William H. Montgomery, Author at The Philippine Diary Project

(1907-1991) Captain, U.S. Army. Served in the Philippines from September, 1941, received battlefield commission. POW, 1942-1945.

It was the last evening in March of 1942 and our little corner of Bataan Penlnsula wasn’t exactly a health resort. In most localities the

April 2, 1942

116 days Thie All started out with heavy shelling. I was trying to cook hotcakes and wasn’t comfortable at all. We arrived at our CP

April 3, 1942

117 days “Good Friday” It is and Tojo is taking advantago of It. One bombing with our breakfast and the shelling started soon after. We

April 4, 1942

118 days Good Friday was the most horrible of the whole waz for me. We spent 10 hours in an open trench under the worst

April 5, 1942

119 days. Eeater Sunday and I’m a sick child. My head is splitting and I’ve been running all night with dysentery. Mostly I’m just exhausted

April 7, 1942

Sunday being a hectic day of dizziness and much running around and riding in trucks thru collecting stations plus a couple of bombings and some

April 8, 1942

Things don’t look good at all — that is they just look worse. News from up front is that most sections are in a confused

April 9, 1942

This as a sorry day for the USA. Tojo and hie boys walked In about 12:30 and took over. We spent a very hectic morning

Like the man who brought the cat home by the tall we’ve had a great many experiences that will never become dim or remote. For

May 3, 1942

Eating good portions of rice and at times camotes or squash is not a bad diet. We need protiens to build up our strength and

May 4, 1942

Yesterday the assigment was to patrol the water hole. The pumps can’t supply enough water for all purposes and most of the cooking is done