I am writing to you from the U.K. and just like to say all that happened to you was also experienced by my Father. Many of your hardships were the same and the same tactics used by the Japanese in my Fathers camp also. I think they had universal training in being deranged maniacs. The name of the USS Houston will stick in my brain, as the Houston went down in the Java Sea the same day as my Fathers Ship HMS Exeter in the same Battle. My Father was taken to Makassar, Indonesia, then after 6 months some were taken to Nagasaki Fukuoka Camp #2. A lot of men died of Pneumonia on the first winter there, after the Tropics it was a shock. Dad was a riveter in the Docks and when the end came (A Bomb) he was in the sick bay as he fell in the Dock and broke his arm and ribs. No Medical aids of any kind, (the norm) The U.S. medics tried to do a lot of work but as you say the Japs did not listen and in fact they made things worse. E.G. when any new POW's came to Nagasaki from the Tropics they had cold water poured all over them and with no heating in camp they fell ill quickly, so much for forgiveness, as my Dad said no wonder they were cruel to us as they were cruel to each other also, it is in them from birth.

As a family who saw our Father die aged only 50 we all agree that it was those 3 years of savagery and starvation and work that ended his life so quickly. Dad never talked a lot he just used to go down the garden in his shed and make his model boats. He was a born seaman and loved the Navy but in our country they do not look after servicemen at all. especially from Japanese hands. The Houston was the same class of ship and all those Cruiser guys were Heroes, some of the guys from the Exeter are still going today and are a jolly bunch! But it is when you go home and close the door that you remember those terrible times. You told us in the story that you will never forget the screams of the man that was put in the boiling water, same as me when I was a young boy I used to lie awake and hear my Dad shouting in his nightmares, sometimes in Japanese. I have spent many an hour sitting at the meal table staring at my food left on the plate when everyone has finished! Dad did not let us leave with any food on our plates. I was the biggest culprit and I refused to eat any more. Maybe the same stubbornness he had to survive was in me also!! Well now I can understand my Dad now!

Regards

Phil Tripp, Son