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Post by jonesy on Apr 14, 2010 21:47:45 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, Ok, I'm brand new here, I got lucky and my husband found your site through google. I have been searching hard for any information on my Uncle who was with the 31st infantry regiment, company G. He was in the Bataan death march and died a pow in Oct. 1942. His name was Stanley P. Jones (Cpl.) I would really like to know where he was when he died and if his name is on the Bataan Memorial. Any information would be great, my family was small, and I know very little. I do know that his remains were returned to the US in 1949. What a great site, I don't know much about M1's but I love history and my family is all about the military!
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Post by Ramini on Apr 15, 2010 0:20:41 GMT -5
If your uncle survived the death march the only places i could think were in Sto. Tomas university, Camp O'donnel or at bilibid prisons..those were the only place i could think of that the bastards of bataan were held (as far as i can remember)..well im sorry i couldn't give much info..perhaps the more knowledgeable members in this forum could give you more information since we have established what unit your uncle was in.
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 15, 2010 7:57:59 GMT -5
Jonesy, welcome to the forum. Your Uncle could have been at Cabanatuan. The American POWs were transferred there from Camp O'Donnell and I think they were all mostly over there by October 1942.
I do know a gentleman from F Company, 31st Infantry. He's the commander of the Battlin Bastards of Bataan organization. His name is Tillman Rutledge. He was with F Company but may have remembered your uncle. I'm not sure he's able to check email regularly but I can check with him.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 15, 2010 8:56:33 GMT -5
Thanks so much to both of you. I have been looking for information for quite a while and I sure appreciate any I can get. Its hard when you have very little family history to work with. I have a bunch of grandkids now, and I really want them to know as much as I can find out for them. Thanks again and I am really enjoying your site.
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 15, 2010 9:16:46 GMT -5
You're welcome.
I sent Tillman Rutledge an email asking about your uncle. I'm not sure when he'll be able to get back to me.
Just a little tidbit of info for you... assuming your uncle was in the Cabanatuan POW camp, the movie "The Great Raid" from a few years ago is about the liberation of that camp. I'm not sure if you've seen it but could give your grandchildren more context to go by.
Regards, Victor
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 15, 2010 11:27:50 GMT -5
I heard back from him, that was quick. I'll email you more information from him.
-------- Hi, Victor,
Good to hear from you. Stanley P. Jones is not on our O'Donnell Memorial built by the BBB. His name is on the Cabanatuan Memorial Wall, his DOD being Oct '42 would negate O'Donnell as we were all gone from there by then.
You can tell his niece this and if she would like, to write me and I will send her a copy of the page that list her Uncle's name. There are 2,666 names on this Wall, 1,771 on our BBB Memorial at Capas, O'Donnell.
Victor, did you know that that 9 out of 10 American POWs that died were POWs of the japanese. That's a fact not hearsay.
My best, Kuya Tillman
-------------- I'm copying Okla's posting here too in case you missed it:
Hey Jonesy....I can't add any new information to you query, but will say to you that my nephew's wife (would that be niece in law???) had a grandfather who proudly served in Company G, 31st Infantry Regiment. This man died before his grand daughter became a member of our family so I, regretfully, never talked with him. I have been able to clear up a few questions that his daughter and grand daughter have wondered about over the years. He always had told them that he was not in the Bataan Death March, so they just assumed that he must have been among the 100 or so survivors of the 31st who were able to reach Corregidor only to be taken prisoner a month later. I have been able to establish that he was taken prisoner when Bataan capitulated, but being in one of the hospitals, evidently with malaria, was not forced into the Death March, but was taken, at some later date, to Bilibid Prison in Manila and thence to Cabanatuan POW compound where he was used in forced labor in the reconstruction of Clark Field. He ended up back in Bilibid where he was released when the First Cavalry forced entry in early 1945. This man was also a member of H Company for a time, but G Company was his primary assignment. Lordy, for all I know he and your Uncle could have been best buddies. It is a small world when you think about it.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 15, 2010 11:31:13 GMT -5
Thanks again, I haven't seen the movie but will check it out right away. I think I've seen it listed on netflix. Hope you all have a great day!
