of survival and Mr. Collier made it to barrack 12, half way to zero.

Mr. Collier has a charming sense of humor. He continuously tells us that he is so lucky to have gotten the most attractive students to be with him! Whenever we take a picture, he says he needs proof of us so that his friends back home will believe him. Overall,  Mr. Collier is becoming a dear friend, and we are so honored to be accompanying him on this trip. He is such a humble man, and we are learning invaluable lessons and  history from him. We have really come to love and respect this man and we are so thankful he did not make it all the way to Zero Ward.

Branden Piatt and Sarah Schrag

Day 3 - Recognizing Sacrifice

 

As Christians, Good Friday is the day we recognize the crucifixion of Christ. The Filipino people take this day off, and today we saw why. We traveled into the countryside and observed many of the celebratory activities that take place on Good Friday in the Philippines. Catholicism is the main religion in the Philippines, and we witnessed how devout their practices are. People reenacted the crucifixion along the roads in the form of a parade by carrying crosses and demonstrating repentance by whipping their own backs. Many  of the veterans seemed to be pleased that so many people were taking part in the day's activities. It was interesting to see how different their celebrations were than anything we had experienced at home. Even though we don't celebrate in the same ways, it was a good reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us all.

After our travels, we visited a important bridge over the Cabu river. During WWII, it was blown up by Filipino Guerillas during the raid on Cabanatuan. This act significantly impacted the final outcome of the raid, as it allowed the U.S. Rangers enough time to save all the Prisoners of War that were held in the camp at Cabanatuan. A short distance away we stopped to visit this camp where the POWs were set free. Three of the veterans on our trip spent time here. The veterans recollected many memories from this sight. They were also able to find their former comrades in the names listed on the wall honoring those who died at the camp.

Because of the distance we traveled today, we were able to hear many stories from our veteran, Warren "Jorgy" Jorgenson. He was in the 4th Marines and was stationed in China during WWII. He was then shipped to Corregidor where he was shot and captured by the Japanese. He was prisoner of war for three years, and shared many stories of the conditions he faced while at the POW. camps. Even though he has been through so much, his boisterous personality and positive outlook on life would never hint at his haunting past. He is grateful for this opportunity and his sincerity is unquestionable.

The opportunity to travel with such an amazing man who did so much for our country is truly inspirational. Whether we're eating Filipino fast food or sharing stories from back home, the bond we share with "Jorgy" is already special and unique. Thus far, this trip has been a tremendous learning experience, and the first hand accounts of the veterans, who sacrificed so much, are what has made it so special.

Today we recognize the sacrifice Jesus made for our lives through the crucifixion, as well as celebrating and learning about the veterans who modeled this behavior by giving their lives for our freedom.

Nathan Hartsell and JoHannah Fields

Day 2 - A Promise Fulfilled

Wayne Carringer is a man of great integrity and character.  This is not only evident in his own life, but is a quality that is contagious to those he surrounds himself with. This infectious integrity speaks volumes to this man that we now call our friend, and we are truly honored to be paired with him. From the moment we met Mr. Carringer, just two days ago, we realized that he had a valuable story to tell, and we are thankful that he is willing to share it. Quickly we learned about how Mr. Carringer was drafted and served in the Army Air Corps. He ended up in the Philippines, where he served on the front lines during WWII. After walking in the Bataan Death March, he became a prisoner of war, eventually being sent to Japan.

It amazes us how much he knows about the war - not just from his own experience but from his research as well. His memory is astounding as he recalls the names and events relating to the war. We look forward to the upcoming days as we grow in our friendship and learn more about this incredible man.

The first day in Manila is now behind us, but it laid the foundation for the rest of the trip as we toured the diverse city. It was interesting to hear the veterans tell about how much the city had changed since the war, but some landmarks still remained.

St. Thomas University, which was used as an internment camp by the Japanese during World War II, was our first visit. The veterans quickly recalled stories and memories from this area. Every student eagerly listened and began to grow in their knowledge as the veterans opened up.

We realized that these were the moments that we have waited so patiently for. These stories cannot be found in textbooks, but only from the first hand accounts of these amazing men.

After we left the university, we found ourselves walking down the streets, meandering through the people and their shops, in search of the Manila city jail. This jail housed POWs during WWII and was a stopping point for nearly every POW in the Philippines. Through our time in this area, our eyes were opened to the unique culture of Manila.

Our visit to the Manila Memorial Cemetery quickly turned our minds back to those who had given their lives for our freedom. This memorial was a humbling experience for everyone in the group, as several of the veterans had friends whose names were listed among the fallen here. While at the memorial, the College of the Ozarks students laid a wreath in honor of the veterans who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

While at the Cemetery, our group was able to fulfill a promise to a veteran who traveled with C of O students nearly two years ago. That veteran had asked for a simple favor. He said, "If you ever take students and veterans to the Philippines, will you honor my friend by finding his grave and taking a picture for me?" His friend, Mr. Edgar O. Anthony, died while serving in the U.S. Marines during the battle at Iwo Jima. Today we fulfilled the promise, honoring Mr. Anthony by placing a special wreath at his grave and taking a picture for his dear friend.

