Jack Arthur Comstock

(1914-1996). M.D., attending surgeon at Sternberg Hospital. Ward surgeon at General Hospitals No. 1 and No. 2 on Bataan. P.O.W. in Cabanatuan. Fort McKinley and Bilibid Prison.

May 8, 1942

“Went over the hump” today as this ends the first day of my second year in the P.I. No way to celebrate it, and as

May 9, 1942

The days still drag on but aside from poor food and boredom, not too unpleasantly. The flies are still bad, but me are missing all

May 10, 1942

Mother’s Day! Doesn’t seem like Sunday or any other day special. News today that we start evacuating bed patients to Little Baguio tomorrow A.M. —

May 11, 1942

Busy all morning keeping sick call going and getting things evacuated and ready to be evacuated. Rode up on bus to Little Baguio with load

May 13, 1942

Siegrist added to those living in out bodego [bodega], number 13. The majority of of people arrived from #2. Thus, 13 people moved into #13

May 14, 1942

Another very busy day. John and I walked up to the reservoir. Much equipment lying around everywhere. I picked up two pair of shoes. Neither

May 15, 1942

Went with Colonel North on a foraging detail. Fairly successful for locating food. Also found some cigarettes. Sick call is mell organized and functioning smoothly.

May 16, 1942

Not much news to add today. Usual routine. Another foraging detail. Fairly successful. Everybody now prizes a can of food very highly. We certainly eat

May 17, 1942

First day taken off by hospital group since the war started. I had sick call as usual, however, and then in afternoon went on a

May 18, 1942

Food detail this A.M. Very successful. Biscuits and tea for lunch. Then shoe detail after lunch. Got every man fixed up with a new pair

May 19, 1942

A before-breakfast expedition in e truck from L.B. Acquired lard and flour. Then had sick call after breakfast of rice, oatmeal, and sweetened, pondered milk.

May 20, 1942

Was just about as near all in last night as I have ever been. Think it was cruely a salt and fluid deficiency. Could not

May 21, 1942

Boy, did I sleep last night! Felt find this A.M. Made a trip out for clothes, food, and building supplies. Very successful. Also got a

May 22, 1942

Another good night’s sleep last night. A truck detail for building supplies this A.M. and again this P.M. Caribou [carabao], rice and pancakes for breakfast,

May 23, 1942

Worked in clinic again this A.M. In P.M. went on detail gathering up typewriters. Rained pretty hard late this evening. Also rained hard last night.

May 24, 1942

Colonel North, Major Sitter, Major Lentz, and I went to Maraveles [Mariveles] with Little Baguio crowd for fruit and caribou [carabao]. Japanese shot us two

May 25, 1942

Worked in dispensary this A.M. at sick call. In the afternoon walked over to H.P.D. and U.S.A.F.F.E and carried back some office supplies. Followed water

May 26, 1942

All packed and ready for moving at 10:00 A.M. All baggage taken to #1 for loading. Finally loaded and away at 1:30 P.M. Everybody in

May 27, 1942

Slept well last night despite hardness of floor. Saw many Corregidor people. 27 nurses got awey by two submarines and two planes. News from there

May 28, 1942

Slept well again last night, but coccyx, rt. hip, and rt. ext. malleolus very sore. Eating rice three times a day. Moved today at about

May 29, 1942

Our last day in Bilibid Prison as we leave early in A.M. Usual day here. Got a package of dobies for $1.00. Got a little

May 30, 1942

Left Bilbid at 5:30 A.M., although we were gotten up at 2:00 A.M. I had not got to bed till late and was just going

May 31, 1942

Up at 5:00 A.M. Ate breakfast. Rice furnished by Japanese. Started marching at 6:00 A.M. Went east from Cabanatuan. Hiked over 10 miles by 11:30

June 1, 1942

Several counts every day by Japanese authorities to make sure no one has escaped. Meals consist of rice and sometimes a vegetable soup. Water situation

May 12, 1942

April 1, 2022

What a day! For today I evacuated to Little Baguio. Rode up on a bus with Major Berry. Got everything belonging to me brought along.