Then came the fall of Corregidor May fifth. I shall never forget the night before it fell, for the guns 30 miles away could be heard all through the night and I knew that it was the last desperate effort to defend itself. The horrible feeling of insecurity m the immense distance that separated us from protection and the realization of the very thin thread of hope left made me weak. How I feared for my children. I knew that Carl and I could take a lot of punishment, but the thought of the children suffering filled me with horror. I strengthened my resolution not to lose faith. I must keep my morale up, for the very life of my family depended.on me to take what came m good grace. That was my stern duty — that was my role.
Now the Japenese knew they were winning and proclaimed a holiday and held a victory parade celebrating the fall of Corregidor. They floated big posters on balloons so tall that they could be seen and read in camp. American flags were tied to small! balloons and allowed to float away. One little British boy told me that one was floating away over the camp, but I could not look up. We did not know how the Filipinos would react to these facts and to this propaganda.
It was a tight spot and I knew it. Our captured men were forced to march through the streets while movies were made for Japanese propaganda by which they planned to win the natives over. But, “Tis an ill wind that blows no good,” and when the Commandant stated in his victory speech that, “Japan can afford to be generous while she is winning”, we took advantage of his words and asked for more privileges. Some of them were granted.