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Post by chadhill on Mar 13, 2018 10:32:53 GMT 8
Hello Steve, It sounds like you may have already seen this old roster file, but just in case... I tried to download a copy here for you but was unable. Here is the link: collections.pvao.mil.ph/BataanDiary/InformationDownload/BD-0000670After you download the file, scroll to page "56 of 183" on the TOOLBAR near the top left of the screen. This will be seen as page 70 of the original file in the top left corner of the page. Near the bottom of the page you will find your grandfather's name, rank, and ASN. In the next block it shows that he died at Cabanatuan (circled "x" above the letters "CABN") of beri-beri ("BB") on 10-18-42. The next block over is where the grave for him would have been recorded. The men who died at Camp O'Donnell ("O.D.") had a letter followed by two numbers, while those at Cabanatuan had a 3-digit number as your grandfather does here ("649"). The next column over shows he was wounded twice ("W-2"), was awarded the Silver Star at Layac Junction ("SSC-LYAC") and the Distinguished Service Cross at Abucay Hacienda ("DSC-AH). The next column shows the hometown.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Mar 13, 2018 14:36:45 GMT 8
Hi Chad, thanks for this information. I really appreciate you helping me to understand this. Now it all makes sense. Thanks to some help from Jim Zobel at the MacArthur Archives, I have his DSC citation for Abucay Hacienda. On another thread I mentioned that my family has a personal letter from Donald G Thompson, C.O. of "L" Co, 31st Inf. He wrote to my grandmother about this day. Here is my transcription of this passage: Excerpt from the DSC citation follows:
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Post by chadhill on Apr 3, 2018 23:47:54 GMT 8
Hello Steve,
Please check your messages. I have sent you contact info for a former workplace acquaintance of mine. His father (now deceased) was a company commander in the 31st Infantry who survived the war, wrote a monograph for the US Army about his experiences on Bataan, and is quoted at length in several histories. I am certain he would have known your grandfather, and may have left behind notes of his memories. Might be a long shot, but you never know.
Best, Chad
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 4, 2018 13:14:43 GMT 8
Thanks again chad for this information. I will act on it right away.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 19, 2018 13:17:55 GMT 8
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 20, 2018 14:27:28 GMT 8
This book cover scan was given to me by the nephew of James O'Donovan. The nephew retains the original book. Abie mentions my grandfather in some places of both his books.
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Post by chadhill on Apr 21, 2018 8:23:59 GMT 8
Major O'Donovan was a true hero of the Bataan campaign. It is a pity that he did not survive the war. Thank you for sharing this with us, Steve. Please post any further information that you find about him. I am very honored to have assisted you in the small way that I could.
Best Regards, Chad
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 22, 2018 14:12:33 GMT 8
Thanks very much Chad. I really appreciate your help. I've gotten lots of help from this community, and I wish to give back if I can.
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 22, 2018 14:23:40 GMT 8
The Following is a transcript of a personal letter written by Abie Abraham to the brother of Major James J O'Donovan after the war. The timing is between the first book "The ghost of Bataan speaks" and the second book "oh god, where are you". Since it mentions the national convention in Pittsburgh, this was written a short time before May 10, 1950.
I have JPG copies of the letter, but since they were sent to me by a family member, I don't feel its right to post them online for all the world. Still, the text seems ok to post
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steveu
Member
Grandson of Maj James J O'Donovan XO 3Bn 31st Inf Reg
Posts: 14
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Post by steveu on Apr 22, 2018 14:48:49 GMT 8
The Following is a transcript of a personal letter written by Abie Abraham to a second brother of Major James J O'Donovan after the war. It was written on a letterhead from "The American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc." There's nothing to date the letter with, but I have reasons to think it was around 1950 also.
As on the previous post, I have JPG copies of the letter, Not posting them for the same reasons.
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