Morgan, Sally Bateman 1998-06-26
Sally B. Morgan, a resident of Arlington, Texas, discusses her experiences in a Prisoner of War Civilian Camp during World War II.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Sally Bateman Morgan
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: June 26, 1998
Location: Arlington, Texas
Interviewer: David Marshall
Length: 1 hour
Abstract
Tape 1: Morgan, Sally Bateman,
b. September, 1930,
Parents,
Father – John W. Bateman,
b. Eden, North Carolina,
15th Infantry,
Stationed in China,
d. January, 1931,
Mother – (_?_) Bateman,
Chinese,
Childhood,
Received help from the American Legion,
Two older brothers,
Education,
Tin Zen – American School in China,
World War II – Americans evacuated,
Sally stayed behind,
Methodist Missionary Boarding School,
Baptist Missionary,
John Blaylock,
Caretaker for Sally and her brothers,
1941- He was no longer able to exchange American money,
He decided to take the children to America,
The only ship was to the Philippines,
November 2, 1941 – they landed in the Philippines,
Apartment in Manila,
Prisoner of War Civilian Camps,
January 5, 1942 – Japanese interrogation,
John Blaylock continued missionary work at the camp,
University of Santo Thomas,
Lack of food,
Black outs,
Air raids,
Education,
Manila,
World War II,
Barbed wire around towns in China,
Fearful – people in China had grown accustomed to it since it began in 1937,
Black rob iron – "Mepa" slivers of bamboo,
University of Santo Thomas,
Civilian Camp consisted of businessmen,
Men and women’s bedrooms were separated,
How the camp was guarded,
Los Banos,
They were later transferred to another Civilian Camp,
Classrooms were bedrooms,
Close to 7,000 prisoners,
Most deaths were due to malnutrition,
Prisoner of War Camps (continued),
Confinement,
Medical Organizations developed by prisoners,
Entertainment,
Different ethnic groups – different languages,
Food provided by Japanese,
Rice,
Wheat,
Grains,
Papaya,
Mango,
Prisoner of War Camps (1944 – 1945),
Civilian prisoner labor,
Men, women, and children,
Building barracks,
Bamboo (conditions deteriorated),
Witnessing torture towards prisoners,
Food became scarce,
Chewing on sugar cane,
11th Airborne Liberation – February 23, 1945,
Morning roll call,
Rumors that the Japanese were going to execute all the prisoners,
11th Airborne,
Military were to free 2100 prisoners,
Liberated by paratroopers,
Planes flying over the camp,
Shooting,
The Japanese were unprepared,
Amphibian tractors – rescued prisoners,
"The Angels",
Remembrances,
California – 1945,
John Blaylock provided housing for her and her brothers.
Range Dates: 1930-1998
Bulk Dates: 1930-1944
Access Information
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Transcript:
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