About the author: Manuel Gutierrez Nevarez (May 12, 1918 — June 25, 2013) California National Guardsman called to federal service as a member of C Company, 194th Tank Battalion. He took part in the death march, was held at Camp O’Donnell and Cabanatuan, later transported to Formosa athen Japan and held at Sendai #7. The American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum entry has this information:
After graduation from high school in June 1939, Menarez, joined the Salinas’ 40th Tank Company of the 40th Infantry of the 40th Infantry of the California National Guard. In Sept. 1940, it became Company C, 194th Tank Battalion and in February, 10th, 1941 the US Army activated the unit into federal service. In Sept. 8, 1941, Manny found himself on the USS President Coolidge, heading to the Philippines, to protect the parameter of Clark Air Force Base. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Clark Field he was ordered to Bataan to try to halt the advancing Japanese. On April 9, 1942, his company lost 10 tanks and six men and joined the Bataan Death March.
About the diary: Available as Diary of Manuel Nevarez: Written while held a Prisoner of War by the Japanese April 9, 1942–September 9, 1945 in the Philippine Defenders Main site; the diary, however, only has entries from January 28, 1944, to September 7, 1945. The Philippine Diary Project contains only the author’s entries from January 28 1944, until October 9, 1944; the ending months of captivity in the Philippines and the departure of POWs from Manila. As the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum entry which also hasextended extracts from the diary explains:
While he was held at San Fernando to clean a warehouse, he found a small tablet and a pencil he used for a diary at Camp O’Donnell. The Japanese discovered and confiscated his small book and he beat him severely. He started a second diary, but it too was taken from him, this time at Cabanatuan. In mid-1943, he departed to Japan on a hellship in mid-1943 he began another diary and this one survived. Manuel salvaged this diary by holding it between his legs and other occasions he buried it in the ground. In mid-1943, he departed to Japan on a hellship in mid-1943 he began another diary and this one survived.