BATAAN DEATH MARCH Jim Ganyon NO SURRENDER A Soldier’s Story NO SURRENDER A Soldier’s Story
About the Author Robert Edward Morris is the son of First Lieutenant Robert Lee Morris. After graduating from the University of Nevada in 1971 with a degree in Education, he entered active duty with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia following four years of U.S. Army Reserve duty in Reno, Nevada.
Having been adopted at three years of age he grew up hearing stories about his biological and adopted fathers’ wartime experiences. With the discovery of his biological family in 1982, Robert found himself reflecting on the stories of his fathers’ struggles as a Japanese Prisoner of War and later with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]. In the years that followed, speaking with his biological mother and siblings he attended the annual meeting of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (ADBC) in 2000. Following the award of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Morris family on behalf of Lieutenant Morris’ wartime command of Filipino soldiers, and his valor during the Battle of Bataan in 1942, he decided to transcribe the surviving family memories and documents, learning more about his father and the war that shaped him than he ever realized.
To my mother Emma, sisters Elaine, Emily, Janice and brother Charles the memory of my father Robert, And the sacrifices of the men of the Philippine Division, Philippine Army, whose heroic efforts helped to ultimately win the war, and preserve our heritage.
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I know that every man and woman in the United States admires with me General MacArthur's determination to fight to the finish with his men in the Philippines. But I also know that every man and woman is in agreement that all important decisions must be made with a view toward the successful termination of the war. Knowing this, I am sure that every American, if faced individually with the question as to where General MacArthur could best serve his country, could come to only one answer
Frank Hewlett, 1942 American Correspondent My brother’s a soldier, who fought on Bataan, Though heartsick and weary, he fought on and on. Now’s he’s in a Jap prison, he’s been there for years, And all but forgotten our bright Christmas cheer. May the Lord watch over him on this Christmas Day, And bring him home safely, for this I do pray.
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-Upon on evacuation from Corregidor by the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt - March 17, 1942 We’re the battling bastards of Bataan No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces, No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces And nobody gives a damn Nobody gives a damn.
-My Christmas Prayer Chloe Shandy (Hiebert) 1944
“I Shall Return.” General Douglas MacArthur, March 11, 1942.
lot from Alaska to Mexico. He wandered like he was running away from demons and ghosts or something he couldn’t find. Dad suffered from nightmares and flashbacks. Then his trouble from alcohol would reappear, and he’d wander again. Dad loved holidays, especially Christmas. He would always come home. My first clear memory of Dad was at Easter when I was four in Eugene, OR. Dad bought me a beautiful pink dress, pink shoes, bonnet and gloves. I can still feel the joy as I danced around, because daddy was home.
Saved……saved for another day, Saved for hunger, wounds, and heat, For slow exhaustion, and grim retreat, For a wasted hope, and sure defeat. No bright gleam of Victory luring, No chance for splendid booty or for gain, If I endure, I must go on enduring, And my reward for bearing pain……is pain, Yet though the thrill, the zest, the hope, is gone,
Something within me keeps fighting on.
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Lt. Henry Lee, 31st Infantry Regiment. 1944 -Written after stopping the Japanese breakthrough at the Battle of Abucay. -Lt. Lee was killed in 1945, when the prison ship taking him to Japan was sunk by American bombers.
My dad was and still is my hero. I always felt safe when he was home. Dad was a loving father and a brave man who would jump in to do what he had to do to protect and help people. He also was badly wounded in heart and soul by the war and the horrific things he Dadexperienced.travelleda
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A Daughter Remembers Her Father: Lieutenant Robert Lee Morris.
Elaine Lee Morris
War and the problems taken home from it are often brutal to families, the soldiers, wives, and children.
When I was eleven at Christmas, we saw a WWII movie about the Japanese attacking the Philippines. In one scene a family was brutalized. Dad jumped up and said we had to go. The scene was a trigger for him. I never saw him again. Later I learned that my daddy had died. My mother went to his funeral alone with help from our church in Brewster, WA. I cried into the orange fur of the kitten that daddy had given me.
