One of my patients in the VA Anticoagulation clinic was a Batan Death March survivor. I asked his permission to inquire from him about the experience. He said, “okay.”
I asked what was the difference in those that survived the camp and those that did not? His answer was, “When you gave up you died.”
I asked what keep him going? His answer was, “The only way I had to defy the Japanese was to live one more day each day.”
He was a kind and gentle man with a soft voice. However, he was a hell of a man. He is what is called a Mans Man. I would hope that I can be half the man he was and is.
I was once told by Mr. Zale that they survived in groups of 3. 2 men alone wasn’t enough to do what needed to be done. 4 was too many.
3 men were just enough - to keep lookout for guards while others foraged for food, gains could be easily divided among 3 men without dispute. 2 could carry one man if the 3rd was ill, etc... When someone died, groups would reform, they would “adopt” orphans of other groups, etc...