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Post by jonesy on Apr 15, 2010 11:35:38 GMT -5
I don't even know what to say. I am so grateful for this information, I'm absolutely floored that you guys were so willing to help me. I've wanted to know for so long. Thank you again so very much....
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Post by jonesy on Apr 15, 2010 12:37:18 GMT -5
Victor.....Received the e-mail, I'll be writing to Mr. Rutledge right away. I had missed Okla's post and it's amazing as well. I'm trying to learn my way around the forum and am finding it fascinating. :-)
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 15, 2010 13:30:47 GMT -5
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Post by jonesy on Apr 15, 2010 14:37:17 GMT -5
Yes, I did see it and its a great picture. He certainly could have been one of them, none of them look like my dad (Stanleys brother) but who knows. The only picture I have of Stanley is when he and my dad were very small, you'd think familys would keep better track. Well, I am really enjoying the forum, and hope its ok if I stick around. WWII is a passion of mine and I sure enjoy reading all the posts!! Have a great day and God bless.....
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Post by Ramini on Apr 15, 2010 20:39:04 GMT -5
jonesy best of luck in finding your uncle..i heard rumours from my own family that my grandpa (fatherside) was once a guerilla..too bad he died already when i was born.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 16, 2010 9:23:56 GMT -5
Ramini, thanks so much for the good wishes. I have just heard from Victors friend Tillman and he is sending me my uncle's company roster as well as a copy of his name on the wall of the memorial at Cabanatuan. When I joined this forum I had no idea what a great place it was!!
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 16, 2010 14:20:52 GMT -5
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Post by jonesy on Apr 16, 2010 16:58:34 GMT -5
Thanks much , we have the movie ordered and should get to watch it soon. After reading that review I'm more than looking forward to it!!
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Post by jonesy on Apr 25, 2010 9:06:19 GMT -5
Victor, Wanted to let you know that I have been in contact with Tillman Rutledge and he has been a huge help. He sent me a copy of "company G's" roster as well as a copy of my uncles name on the wall at Cabanatuan. He is a wealth of information. Also, we've watched the movie, "The Great Raid" and found it really kind of put things together, its hard when you don't truly know how things were. Thanks again for all your help.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 25, 2010 9:12:42 GMT -5
Okla..... I just shared with Victor that I have a copy of the "company G" roster. I forgot to mention that its from before any of the battles in the PI. Your relative may be listed there as well, if you'd like copy, I can sure send it to you. Just let me know.
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Post by oklahoma on Apr 25, 2010 16:36:09 GMT -5
Hey Jonesy....My niece in law's grandfather's name was Sam Hendricks. He was either a Pvt or PFC when captured in April 1942. He arrived in the PI (as near as I can gather) in June 1941 and was immediately assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment. As I have mentioned previously, his primary unit was Company G, but he was a member of Company H for a time. I would appreciate it if you would check your Roster for his name. He was discharged as a Corporal. As I understand it all surviving POWs (at least the enlisted variety) had been promoted one rank while prisoners in order that their dependents back home,etc would receive more compensation while their sons, husbands, etc were behind barbed wire. This was due to the foresight, compassion, etc of Skinny Wainwright, the true hero of Bataan-Corregidor, in my humble.
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 25, 2010 20:48:00 GMT -5
That great Jonesy. I'm glad you have a bit more info now and have watched The Great Raid as well. The love story part of it was hollywood, not real. They had to work some sort of a love story I guess.
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Post by jonesy on Apr 25, 2010 22:56:56 GMT -5
Oklahoma..........There is a Jay L. Hendricks (Pvt.) Could "Sam" be a nickname? Victor, if there was no love story women wouldn't watch it! hahaha.. Just another question for you guys, my uncles remains were returned to the states in Oct. 1949, he died in Oct. 1942. Does anyone know how they managed to identify the remains as his? Just curious..........thanks to all of you..........
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