A peeping Tom had been looking into our windows making my mother hysterical. He came again when Dad was home. Dad charged out the back door. My heart was racing. I heard shouting then sirens and flashing lights. Daddy had caught the guy, and the police took him away. But this confrontation triggered my Dad, and he was gone, again!
At 5 in Florence, OR. Dad was home for Christmas and took me to a beauty parlor for a perm, and then had my picture taken to surprise my Mother. I was so delighted!
When I was nine, we went camping near Yellowstone Park. We slept in a big nylon tent at the edge of the woods. A large bear came that night and clawed and growled at the tent where I lay. I screamed, and Daddy chased the bear away with a big stick.
Robert Edward Morris AKA: James R. Ganyon Son of Lieutenant Robert Lee Morris Philippine Division, Philippine Army October 2019
Many of us are knowledgeable of World War II and the tremendous amount of death and suffering that came to the world. This book is dedicated to the brave men and women of the Philippines who bravely fought, suffered, and sacrificed during the early days of the war. The American and Filipino soldiers with little provisions and no hope of resupply, outdated weapons, no air support, limited ammo and medical supplies, and no hope of rescue from the United States held their ground to the end. To their memories this book is devoted, that their call of duty and honor of country will be remembered. Many made the utmost sacrifice. To these our nation is most grateful. Many will not remember the Bataan Death March, the Hell ships, and the ‘Shooting Squads.’ It is the hope of this author that those who read this account will cherish the freedoms that these veterans selflessly dedicated their all.
On October 27, 2017 my sister Emily Morris stood in proxy to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. on the behalf of our father who fought with the 92nd Philippine Division (PA) and was a prisoner of war for 3 years and 8 months.
v AUTHOR’S NOTE
vi Introduction
Author Morris/Ganyon doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. War really is hell, and he reminds us to be grateful for our fighting men and women who help keep our country safe, despite the risks to their physical and emotional well-being.
Readers of NO SURRENDER will learn why Robert Edward Morris, AKA James R. Ganyon, had the personal motivation to seek and discover answers regarding military history and his family secrets.
NO SURRENDER is an impressive tale because it reveals important, true stories of struggle, life, duty, and death. Author Morris/Ganyon takes us to the Philippines during the earliest days of World War II in the U. S. Pacific War, where we are saddened and shocked by the atrocities of the Japanese military. At the same time, we’re in awe of the ability of American and Filipino servicemen to survive inhumane conditions, especially the POW Americans who were used as slave labor in Japan.
Jim Potter, author of Taking Back the Bullet: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told and Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self Discovery
NO SURRENDER: A Soldier’s Story I was a history major in college, but I learned more about the Bataan Death March reading NO SURRENER: A Soldier’s Story, than I did attending classes.
Praise for No Surrender
A wonderful story of wartime drama, heroism, self-sacrifice, and family reunion. – Bob Eldridge, Vietnam veteran, U.S. Navy, Ordained Pastor, PTSD Counselor, Reno, Nevada
A powerful and emotional story that shows perseverance and triumph through tragedy. – Kelly McClure, Public school teacher, Master of Education Degree in Trauma and Resilience in Education, Concordia University, Portland, Oregon, Lyons, Kansas
A gripping tale of true facts and events that evokes deep emotions within the reader. It is definitely an eye opener to the horrors and atrocities these men endured, as well as spotlights the very sad fact of PTSD and the veterans of today. Well written and enjoyable; a must read! – Sarah E. Singleton, Reno, Nevada. Jim is a man of faith and integrity. I believe the Lord will reveal this to your heart as you read this inspirational book.Luanne Haddaway. Retired Hospital Chaplain and Pastor of Mt. Olivet Worship Center Church, Hutchinson, Kansas.