Though we have just completed the first day, we can already truly say that we are honored to be here and to have this experience with these incredible men. We look forward to the days to come, and to the stories and wisdom they bring.

Daniel Mallette and Christianne Martin

Day 1 - Not Your Typical "Knight"

John Paul Matthews and Maria Williams met Mr. Knight for the first time on their flight to San Francisco

Ever since we got accepted to go on this trip to the Philippines, we’ve wondered who our veteran would be. Though we created expectations in our minds, we really had no idea what to expect. We have been more fortunate than other students because we met our veteran before departing from Dallas. From the “get-go” we were blown away by Mr. Ed Knight’s magnetic personality. He greeted us with a vibrant smile and wave that only close friends exchange. Immediately a friendship was struck, and within the few hours we’ve known him, we already feel like we’re in the presence of an old friend.

On our first flight we had a chance to discuss Mr. Knight's adventurous family, exciting life, and bold service to our country. When he told us about his life, his words inspired our imagination as we sat, anticipating his every word. His stories seemed so surreal. Without hesitation, he depicted the brutalities of war that he experienced.  As a medic, he had a first hand account of the cruelty of his enemy and the tragedy of the war. All these tales have furthered our appreciation and sense of indebtedness to this man’s life.

Our trip has just started and we already know so much about him! We look forward to the rest of the time we will have with our “Knight.”

John Paul Mathews and Maria Williams

Reprinted from the Outlook student newspaper at C of O
Students Prepare for Philippines Tour by Sarah Unruh, Staff Writer

Maria Williams is a senior accounting and Spanish double -major who grew up in the Philippines. She moved to the United States when she was 11 years old. Williams will be returning to the Philippines this April on a patriotic travel trip to the Bataan Death fields and several other places in the Philippines.

During the Bataan Death March, 90,000 to 100,000 American and Filipino prisoners who surrendered to the Japanese on April 10, 1942, were forced to march 55 miles to San Fernando, then taken in railway box cars to Capas. They were then forced to march another eight miles to Camp O’Donnell.
The captives during this march were tortured, brutally beaten, and denied food and water. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 prisoners were killed during this march.

This patriotic trip will consist of visits to several memorial sites, POW camps, museums and military forts throughout the Philippines.

“It was all in God’s timing,” Williams said in regards to her being selected for this trip.
Williams said she used to work banquets at The Keeter Center and had several opportunities to serve and get to know many veterans who had gone on previous trips.

During her time at The Keeter Center, Williams said, “I would have never imagined I would get to go on this trip.”

Williams said, even though she was born in the Philippines, she never really got to know the history of her family or her birth country.

The preparations for this trip have helped Williams gain a deeper appreciation for the history of her country. This trip is “acting as a dual purpose to truly know about where I was born” Williams said.
The trip participants go through several training sessions before they leave to become more familiar with the history of the places they will visit.

Williams said this trip has inspired her to learn more about her own connection to the trip.
“I’ve been talking about it with my family and collecting memories,” Williams said.
Williams said her family has helped her a lot in gaining more knowledge and perspective on this trip. She learned that at one point, “The war got so bad that everyone panicked because of the violence, so they retreated to the mountains.”

During this time, Williams said, her great-grandfather carried his own mother to safety for 30 to 40 miles, even though she asked to be left behind.

Williams said “I didn’t know how hard it was back then and that they just had to except what came.”
Williams is particularly excited that she “will get to meet these special veterans that in some way helped keep my family alive.”

In addition to going to the Philippines, Williams, along with Branden Piatt, and Christianne Martin and chaperones James Schreffler and Becky Vest traveled to Sands City, New Mexico, to do a commemoration march of the Bataan Death March.

Williams is also looking forward to this experience and said, “I’m really excited because it’s a great way to prepare for the Philippines trip.” The Bataan Memorial Death March took place on March 25. The march takes participants through the desert terrain of the White Sands Missile Range. This march gives a depiction of what it would have been like for the service members who were forced to march the actual trail in the Philippines during WWII.

There are two routes that participants can take during this commemoration. The first route is called the ‘Green’ route and is the full 26.2 mile march. The second route, the ‘Blue’ route, is an honorary 14.2 mile hike for participants not able or willing to do the full route.

Piatt, a junior elementary education major, went on the commemoration march with Williams before the Philippines trip as well. Piatt is looking forward to this experience and said, “I think it will be really cool to get to know the veterans and hear about their stories.”

The commemoration trip allowed these students the opportunity to meet some veterans who experienced WWII firsthand. Piatt said this trip was insightful for him to “see how it was when the death march happened.”

Following The Bataan Memorial Death March, students will be traveling through the Philippines from April 3 to the 13.