About the author: Robert William Kentner (January 29, 1917 — November 29, 2003), veteran, POW, businessman. His obituary in the Frederick News-Post, December 2, 2003, states that,
Mr. Robert W. Kentner, 86, of Country Meadows of Frederick, formerly of Lewes, Del., died Saturday, Nov. 29 at his home.
He was the husband of Maureen M. Kentner, his wife of 58 years.
Born… in Buffalo, N.Y., he was a son of the late Edward and Ella Gattle Kentner.
Mr. Kentner was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving 22 years and retiring as lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. His military career began before World War II. During the war he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Canacao, Philippines, serving as a pharmacist mate. When the Japanese invaded, he was held prisoner of war in Bilibid Prison for three and-a-half years…
In 1955, he joined CIBA Pharmaceutical Co., Washington, rising from sales representative to U.S. government sales manager. He dealt with the government and all branches of the military and also represented the pharmaceutical industry on Capitol Hill.
Upon his retirement in 1976, he had the time to pursue his passion for golf, which began in his early teens. Several highlights of his golfing career were playing golf with his four brothers, making 14 holes-in-one and enjoying a golf outing in 1997 at Augusta National with his son, Jeff.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Eileen K. Long and husband Richard T. of Frederick, Maryann E. McFee and husband Douglas of Lewes, and Jeffery W. Kentner and wife Pamela of Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren, R. Thomas Long Jr. and wife Laura, Michael R. Long and wife Erin, Maureen McFee, Kara McFee, Megan McFee, Beth Kentner and Tracey Kentner; and two brothers, Edward Kentner and wife Jane of Vero Beach, Fla., and Martin Kentner and wife Jane of Tucson, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Richard Kentner.
About the diary: Typescript, titled Kentner’s Journal: The War’s Most Incredible Document, Bilibid Prison, Manila, P.I. from 12-8-41 to 2-5-45, A Daily Journal of Events Connected with the Personnel of the U. S. NAVAL HOSPITAL, CANACAO, P. I . From the Outbreak of the War in the Philippine Islands 12-8-41 Until the Liberation of Bilibid Prison 2-8-45. In the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Office of Medical History Collection of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, United States Navy.
It was presented to the Hospital Corps Archives Unit, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, by the author, on April 21, 1945, after his arrival as a repatriated prisoner of war, at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD.
His obituary states that,
While imprisoned he kept a secret journal of daily events connected with the POWs who entered and left Bilibid until liberation Feb. 5, 1945. His journal was used by the War Department to determine the location of military personnel who had died while under Japanese control.