Oral History Interviews: Special Topics: Prisoners of War & Internees

Americans Held As Prisoners of War By the Japanese in World War II

Allied POWs being liberated by the US Navy. Aomori Camp (near Yokohama), Japan, August 29, 1945. National Archives
(80-G-490444)

Mr. Bergbower served with the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, V Bomber Command, until the surrender of the Philippines. He endured years of subjugation as a prisoner of war and slave laborer in the following camps: Malaybalay, Davao Penal Colony, Toyihomo, Shinjuku in Japan. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Army; Army Air Forces

Dr. Brown, a member of the 24th Pursuit Group, V Interceptor Command, fought in the Philippines. until the surrender of Bataan. He survived the Bataan Death March and spent the remainder of the war as a POW in the following camps: Hakodate, Babai, Machi, Hokkaido Island. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Mr. Calderone fought with the 31st Infantry Regiment in the Philippines until the surrender of Corregidor. He was held at the following camps: O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, Clark Field, Bilibid and Nagoya #6, Nomach, Japan. He survived a "hell ship" voyage on the Nota Maru and endured years of subjugation as slave labor. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Mr. Reamer served in the US Army in the 60th Coast Artillery Regiment, F Battery, an antiaircraft unit tied into the harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays, until the surrender of Corregidor. Held as a prisoner of war, he spent a long period of time in solitary confinement in Osaka Sakai Prison. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Mr. Senna served in the Army Corps of Engineers and was captured by the Japanese on Bataan in early 1942. During his three-and-a-half years as a POW, he survived the Bataan Death March, imprisonment in Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan in the Philippines, the Haro Maru Hell Ship and enslavement in Japan. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Mr. Vater served in the US Army Corps of Engineers, 803rd Engineer Battalion (Aviation), Company A, until the surrender of Corregidor. He was held as a prisoner of war until the end of the war in the following camps: Billibid, Cabanatuan Number 3 and Hoten. He survived a "hell ship" voyage on the Tottori Maru from the Philippines. to Formosa, Pusan, Korea, and, finally, ending in Mukden, Manchuria. Throughout, he endured years of subjugation as slave labor. Member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

Mr. Zapf served as a radio operator on a B-29 based on Tinian. After being shot down on 8/8/45, Zapf and his surviving crew mates endured captivity at the hands of the Japanese and were held in Hiroshima shortly after the atomic bomb had destroyed most of the city.

Americans Held As Prisoners of War By the Germans in World War II

US soldiers being led into captivity following the surprise German offensive in the Ardennes in December 1944.
National Archives, captured German photograph
(111-SC-198240)

Mr. Blaher served as an infantryman in the 106th Infantry Division in the ETO. He was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge and spent five months in captivity at Stalag IXB.

Mr. Joel served as an infantryman in the 106th Infantry Division in the ETO. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp.

Dr. Johnson served as an infantry officer in the ETO. After being wounded during the Normandy Campaign, he was captured, but he was liberated weeks later when his POW hospital was overrun by the Allies.

Mr. King flew missions in a B-24 until his plane was shot down over Austria. He spent the remainder of the war in several POW camps.

Mr. Pope served as an artilleryman in the ETO. Captured during the Battle of the Bulge, he survived life as a POW until escaping in April 1945.

Mr. Gordon served as a navigator on a B-17 for nine missions over Europe before being shot down and captured. He spent 16 months as a prisoner in Stalag Luft I.

Americans Held As Prisoners of War By Other Forces in World War II

Mr. Inglesby served as a paratrooper in the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. He participated in the first US airborne operation of World War II during Operation: TORCH, the invasion of North Africa. He was briefly held captive by French forces.

Americans Held As Internees By a Neutral Power in World War II

Mr. Clark flew missions in B-24s with the 44th Bomb Group. His plane was shot down and forced to land in Switzerland, where he was interned until he escaped after D-Day.