Don Bavier POW in Japan

Hear Don Bavier explain what it was like to be a coastal defense gunner on the Island of Corriegidor (called the Rock) when WW II started on Dec. 7th 1941.  When the Bataan Peninsula fell after heavy fighting for three months causing the Bataan Death March, Corrieidor stood alone in Manilla harbor which the Japanese needed very badly.  The Japanese fired artillery relentlessly at Corriegidor which was only two miles from the southern tip of Bataan until the Rock was surrerendered in May of 1942.  At that time Don became a POW of Japan.  For the next three and a half years Don fought for his life.  Don’s weight fell to around 85 lbs.  He was beaten and overworked.  Hear Don explain about the deseases that riddled all of the men’s bodies.

Where: Dexter Michigan Library