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viii Contents Introduction vi Chapter One: Surrender 1 Chapter Two: Death March. 7 Chapter Three: San Fernando and O’Donnell. 13 Chapter Four: Cabanatuan 21 Chapter Five: Hell Ships and Death at Sea 29 Chapter Six: Japan, Slave of the Emperor 35 Chapter Seven: B-29s 39 Chapter Eight: Liberation 43 Chapter Nine: Home at Last 47 Chapter Ten: Living with Memories 49 Chapter Eleven: Along Came Me 53 Chapter Twelve: Difficult Years 57 Chapter Thirteen: Reunion 59 Chapter Fourteen: Congressional Gold Medal 63 Photo Gallery 66 Chapter Fifteen: Final Tribute 69 Bibliography 69
Damn Japs. They always like to creep in at night and slit your throat if you weren’t watching. Lost a few men that way the last few weeks. Found them dead in the morning. My boys are tired, hungry, and worn out, but they are fighters. Nobody messes with the Filipino Soldiers especially the Scouts, nobody. The boys know the jungle. They know how to fight and how to die. They will do their duty. Not sure how this whole thing is going to end, but we are going to kill a lot more Japs before our time comes. Morris grabbed two hand grenades, picked up his 1903 Springfield rifle and headed out to check his perimeter and his troops. As he walked the perimeter, he looked at each man, and felt his throat dry up. He was proud of these guys. They had taken a lot from the Japs, and they had given out a lot. Japs had paid with a lot of blood. Sometimes the fighting was hand-to-hand with entrenching tools and bayonets. You had to do it with whatever was available, it was either him or me.
It had been a long hard steamy night. Dawn was approaching. The birds no longer whispered their sweet songs. Too much death and dying here on Bataan. It had driven them away. The humming of those damn mosquitoes kept buzzing around Lieutenant Morris’ head. Smoke from the previous days battle still lingered in the air mixing with the dew and fog from the jungle heat. Damn, it’s always hot, Morris thought. I wonder if the Japs will come at us today. Hope not, they might break through our lines. Better check on the boys.
Rescue, Hell, why wasn’t Uncle Sam sending us a rescue force to send these Jap soldiers back to where they came from. It had been over four months of fighting and dying on this
1 CHAPTER ONE SURRENDER
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peninsula, little food, hardly any medicine especially for the Yellow Fever, hand grenades that didn’t explode half the time, no air support, and not much artillery either. Very little ammo.
December 7, 1941 2350 Hours. 31st Infantry Regimental Headquarters, Philippine Islands. It was rather warm evening for December as Morris, Sergeant of the Guard, set out to check the perimeter wire and the guard gates. What a boring duty. Having to check the post area every 2 hours wasn’t a thrilling job. Earlier in the day Morris had been spending his time drilling his platoon and barracks inspection for the brass. Christmas was only two and half weeks away. He couldn’t wait, then he would be on a twoweek leave. Maybe go to the Hawaiian Islands, soak up the sun, and check out the girls.
Morris pondered about the last several years. He had orders for China in 1939 but was transferred to the Philippines with the 31st Infantry, his old unit.1 31st was a damn good unit, and they would never run from a fight. However, he did think a lot about Japan. Having been in China he had seen how the Japanese Army had treated the Chinese people and homeland. He had heard what they did in Nanking in 1937. He wondered if the day would come when the U.S.A. would have to settle things with them. China was a time of growing up for him. It certainly opened his eyes about other parts of the world. A lot of the guys hung out at the bars after duty hours picking up girls or getting drunk. That wasn’t for him. Uncle Sam would have a fit if they had found out about him lying about 1 31stInfantry Regiment (The Army History.org).
Had to watch how much ammo you used. Hell, of a way to fight a war. He thought of better days in Manila when war first came, he was Sergeant of the Guard that night when all hell broke loose.
