He went quietly, surrounded by family, and in no pain so probably the best way one could die.
My aunt produced a
film about his time (not specifically his, but the general area of Bataan) in Japanese prison camps during WW2. This is a clip from his obituary which my aunt also wrote which tells of his experiences:
Quote:
He was a Pharmacist Mate on the U.S.S. Canopus when Imperial Japan attacked the Philippines. He and the crew escaped to Corregidor Island after the ship was scuttled the night before Major-General King surrendered the Bataan Forces. He was on Corregidor Island when U.S forces were surrendered to the Imperial Japanese on May 6, 1942. He was a prisoner-of-war for three and half years, serving as a Pharmacist Mate at Bilibid Prison in Manila until December 13, 1944 when he and 1620 other men were crammed in the holds of the Hell Ship, Oryoku Maru. Soon after leaving Manila the ship was bombed and sunk by U.S. Navy bombers. After swimming to shore he was placed on a second ship, the Enoura Maru, that was also attacked and disabled by U.S. Navy bombers at Takao Harbor, Formosa. The remainder of the survivors were placed on a third ship, the Brazil Maru, finally arriving at Moji, Japan, on January 30, 1945. Less than 550 of the original draft reached Japan alive and fewer than 400 survived the war. Ironically, Bilibid Prison was liberated, by American forces under General MacArthur, only a few days after Robert arrived in Japan. In April 1945, Robert was transported to Mukden Manchuria for the duration of his POW imprisonment until Imperial Japan surrendered. He was liberated by Russian Troops August 16, 1945.
He was an amazing man - I will miss him.