Post by friscohare on Mar 9, 2012 7:40:53 GMT -5
RIP, M/Sgt. Rabano 
Florinda Rabano places a rose on the casket of her husband, retired Master Sgt. Jesus Rabano, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, on Thursday at Cumberland Memorial Gardens.
Survivor of Bataan Death March Jesus Rabano buried in Fayetteville [/u][/url][/size]
(Fayetteville Observer, 03/09/12)
After experiencing the dark evil of war, Jesus Rabano decided to love life.
Rabano, a retired Army master sergeant, died Sunday and was buried Thursday. He was 94.
Rabano survived the Bataan Death March, one of the worst atrocities in World War II. His wife, Florinda, said he became a happy person.
"He loved life," she said. "Wherever we go, he befriends everybody."
Mrs. Rabano said her husband told her about brutalities soldiers endured during the march in April 1942. He told her that of 250 soldiers in his group, only 100 survived.
During the 60-mile march, Japanese troops would randomly pick one of the soldiers and make him dig his own grave. They would then blindfold him, make him kneel and cut off his head, she said.
Rabano told his wife the soldiers were only given a ball of rice and a canteen of water for the trip. He believed he survived because he did not eat and drink it all immediately.
"He saved it," she said.
After the march, the soldiers who were still alive had to ride 30 more miles on a crowded train.
"The boxcar was so airtight that some soldiers suffocated," Mrs. Rabano said.
Rabano, who was in the famous Filipino Scouts unit, was released from a prisoner-of-war camp when the Philippines were liberated in 1943. He later served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband served in Fort Bragg's 20th Engineer Battalion and helped build a bridge that was the longest in Vietnam at the time.
"He was so proud of his military service," she said.
After retiring with more than 34 years in the Army, Rabano was a longtime civilian employee at Fort Bragg and became a leader in Fayetteville's Filipino community. Mrs. Rabano said her husband was an architect who helped design a number of buildings in the area.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband's two favorite sayings were "Don't worry. Be happy," and "Take it as it comes."
"Those were the two things he always said to everybody, and to me, because I worry too much," she said.
Rabano's daughter, Esther Thompson, said she and the other children learned that their father's strict ways prepared them for life.
"Don't worry, Dad, we will be happy," she said.
Another daughter, Eleanor McCroskey, said Rabano was a brave and courageous man.
"I salute you and I love you very much," she said.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband was a survivor even during the last few days of his life.
"He was fighting for his life," she said. "He wanted to live, but the Lord said it was time to come home."
Jesus R. Rabano[/u][/url][/size]
(Fayetteville Observer, 03/06/12)
FAYETTEVILLE - Retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Jesus Ros Rabano, 94, of Fayetteville, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 4, 2012, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 25, 1917, in Ligao City, Albay, Philippines. Jesus retired with 34 years of honorable service to his country. He was veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was a prisoner of war during World War II, where he survived the Bataan Death March. He retired with numerous medals and commendations. Jesus was an extraordinary architect, who practiced avidly. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Florinda D. Rabano, of the home; three daughters, Evelyn Parmenter and Esther Thompson, both of Fayetteville, and Eleanor McCroskey and her husband, Ron, of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two sons, Rhudy Rabano and his wife, Vicki Jean, of Clayton, and Raymond Rabano and his wife, Mieko, of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. A Mass will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Msgr. Michael Shugrue officiating. He will be laid to rest in Cumberland Memorial Gardens with the rendering of full military honors. A reception will be held after the burial at St. Patrick's Social Hall for family and friends. Service entrusted to Rogers and Breece Funeral Home of Fayetteville.
Note: NARA's Enlistedman Database states that he reenlisted with the Signal Corps as a PFC in August of 1941. He probably served with the 12th Signal Company when Bataan surrendered.
Florinda Rabano places a rose on the casket of her husband, retired Master Sgt. Jesus Rabano, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, on Thursday at Cumberland Memorial Gardens.
Survivor of Bataan Death March Jesus Rabano buried in Fayetteville [/u][/url][/size]
(Fayetteville Observer, 03/09/12)
After experiencing the dark evil of war, Jesus Rabano decided to love life.
Rabano, a retired Army master sergeant, died Sunday and was buried Thursday. He was 94.
Rabano survived the Bataan Death March, one of the worst atrocities in World War II. His wife, Florinda, said he became a happy person.
"He loved life," she said. "Wherever we go, he befriends everybody."
Mrs. Rabano said her husband told her about brutalities soldiers endured during the march in April 1942. He told her that of 250 soldiers in his group, only 100 survived.
During the 60-mile march, Japanese troops would randomly pick one of the soldiers and make him dig his own grave. They would then blindfold him, make him kneel and cut off his head, she said.
Rabano told his wife the soldiers were only given a ball of rice and a canteen of water for the trip. He believed he survived because he did not eat and drink it all immediately.
"He saved it," she said.
After the march, the soldiers who were still alive had to ride 30 more miles on a crowded train.
"The boxcar was so airtight that some soldiers suffocated," Mrs. Rabano said.
Rabano, who was in the famous Filipino Scouts unit, was released from a prisoner-of-war camp when the Philippines were liberated in 1943. He later served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband served in Fort Bragg's 20th Engineer Battalion and helped build a bridge that was the longest in Vietnam at the time.
"He was so proud of his military service," she said.
After retiring with more than 34 years in the Army, Rabano was a longtime civilian employee at Fort Bragg and became a leader in Fayetteville's Filipino community. Mrs. Rabano said her husband was an architect who helped design a number of buildings in the area.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband's two favorite sayings were "Don't worry. Be happy," and "Take it as it comes."
"Those were the two things he always said to everybody, and to me, because I worry too much," she said.
Rabano's daughter, Esther Thompson, said she and the other children learned that their father's strict ways prepared them for life.
"Don't worry, Dad, we will be happy," she said.
Another daughter, Eleanor McCroskey, said Rabano was a brave and courageous man.
"I salute you and I love you very much," she said.
Mrs. Rabano said her husband was a survivor even during the last few days of his life.
"He was fighting for his life," she said. "He wanted to live, but the Lord said it was time to come home."
_______________________________
Jesus R. Rabano[/u][/url][/size]
(Fayetteville Observer, 03/06/12)
FAYETTEVILLE - Retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Jesus Ros Rabano, 94, of Fayetteville, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 4, 2012, in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 25, 1917, in Ligao City, Albay, Philippines. Jesus retired with 34 years of honorable service to his country. He was veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was a prisoner of war during World War II, where he survived the Bataan Death March. He retired with numerous medals and commendations. Jesus was an extraordinary architect, who practiced avidly. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Florinda D. Rabano, of the home; three daughters, Evelyn Parmenter and Esther Thompson, both of Fayetteville, and Eleanor McCroskey and her husband, Ron, of North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two sons, Rhudy Rabano and his wife, Vicki Jean, of Clayton, and Raymond Rabano and his wife, Mieko, of Fayetteville; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. A Mass will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Msgr. Michael Shugrue officiating. He will be laid to rest in Cumberland Memorial Gardens with the rendering of full military honors. A reception will be held after the burial at St. Patrick's Social Hall for family and friends. Service entrusted to Rogers and Breece Funeral Home of Fayetteville.
_______________________________
Note: NARA's Enlistedman Database states that he reenlisted with the Signal Corps as a PFC in August of 1941. He probably served with the 12th Signal Company when Bataan surrendered.
