Don’t Forget Bataan

Your article on the survivors of the Bataan Death March (April 4) was very moving. It brought back memories of my childhood in the Philippines. As a little girl born and raised in Manila before and during World War II, I remember hearing the roar of cannon from Bataan and Corregidor, across Manila Bay, and seeing puffs of smoke drift across the water. We were frightened for the outnumbered American and Filipino soldiers who fought so valiantly, and [we] prayed for reinforcements that didn’t arrive for another three years.

After the fall of Manila, early in 1942, we saw the brave Allied soldiers, then gaunt and exhausted from horrendous fighting, being marched through the streets to the docks for shipment to slave labor camps in Japan

I was honored to be part of their recent reunion.

As a former “child in the midst of battle,” I was invited to speak to the group. I looked at a sea of faces of the men in the audience, many now in wheelchairs, some with oxygen tanks. All wore their medals proudly for having served our country. We owe them all our deep gratitude and respect.

Evelyn Berg Empie

Palos Verdes Peninsula

I wanted to commend you for your touching article. Those too young to have been part of WWII can only read about what these men went through. It took a tremendous will to live, knowledge of their opponent, care for their fellow man, a burning desire to return to their loved ones back home and a belief in God to make it through. I am glad to see that most received a Purple Heart.

For those who did not, we should see that they do.

David Mirisch

Encinitas

A group of doctors in training at L.A. County Hospital in 1942 were ordered to active duty in the Philippines. One of them was Dan Golenternek, who was captured by the Japanese in April 1942 and, after being identified as a doctor, was assigned to one of the mines with fellow POWs. He survived and was able to return to Los Angeles to complete his training in obstetrics and gynecology. We were very fortunate to have him care for my wife’s first pregnancy.

At no time during his lifetime did we hear him speak of the experiences at Bataan or in the labor camps or mines. It was only from another colleague that we became aware of it, and any time we tried to get him to speak about it, he would change the subject.

Rocco L. Motto MD

Brentwood