3 his age. Heck, he was only 17 when he joined in 1939. China certainly wasn’t like the San Francisco Bay area. Lots of rice paddies and mud huts with thatch roofs. Constantly seeing Mama San in a hurry somewhere with a baby on her chest and a big bundle balanced on her head. Then there was Papa San riding down the chochi path on his bicycle. The cities were worse crammed with people, bicycles, rickshaws, and taxis all trying to run into each other in the open square. Continuing on he quickly headed back to his Headquarters to catch up on his reports. Next check would be at 0400 hours. It was now Monday, December 8, 1941 and he would be off duty at 0800 hours. Morris picked up his step crossing the Post parade grounds towards his Headquarters Quonset hut. 0400 hours. Morris was startled when the Regimental Staff Duty Officer (SDO) burst through his office door, face flushed and out of breath. Lieutenant Brown SDO began spurting something out that the Radio Operator in Manila had picked up a transmission from California stating something about an attack at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Morris grabbing the SDO by the shoulders tried to calm the hysterical Lieutenant, telling him to slow down. “What’s going on?” Morris asked.
Brown shouted, “The Japs are bombing Pearl Harbor “WhatDammit!”!”Morris exclaimed. “0330 hours we got the radio transmission. They’re waking up McArthur now.”
Brown said, "but soon. I think we are at war."
0800 hours: Morris completed his duty reports and headed back to catch some shut eye in his quarters. Boy, my bed will feel great after an entire night of checking guards and buildings. Everything was secure and he was ready for some rack time, but he knew that orders might be coming out soon that day. Pearl Harbor attacked? Damn Japs. It’s going to be hard to get some sleep today. As he lay in his bunk Morris’s mind drifted off to his days in high school and his girlfriend. Hanging out on the beach swimming and surfing was how he passed the time with his buddies and girlfriend. Seems like a long time ago. Yawning deeply he turned on his side and closed his eyes, within two minutes he was fast asleep. The war could wait he figured. Hours later Morris was startled out of his deep sleep by the sounds of loud explosions and aircraft flying over the Post parade grounds. Jumping to his feet and running outside, he saw the under belly of a Jap Zero directly overhead with the big red meatballs painted on its “Japs”wings. he shouted. Manila was being bombed. The war had arrived at the Philippines. It was now 1230 hours. Morris went to work. He had to get to his outfit quickly. Seems like a long time ago he thought. A long time ago.
"Yeah," Morris replied, "I think you’re right, Lieutenant. We are at war."
Morris stopped for a moment then said, “I better get to my posts and check our perimeter. Has the 31stCO been notified yet?.”"Notyet,"
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On January 2, 1942 General MacArthur granted him a battlefield commission to Second Lieutenant and transformed him to command an all Filipino company with the 92st Philippine Infantry Division. 2 For the last three months it been a hell hole with all the fighting and dying going on. Now it had been only three weeks ago when he turned 19 years old in March 1942. What a place this was to celebrate your birthday surrounded by Japs, bugs, snakes, and the Yellow Fever. Wish I was back at the California beach, he thought as he peered through the triple canopy jungle atop Mt. Sumat wondering if he would see any movement by the enemy. He saw nothing.
General King gave the order that all units and personnel were to move down the hill from their current locations and meet the lead elements of General Homma’s 21st Division. Morris’ unit had held their ground, but many units of the I and II Corps had been swept off the slopes by the Japanese attack. The war was over for Lieutenant Morris and his small band of Filipino troops. He wondered what would happen next.
2 Battlefield Commission (2000)(Oral History of Emma Morris)
April 9, 1942. As the sun was rising in the sky Morris looked at his watch, 1030 hours, no Japs yet, no artillery or motor rounds dropping in their positions. He wondered when their attack would come. Then he heard traffic on the radio. His radioman Corporal Hilman came a running and screaming. General King had just surrendered to the Japanese. All U.S. and Filipino units were being ordered to surrender and lay down their arms. “Son of a bitch,” muttered Lieutenant Morris. What the hell is going on? Surrender?