KASTAUFFER Posted January 21, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2010 I just recently acquired this POW group to a Radioman who served on the USS Canopus and became a POW in the Philippines. The USS Canopus was the " little ship that could". She was a submarine tender that was damaged by Japanese aircraft, but continued to serve. Her crew made it look like she was going to sink and continued to provide service to the men on Bataan since her extensive repair facilities on board were un-damaged. She even served Ice Cream to visitors! On April 10, 1942 her crew moved her over to deep water and sank her, ending the career of a ship that served from 1922-1942. Radioman 3c Mason, moved to Corregidor after she was sunk. He was captured there on May 6, 1942 and eventually was sent to POW Camp 10A on Palawan. He was one of the lucky ones. He was moved from Palawan to Japan before the Japanese committed one of the most heinous war crimes against POW's during WWII. On Dec 14,1944 150 US POWs were herded into bomb shelters on Palawan and set ablaze by the Japanese guards. Only 11 men survived to tell the tale. Mason survived his trip to Japan and was liberated in Sept 1945 at a POW camp near Osaka Japan. He came back to the US and spent quite a bit of time in hospitals before he was discharged. While we all like Airborne, USMC, FSSF, Armored groups, ETC , these POWs in my opinion are the unsung heroes of WWII. Their service is just as important. This is a photo of RM3c Mason taken by the Japanese at Osaka POW camp in Japan. George at a happier time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share #2 Posted January 21, 2010 This last medal appears to be one awarded by the City of San Diego to her veterans. This is the first one I have ever seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted January 21, 2010 Some of the POW postcards George mailed from Camp 10A ( Palawan ) in the Philippines . There are probably no more than 10-12 of these cards from Palawan known to be in collectors hands. Much of my POW mail collection was just featured in a book that was printed last month about POW mail from the Philippines and Taiwan. It is part 5 in a series of books about POW mail from the Pacific. Here is a link to a website with many more images of POW mail from the Philippines: http://www.philippinephilatelist.net/Colle...n_Foreword.html Lastly, this is a letter George mailed from Bataan in February 1942. I also have the envelope it was mailed in. This was the only letter his family would receive from him while on Bataan and Corregidor. I also have a little diary that George kept as a POW, but it is almost entirely comprised of addresses and recipies/meal plans for food he wanted to eat when he came home. Food was always on their minds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat123 Posted January 21, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2010 Wow, very nice :w00t: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes Posted January 21, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 21, 2010 It is unbelievable what these pows endured. They are true heros. I have a pow group to a north china marine who was captured on dec 8 1942 and survived the war. I post it soon Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicjoy1945 Posted January 21, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 21, 2010 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Nice grouping Kurt !! Vic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted January 21, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2010 I don't know how you do it. These just keep getting better. The photos just add so much to these groupings and your research is excellent. Thanks for sharing this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted January 21, 2010 Thanks for the comments guys! One thing I wanted to point out about the medals is that while the Asiatic Pacific campaign and American Campaign are missing, he probably never got them. The American Defense and WWII Victory medals were available right after the war. The others weren't available to be issued until 1947-48 and many vets never got them. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted January 21, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2010 I agree, POWs are the unsung heros. Especially in the PTO. Great group. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 12, 2012 Author Share #10 Posted April 12, 2012 Bringing this one back up in conjunction with the other USS Canopus thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted April 12, 2012 Share #11 Posted April 12, 2012 :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KySoldier Posted May 5, 2012 Share #12 Posted May 5, 2012 God Bless Mr. Mason ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriscoHare Posted May 5, 2012 Share #13 Posted May 5, 2012 Always great stuff, Kurt! :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted December 8, 2012 Share #14 Posted December 8, 2012 Very nice group and I agree that these guys are the unsung heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted December 14, 2014 Back to the top in memory of the invasion of the Philippines in Dec 1941. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 9, 2015 Author Share #16 Posted April 9, 2015 Back to the top in memory of the fall of Bataan, April 9, 1942. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 9, 2017 Author Share #17 Posted April 9, 2017 Back to the top in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted May 5, 2017 Back to the top in remembrance of the 75th Anniversary Fall of Corregidor . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted April 9, 2018 Author Share #19 Posted April 9, 2018 In memory of the Fall of Bataan 76 years ago today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted May 17, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted May 17, 2019 Back up in remembrance of the Fall of Corregidor , May 6, 1942. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted May 17, 2019 Share #21 Posted May 17, 2019 Amen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
644td Posted May 21, 2019 Share #22 Posted May 21, 2019 Great piece of history. Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share #23 Posted July 27, 2022 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted December 20, 2022 Share #24 Posted December 20, 2022 Replacement Good Conduct to Ralph Searcy (Guest of the Emperor) from the USS Canopus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Sgt CES Posted January 4, 2023 Share #25 Posted January 4, 2023 What a great group ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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