Escape From Davao (65 page)

142
Upon exiting:
McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 54.

142
In Barracks Five:
Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 54.

10. A BIG CROWD

PAGE

143
“I probed the whirling darkness”:
Lee, “Anniversary of Parting,”
Nothing but Praise
, 27.

143
Crankcase oil and powdered lime:
McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 43.

143
Generally, the reports just smelled funny:
Heisinger,
Father Found
, 320; Knox,
Death
March
, 261; Calvin G. Jackson,
Diary of Col. Calvin G. Jackson, M.D.
(Ada: Ohio Northern University Press, 1992), 94–96; Hawkins, film treatment, 211; McCracken,
Very Soon Now,
Joe
, 56–64.

143
“It’s Christmas, Commander McCoy!”:
McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 80; McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 64.

144
Each POW received approximately:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Dyess,
The Dyess
Story
, 160–61; Hawkins, film treatment, 212–13; American Red Cross Prisoner of War Invalid Food Package No. 1, NARA, RG 407, Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1905–1981, Box 144, 2–4; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 81–82.

144
The rejuvenating effect:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 107–8.

144
The belated Christmas gifts:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 157, 163–64; Grashio,
Return to
Freedom
, 103.

144
On the heels:
McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 66–68; Boelens, “Diary,” 42; Dyess,
The
Dyess Story
, 166.

145
Nineteen forty-three, by all early indications:
Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 45; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 112; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 163–65.

146
the appeal to Major Maeda’s pocketbook:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 197–200; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 84; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Robert Spielman, author’s interview.

148
Confounded, the Japanese:
La Forte et al.,
With Only the Will to Live
, 158; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 112; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 202.

148
The plotters decided:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 210.

149
Abrina’s support was a major coup:
Daws,
Prisoners of the Japanese
, 99–101; Diary of Major Wil iam J. Priestly, NARA, RG 407, Box 1482 (the time period for these escape attempts, as compiled by Priestly, spans the camp’s inception in June 1942 through the culmination of America’s reconquest of the Philippines in early 1945); McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 48.

For American military personnel in World War II, the question of whether to attempt to escape was a decision not only influenced by one’s own unique circumstances of captivity, but also certain moral and legal obligations both real and perceived. Some American officers, more so senior officers than junior ones, were aware that they were expected to escape in the event of being captured by an enemy. This topic had reportedly been addressed in their commissioning oaths and other regulations. Most enlisted men, however, were ignorant of any such regulations.

The topic was not ful y and official y addressed until the standardized U.S. Armed Forces Code of Conduct was issued in 1955.

150
Geography was perhaps:
Robert Spielman, Smal wood interview; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 209–12.

151
Thanks to Shofner:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 180–91, 203–4; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 203; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 103.

151
Even so, there was an ominous sign:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 215–19; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 20–21.

151
Austin Shofner was doing more:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 166.

152
“When do we go?”:
Ibid., 167; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 118.

152
Hawkins and Dobervich:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 219–20; Hawkins quoted in
Abilene Reporter-News
(Texas), May 25, 2003.

152
At nightfall, the Marines:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 220–26; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 66; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 20–22; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 167.

155
The Japanese had challenged:
Hawkins, film treatment, 227–34; Grashio,
Return to
Freedom
, 109.

156
The conspirators could not dwell:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 235–37; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 69–71; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 120.

11. THE PLAN

PAGE

158
“All night in endless circles”:
Henry Lee, “Awakening,”
Nothing but Praise
, 37.

158
In spite of their iron resolve:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 123.

158
They soon realized:
Ibid., 120, 124; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview.

158
They began formulating:
Hawkins, film treatment, 238–39; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 124; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 170.

159
A Sunday, they then decided:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 206; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 124–25.

159
Unfortunately, there was:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 217; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 83–84; Hawkins, film treatment, 240.

160
As plans progressed:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 133; Roper,
Brothers of Paul
, 73–78.

160
They then decided:
Shofner, Smal wood interview; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 103, 118; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 168.

161
They were also looking out:
Knox,
Death March
, 264; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 71–72; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 212.

161
After compiling a list:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 241–45; Austin Shofner, Smal wood interview.

161
When he wasn’t pilfering tools:
McCoy,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 86; Mel nik,
Philippine
Diary
, 214–15; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 126; Hawkins, film treatment, 243–47.

162
After so many other nerve-racking effects:
Austin Shofner, Smal wood interview.

162
McCoy and Spielman were anxious:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 214–18; Hawkins, film treatment, 247.

