Virgil Aimes

“The zeros were coming in so close, you could see the pilot’s faces looking down. All I can remember feeling was rage at what they were doing. When a plane got close, I would empty my .30-06, reload and wait for another... Lt. Kemp was right behind me, and he kept asking, ‘Do you think you hit him?’ All I could say was, ‘I don't know.’”

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Jack Aldrich

Photo by Dr. Don Salisbury

“The atmosphere has changed for us, you know. We came home, we had been surrendered. It was the largest group of U.S. soldiers in history to be surrendered — now we emphasize we didn’t surrender, we were surrendered . . . but that was a terrible cross to bear, and it wasn't until years later that we began to open up.”

— April 3, 2004

Buddy of Pvt. Rubin Althaus Visited Here Recently

Orie B. Weeks, of Port Neches, Texas, a buddy of Pvt. Rubin Althaus during the army training period, who was with Rubin on Corregidor at the time they were captured and during the time they were in the Japanese prison, visited with Rubin’s parents only a week prior to the arrival of the telegraphic message recently advising Mr. and Mrs. Althaus of the shipping of their son’s body to the states.

Weeks was one of those permitted to attend the funeral of Pvt. Althaus in the Japanese prison camp cemetery.

As of Wednesday, this week, the body of Pvt. Althaus was still in San Antonio and no further information has been had as to when funeral services are to be held for the deceased war veteran.

— Source and Date Unknown

Rubin Althaus was from Fredericksburg, Texas. He died December 12, 1942 at Hoten POW Camp in Mukden, Manchuria. Orie Weeks was with HQ Btry. 2nd Bn, 200th CA(AA). He was also a Mukden POW.

Vetalis Anderson, MD

1908 - 1967

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San Juan ‘Sam’ Antonio

“... a Japanese soldier ripped Antonio’s wallet from his shirt pocket, went through it, taking what money Antonio had. Then he flipped the wallet on the ground and looked at Antonio as if to dare him to pick it up.

‘My mother’s picture was in it but a guy told me not to go get it.’

As he stood in the dirt and stared at the only visible link to his family, he could hear shots around him. He could also hear the sound of Japanese soldiers stabbing American and Filipino troops with their bayonets.

‘They liked the sound of the way the bayonet goes into your body.’

He let the wallet lie there.”

— Jan Jonas for the

Albuquerque Tribune

At the age of 82, Sam Antonio, captured on Corregidor, won two gold medals for archery (Men's 70+ Freestyle Limited Compound - FITA and IFAA Fields) at the World Masters Games in Melbourne, Australia in October 2002.

Mr. Antonio received medals he earned in defense of the Philippines in WWII in a ceremony in Grants, New Mexico on December 20, 2007.

Manuel A. Armijo

In 1946, Manuel Anastacio Armijo went to the [then] Capitol building in Santa Fe, lowered the American flag, and raised a homemade white flag in its place. He stood in silent reflection, then lowered the white flag. On April 9, 2004, Mr. Armijo officiated over what became an annual event, the Bataan Memorial Ceremony, for the last time. Citing health and age, he felt it was time for the “younger” generation to take over. Mr. Armijo passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2004. He was 92.

“His heroism and courage will set an example for New Mexicans for generations to come.”

— Governor Bill Richardson