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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 5, 2012 14:00:36 GMT 8
The Cabanatuan American Memorial was erected by the survivors of the Bataan Death March and the prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan in the Philippines during World War II. It is located at the site of the camp and honors those Americans and Filipinos who died during their internment. The American Battle Monuments Commission, recognizing the significance of this memorial, accepted responsibility for its operation and maintenance in 1989. I visited in July 2008 and here are 47 images: app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/d2791bfa-166b-4cfc-9f2e-a50301f6a317?field=TITLE&desc=ascThis is the 1st of 4 albums about this memorial. This camp is not only infamous for the inhumanities carried out by the Japanese captors, it also has become the hallmark of a daring rescue operation in 1945 carried out by US and Philippine Forces. Philippine Authorities and or Organizations have established a memorial to that rescue operation and it is located directly next to Cabanatuan American Memorial. It will be the subject in the 4th album. Note to view the Photobucket album: When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images. Here are sample images: An old Government image of the Cabanatuan American Memorial The center piece marker of the Cabanatuan POW Camp Memorial, a symbol of the inhumanity of the Japanese Imperial Forces. Close-up The rear of the original memorial, left are the ‘left and right walls’ with the names of Americans and Allied personnel who lost their life thru the inhumanity of the Japanese Imperial Forces. The center of the original Cabanatuan POW Camp Memorial.
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Post by JohnEakin on Jan 5, 2012 23:27:12 GMT 8
Thanks for the tour, Karl. It looks to be a much more fitting monument than the old memorial. Perhaps it is just as well that they avoid detailing the everyday horrors of the place when it was in use.
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Post by okla on Jan 6, 2012 1:06:51 GMT 8
Hey John....I kinda agree with you up to a point concerning the everyday travesties committed by the Japanese overlords, but methinks that they should be pointed out to some degree till Hell freezes over. These things happened and to my notion an appropriate apology/request for forgiveness hasn't been really met or addressed to this date. I will quit beating this dead horse, but I think the Japanese should "man up" about their wartime misdeeds as have the Germans. I will say no more about this sad epoch. Postscript...Karl, I also want to thank you for the tour. I have long wondered just what Cabanatuan looked like these days. One would never know that this serene place was "Hell on Earth" for so many of our guys.
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Post by JohnEakin on Jan 6, 2012 5:21:29 GMT 8
I'm with you, Okla. I subscribe to the old pearl of Irish wisdom that says, Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard's name.
I was just thinking that the memorial appears to be a quiet and serene place where a family member could forget the atrocities for a moment. It doesn't appear that there are many visitors, though.
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Post by okla on Jan 6, 2012 7:09:17 GMT 8
Hey John....I see where you are coming from and fully agree with you on that point. Speaking of Japanese wartime atrocities, I am sure you have heard or know the story of the Nazi Germany Ambassador to Nanking in 1937, being aghast at the activities of their future allies during the "Rape" of that unfortunate city. It is said that the German Embassy even harbored fleeing Chinese refugees. The Ambassador forwarded a full report of the situation to Berlin. Even that great humanitarian, Adolf Hitler, was so flabbergasted that he refused to believe Japan could be guilty of such horrifying acts. Such goings on in the Pacific during that period of time from 1930s to 1945 still rankle me no end (as should be obvious by my posts on this forum). I will, once again, say that I will beat this dead horse no more. Cheers. I always enjoy your contributions to this forum.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 6, 2012 20:36:59 GMT 8
Plaques, Markers and West Pointer Names. This is the 2nd of 4 albums about this Memorial. Showing the information plaques for this memorial. It lists some of the Civilian Victims. All the fallen or diseased West Pointers are listed by class. I visited in July 2008 and here are 43 images: When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images. Here are sample images: This is a handout I picked up on my visit there. The old entrance of the original Memorial and at right is the West Point marker. The West Point Memorial Marker close-up
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Post by okla on Jan 6, 2012 22:46:54 GMT 8
Hey Karl.....I would suppose that the info on the handout is correct, but I have always been under the impression that the heroic guerilla holding action at the Cabu bridge resulted in several KIA among the Fillipino troops. Anyway, thanks so much for this latest stuff. Your posts are always "right on". Cheers.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 7, 2012 11:17:59 GMT 8
Okla. The handout does not seem to be 100% correct. As it states it is only quoting a book and many of those got things wrong sometime.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 7, 2012 11:24:45 GMT 8
Names of the Cabanatuan POW Memorial on the Left Wall A to O This is the 3rd of 4 albums about this Memorial. It shows all the names on the Left Wall. It seems all the names here are Army Personnel, Navy, Marine Corps and Civilians are listed on the right wall. I visited it in July 2008 and here are 37 images: app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/4cf0dca7-f0cc-4616-8362-44286279cf6e?field=TITLE&desc=ascNote to view the Photobucket album: When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images. The pictures are no longer in the proper original order, because Photobucket made the image titles disappear, the album URLs went dead as the result of their constant reorganizations. Here are sample images: The Left Wall, wall end near the rest house. Sample how I numbered the panels or a group of panels in my album. The last panel with names on the Left Wall on which the letter N ends and the letter O starts.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jan 8, 2012 10:51:54 GMT 8
Names of the Cabanatuan POW Memorial on the Right Wall A to O This is the 4th of 4 albums about this Memorial. It shows all the names on the Right Wall. It seems all the A to Z names here are Army Personnel; Navy, Marine Corps and Civilians are listed separate on this right wall here. The Right Wall also has other information plaques. I visited it in July 2008 and here are 37 images: app.photobucket.com/u/PI-Sailor/a/4cf0dca7-f0cc-4616-8362-44286279cf6e?field=TITLE&desc=ascNote to view the Photobucket album: When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images. The pictures are no longer in the proper original order, because Photobucket made the image titles disappear, the album URLs went dead as the result of their constant reorganizations. Here is a sample image: The Right Wall of the Cabanatuan POW Memorial at it’s rear. Note to view the Photobucket album: When the album opens, click on the first picture or the one you would like to view, then click the icon “i” and that will open the title and description of the image or images. The pictures are no longer in the proper original order, because Photobucket made the image titles disappear, the album URLs went dead as the result of their constant reorganizations.
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