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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy uncle's WW2 POW diaries, correspondence, clippings all available at National Archives link.
Two years ago my family donated almost all of my Uncle Bob's records and evidence of war crimes to the National Archives. The archivists consider the papers one of few POW collections of such detail.
Captain Robert Frank Augur was an Army soldier on Corregidor in the Philipppines. He was wounded during the bombardment when he went under fire to drag other soldiers to safety. An Army surgeon sawed off his leg in a cave after it became gangrenous. General Wainwright pinned the Distinguished Service Cross on him, personally.
And then he endured almost four years of captivity under the "tender care" of the Japanese Imperial Army. He was a POW until liberation.
He was a reporter by nature, and kept records as he could. Many letters sent home prior to the fall of Corregidor (some of which I inherited and then donated to the Archives with the rest), diaries, notes, all fascinating insights.
His family at home knew very little about his situation. Didn't know he had lost a leg until he was released and sent to hospital in Honolulu and then San Francisco. My older sister has memories of that wartime. His five siblings (three of whom were also in service) were close and the family has remained connected through many dear cousins and offspring. All of us look to Uncle Bob as a giant among men.
He didn't talk about the war. Ever. But he told us "NEVER FORGET".
Never forget the experiences of the POWs.
[link:http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.102536/?fbclid=IwAR1ed2D3vLzK2qgNwUc64u5junyrLLq0EtypSiOg2AQHrEMy8cM9WFKUdfc|
lucca18
(1,241 posts)Yes, Never Forget.
appalachiablue
(41,131 posts)Glad you gave materials to NARA for research and permanence, thank you and family for his service.
Years ago I worked at NARA in Public Programs, Tours, Lectures & Events. The records held there are incredible, the Captured German WWII records and much more. And I was only able to view a fraction of the 'Paper Mountain,' as it's called.
Grasswire2
(13,569 posts)When I lived in DC I thought about applying for job there. Ended up working elsewhere. But LOVE the Archives. And the LOC.