Anyone who has not read Ghost Soldiers, really should do so. It is heart wrenching but a story of great courage and will give you an idea of what these guys went through. Amazing story.
My prayers for Mr. Wilayto’s family, and good on him for living a long life after such hardship and horror.
Thank you and Godspeed Mr. Wilayto.
My late uncle was a Bataan survivor as well. He didn’t speak of it until shortly before his death and then only very briefly.
This had to be one very strong man. God rest his soul.
Go to your reward, Mr. Wilayto. God Bless.
To absent comrades:
"We're the battling bastards of Bataan;
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam.
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces.
And nobody gives a damn.
Nobody gives a damn.
by Frank Hewlett 1942
From a long essay:
What of the last survivors of Bataan?
Some of them died in mental hospital.
Some died of ills from their imprisonment.
Some died by their own hand, some on Skid Row.
But looking at the rest, executives, physicians, sergeants, priests, you wouldn't guess the purgatory these men had endured.
And so, with grace, and, most remarkable, a signal absence of vindictiveness, the few survivors reached a calm old age.
Check your library for "bataan: Our Last ditch" by John W. Whitman. IMO, the definitive book on the Bataan defense. I always thought we got out butts beat pretty badly but we and the Filipinos put up one Helluva fight.
Again, IMO, it was the incompetence of MacArthur that led to this disaster and had we not needed a hero so badly, there is a case for his being court martialed. (last paragraphs)
Henry John Wilayto, may you rest in peace.
We lost my wifes father this fall. He was a WWII Naval veteran. I hope they all have peaceful rest considering all they have given us.
RIP.
My neighbor is a survivor of the Death March.
He has lived his life to the fullest, and is still going strong!
Amazing what he went through, and has outlived so many others of his generation.
(Still hates Japanese cars, too!)
Anyone who questions the A-bomb should read about Bataan.
The bayoneting stories made me tear up.
The Japanese were fanatical savages.