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Post by okla on Feb 2, 2014 7:36:43 GMT 8
Hey Chad....I may be getting myself into a bit of trouble posting this, but, viewing the Camp O'Donnell Cross, a thought crossed my mind that made me wonder if some of the PC folks, lurking these days, may find the Cross as being "offensive" and should be removed. Stranger things are occurring. Sometimes, I find myself grateful that I am getting very "long of tooth" and that my ashes will be scattered before I see this nation go to Hell in a Hand Basket.
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Post by dmether on Feb 2, 2014 20:20:53 GMT 8
The cross at Camp O'Donnell isn't the original. The original is in the US National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia.
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Post by okla on Feb 3, 2014 1:56:43 GMT 8
Hey Dave....Yes, I am aware that the original is preserved at Andersonville. My point is that, so often these days, displaying of a Cross is "offensive" to some groups, or at least they claim this to be the case. Just sayin". Cheers.
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Post by chadhill on Feb 3, 2014 4:31:27 GMT 8
I've read that as the US began closing its PI military bases in the early 1990s, the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor surveyed their membership about saving the original O'Donnell cross...and decided to leave it there to an unknown fate! As a result, a group of "rebel" members took it upon themselves to rescue the seven foot cross, and smuggled it out of the Philippines.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Apr 18, 2014 10:53:16 GMT 8
NEW MOVIE REMEMBERING CAMP O’DONNEL AND THE CROSS RESCUER Randy Olson, the son of Col. John Olson, is making a Movie about his father and Camp O'Donnell Cross. Here is the URL: www.40yearsthefilm.com/This notification was sent by the webmaster of the Battling Bastards of Bataan. I captured two images from the above URL. X259-- The Colonel after the war, he survived Camp O’Donnell, the Hell Ships and imprisonment in Imperial Japan. X260-- The young Army Officer Olson with his Philippine Scout troops. He is a West Point graduate and was the guardian angel who rescued the 1942 Hallow Cross of Camp O’Donnell. Its all in the above URL, here is a paste! FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING AND ALREADY SCREENED AT WEST POINT -- it is now time to put the finishing touches on the documentary film, "40 Years of Silence," which tells the story of the O'Donnell Cross that now resides at the National Prisoner of War Museum in Andersonville, Georgia. A STORY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN AND FILIPINO TROOPS WHO ENDURED THE WORST ATROCITY EVER INFLICTED ON THE U.S. MILITARY -- told through the experience of the official record keeper at Camp O'Donnell, Colonel John E. Olson. THE FILMMAKER, Randy Olson is, is the son of Colonel Olson and a veteran filmmaker ("Flock of Dodos," Tribeca '06, Showtime '07, "Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy," Outfest '08). THE TIMING IS NOW URGENT -- we are in the final stages for release this fall, simultaneous with the Hollywood movie version of the bestselling book, "Unbroken," which is certain to draw large scale attention to the plight of the POWs of the Japanese. We need your support. The more polished the final production, the larger the audience it will eventually reach. A STORY OF PASSION -- it was Colonel John Olson's greatest passion -- that the story of O'Donnell never be forgotten. This movie will tell the story of O'Donnell in a way that will connect with the general public.
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Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 15, 2014 20:38:03 GMT 8
THE CZECHS ARE REMEMBERED IN CAMP O’DONNEL Czech WWII Marker Part of the south section of the former Japanese POW Camp O’Donnell which was the area where the Filipino Soldiers were kept and died by the thousands was established as the Capas National Shrine by the Philippine Government. It has many places of remembrance of the Camp O’Donnell Death Camp. The Philippine Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (DBC Inc) established a special section for themselves and invited other organizations of WWII comrades in arms to place their markers there also. The Battling Bastard of Bataan (BBB) established a Memorial there and between it and the Memorial of the DBC Inc stand several other markers including one for the Czechs who volunteered en mass for service in the defense of the Philippines in WWII. Here are pictures of the location of that Czech Marker: Y276. In the middle of this picture is the Philippine Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial remembering the sacrifices in the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor. To the right of it are three markers remembering, from left to right, the Philippine Scouts, the many civilian who died or suffered in the battle zones and the Czech Nationals which volunteered en masse to fight alongside Philippine and US Armies against the advancing Japanese aggressors. Y277. Three WWII markers are standing between the DBC Inc and the BBB Memorial. They remember from left to right, the Philippine Scouts, the many civilian and the Czech Nationals who which volunteered en masse to fight alongside Philippine and US Armies against the advancing Japanese aggressors.2013-12-17. Y278. 2013-12-17. A look from the rear of the three WWII markers, left is the Battling Bastard of Bataan (BBB) Memorial. We also can see a memorial Hall nearby and the tall obelisk, the center piece of the Capas National Shrine. Y279. 2013-12-17. A close-up Of the Czechoslovak Fallen Memorial. If you want to look at all the 5 pictures and at a larger size, they are here in this URL at my Photobucket account: tinyurl.com/ml8j8lnAnd we already have a thread on this subject with much more information as to what local Czechs did to remember their Countrymen in WWII here in the Philippines. corregidor.proboards.com/thread/1705/czech-defenders-bataan-death-pochodY280. Here is one picture.
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Post by pdh54 on Oct 15, 2014 22:27:21 GMT 8
Karl, Just wanted to say Thank You for the time and effort you put into your posts. I, and everyone on this forum I'm sure, appreciate that you are preserving the continuation of the history of the area. I hope you are able to continue this for MANY more years. Thanks Patty
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Post by okla on Oct 16, 2014 0:29:20 GMT 8
Hey Karl....I, wholeheartedly, second Patty's vote. Cheers.
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Post by westernaus on Oct 16, 2014 10:16:25 GMT 8
I agree with the others I wish I could take part in some of your expeditions , maybe someday .
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Post by rickthelibrarian on Jul 10, 2017 21:41:40 GMT 8
A magnificent post - thank you so much, Karl. Of all the memorable moments I underwent in the Philippines (and there were a lot) my time at Capas was the greatest.
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