Natalie Crouter

(October 30, 1898 — October 15, 1985). Resident of Vigan and later Baguio in the Philippines. Interned by the Japanese with her family in Baguio, then Bilibid Prison in Manila.

November 28, 1941

Today I bought materials for eighteen triangle bandages to use in First Aid class. I rode to Mansion House pool on my wheel [bicycle], then

November 30, 1941

Sunday morning we tried for hours to keep alive our kitten Pippy and the big yellow cat. We had been treating them for three days

December 1, 1941

I bought sheet material from the Red Cross for Nida and the lavandera to sew. They have made three dozen sheets. two dozen surgical coats,

December 4, 1941

There were 102 present at the Tuesday Club meeting at Mrs. Sayre’s. Many signed up for a first-aid course to begin on January 6. Everyone

December 4, 1941

There were 102 present at the Tuesday Club meeting at Mrs. Sayre’s. Many signed up for a first-aid course to begin on January 6. Everyone

December 6, 1941

We worked for the Red Cross. The American School came up from Manila to play Brent School in basketball. There was much esprit de corps

December 8, 1941

After the children left for school, we turned on the radio about 8:25 –and heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. While listening, we heard

December 12, 1941

It is now Dec. 12 and we’ve all had hot baths—an event! We listen to the radio and reports seem organized, coordinated, so it is

December 13, 1941

There was a bad raid on Manila this Week but so far the Japanese seem to have kept to military objectives like the Air Fields

December 14, 1941

The Post was just bombed. No deaths. one injured. We could see six bombers going into the clouds. We have had «o many alarms we

December 15, 1941

I went to town with Jerry to hunt for bread but there was none so we’ll get along on rice and hotcakes now and then.

December 16, 1941

Bedie has a cough and temperature. Both children have terrific appetites. They mustn’t work so hard at the dugout for it doubles their hunger. Our

December 18, 1941

As I was finishing coffee at lunch, trying to get some kind of news from the rad ning coffee at lunch, trying to get some

December 22, 1941

Among the vegetables in the returning Cold Store truck yesterday were three big cases of Red Cross supplies! We are now busy making bath towels,

December 23, 1941

It is six in the morning and we are packed, ready to join with other Americans at Teachers Camp or Pines Hotel. Ostensibly we are

December 26, 1941

We have lived a lifetime in the three days since I last wrote. I guess it was three days. I’m not sure. Since we were

Dec. 27, 1941

December 27, 1941

The Japanese army took over. They woke us at 11:30 P.M. and kept us standing in one small, crowded room until 2:30 A.M. checking off each one over and

December 28, 1941

Moving from one room to another all day as they kept bringing more people in. Finally to another dorm on the first floor. Very little

Dec. 29, 1941

December 29, 1941

Weak on mattress. Got up to wash, then collapsed. Seemed to have no middle and my head felt queer. They called us all onto the

December 30, 1941

No water till 11. Then mostly given to the children. Jerry says he fought Enid until he got a half a cup for me. I

December 31, 1941

No Water till nearly noon. Bad head. The toilets have been stopped up and overflowing because of no flushing. We used the latrines dug by

January 2, 1942

Dysentery broke out during the night. Three cases, children. Back to regular toilets, cleaning everything with lye, etc. I bathed the kids. Killed millions of

January 3, 1942

Killed flies and washed clothes. The Japanese took our safety deposit box keys. They made Carl do the collecting and when I asked him if

January 4, 1942

Washed clothes. Three more cases. The men moved into the next barracks building, relieving the terribly crowded conditions of over 500 in a building intended

January 6, 1942

Ismael brought fresh laundry, slacks and my gray wool dress! How wonderful to see him from a distance. He called out that the family and

January 12, 1942

Lucy hid her jewels under a rock where Mrs. Wilson had hidden hers previously, but not noticing it. When Lucy retrieved hers later she took

January 14, 1942

Streetlights on for first time in six weeks. A quiet night as no clump, clump of army boots, mostly local gentry guarding us.

January 16, 1942

A Japanese soldier appeared with an armful of antlers looted from the American General’s house.

January 17, 1942

Fruit for breakfast! Japanese schoolchildren came en masse with good wishes and candy boxes for us. Their faces pressed against the wire to view the

January 22, 1942

In the list of work details put on bulletin board by Committee, Jerry is down as Outside Sanitation, I am down as Inside Sanitation—both meaning