Happy Anniversary...

I should have posted this yesterday. Forgive me. In talking with my mom last night she mentioned that "today is the 60th anniversary of your Dad's liberation". Yes, my dad was a child in a POW camp - information below. 60 years ago yesterday he was liberated. I suppose this date should "pop up" in my internal calendar but it's not. He doesn't talk about this experience so what I know about this piece of my family history I learn from research, the internet, overhearing conversations.

Happy Anniversary to my Dad & Thank you General Mac Arthur - I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.

Santo Thomas University (University of Santo Tomas)
Founded in 1611 as the College of the Holy Rosary, it became a university in 1645. It was the second university in the Philippines, and the oldest university in Asia, Santo Thomas predated Harvard by 25 years.

POW Camp
After the Japanese occupation of Manila, its main building was used to hold civilian POWs, and classrooms for sleeping quarters from January 4, 1942 - February 3, 1945. In total there were 3,787 prisoners: 3,792 Americans, 733 British, 200 Australians, 61 Canadians, 51 Dutch, 8 French, 1 Swiss, 2 Egyptians, 2, Spanish, 1 German, 1 Slovak. All were held for a total of 37 months, and 466 died in captivity. Three attempted escape February 15, 1942 and were shot, one successfully escaped in January 1945. Were you interned at Santo Thomas? Contact Us.

Hostage Situation & Liberation
On February 3, the university was liberated by the US Army 1st Calvary Division (8th Regiment, 1st Brigade). They were backed by five tanks from the 44th Tank Battalion. They were assisted by Filipino Guerrillas. The tanks entered thru the gate at Calle Espana after a brief skirmish, freeing many of the captives. The Japanese, commanded by Lt. Col. Toshio Hayashi gathered the remaining internees together in the Education Building, as hostages, exchanging pot shots with the Americans. On February 4th, they negotiated with the Americans to allow them to rejoin Japanese troops to the south of the city. Americans allowed this to save the hostages, allowing them to only carry their rifles, pistols and swords. On the morning of February 5, 47 Japanese were escorted out of the university to the spot they requested. Each group saluted each other and departed. The Japanese were unaware the area they requested was near the American occupied Malacanang, and soon afterwards were fired upon and several killed including Hayashi. Later in the afternoon, some of the same group returned to Santo Thomas, captured as prisoners during the same day.