163
Sam Grashio, always:
Hawkins, film treatment, 247–49; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 91–93; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 127–28. Although Hawkins feels strongly on the matter, Grashio declined ful credit for the recruitment of de la Cruz and Jumarong. He later speculated that the colonos had in al probability already been selected by Pop Abrina—as the latter had promised to McCoy and Mel nik he would do—and steered to Grashio, a natural intermediary because his current work assignment at the dispensary facilitated an ease of communication between the two parties.

163
Six feet tall:
Mercedes Brolagda, author’s interview; Eduardo Gardé, author’s interview.

164
Despite the portentous significance:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 124–25; Hawkins, film treatment, 250–52.

165
What little free time:
Robert Spielman, Smal wood interview;
Davao Penal Colony
, NARA, RG 389, Box 2135, 113; Shofner, RECORD, 8; Dyess, EXPERIENCES, 12–13.

165
Dyess daringly exacted:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 159–60; Acenas,
Silver Jubilee Book

—1957
, 32–33.

166
Austin Shofner was determined:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins,
Never Say
Die
, 94–97; Hawkins, film treatment, 252–56; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 216–17; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 88; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 23.

12. CAT-AND-MOUSE

PAGE

168
“All night I lie with eyes”:
Lee, “Awakening,”
Nothing but Praise
, 37.

168
The POWs, so deeply immersed:
Hawkins, film treatment, 257–63; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 80–81.

170
Nonsense—that was Melvyn McCoy’s response:
Hawkins, film treatment, 264–65; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 23–24.

171
On March 17:
Hawkins, film treatment, 265–66; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Dobervich, DESCRIPTION, ENCLOSURE “B,” 2; McCracken,
Very Soon Now, Joe
, 57; Boelens, “Diary,” 44.

172
On some level:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 169–70; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 219–21; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 88–89.

174
Returning to the coffee patch:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 221; Hawkins, film treatment, 266–67; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview.

175
Visibly shaken:
Hawkins, film treatment, 268–69; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 24–26; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 129.

176
Once darkness fell:
Hawkins, film treatment, 270–73; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 101–2; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 170.

177
The day began:
Hawkins, film treatment, 273–76.

178
Toiling in the rain:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 222; McCoy, ESCAPE, 23; Boelens, “Diary,” 45; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 28; Hawkins, film treatment, 278; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 91–92; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 129.

179
Dyess, Grashio, and Boelens:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 129; Dyess,
The Dyess
Story
, 170; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview.

180
But that did not mean:
Hawkins, film treatment, 269–70; Hawkins,
Never Say Die
, 101–2; Shofner, RECORD, 8, McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 93–95; Dyess, EXPERIENCES, 14.

181
By the time the compound:
Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 26.

13. A MIRACLE

PAGE

185
“I am awake”:
Lee, “Awakening,”
Nothing but Praise
, 39.

185
Just before dawn:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 225; Hawkins, film treatment, 280.

185
In their barracks:
McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 95–96; Shofner, “Guerril a Diary,” 32–33.

186
Thanks to Mike Dobervich:
Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Hawkins, film treatment, 281.

186
Paul Marshall was perhaps:
Paul Marshal , author’s interview.

186
In Barracks Eight:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 225; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from
Tojo
, 96.

186
Back in Barracks Five:
Bert Bank, author’s interview.

187
It was almost 0800:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 133; Roper,
Brothers of Paul
, 81–82.

187
On his way back:
Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 133–34.

187
Pop Abrina, in all probability:
Affidavit of Candido Abrina (sent to U.S. secretary of war through the American high commissioner), February 16, 1946,

Abrina family records, 21.

187
With McCoy out front:
Hawkins, film treatment, 281–83; Jack Hawkins, author’s interview; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Robert Spielman, author’s interview.

188
“I knew that the next”:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 171; Hawkins,
Never Say Die,
109; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 226.

189
Abrina had a jaunt:
Affidavit of Candido Abrina, 21.

189
Their first hurdle cleared:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 226; Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 172.

189
If ever there was:
Marshal , author’s interview; Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 227; McCoy, ESCAPE, 21, 24; McCoy and Mel nik,
Ten Escape from Tojo
, 98; 190
In the span of several minutes:
Dyess,
The Dyess Story
, 172–73; McCoy, ESCAPE, 25; Hawkins, film treatment, 285.

191
The escapees sat silently:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 227–28; McCoy, ESCAPE, 25; Hawkins, film treatment, 286.

191
The escape party:
Hawkins, film treatment, 287–89; Paul Marshal , author’s interview.

192
The afternoon sun:
Mel nik,
Philippine Diary
, 229; Hawkins, film treatment, 289–92; Paul Marshal , author’s interview; Austin Shofner, Smal wood interview; Grashio,
Return to Freedom
, 135–36, Hawkins,
Never Say Die
,