Town Crier Report
Los Altos resident and City Councilmember Sally Meadows gave a talk, “Former Civilian POWs and their internment by the Japanese during Japan’s Occupation of the Philippines in World War II” on Jan. 19 to members and guests of Los Altos Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Meadows is the descendant of internees held in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp, operated in Manila, Philippines, from 1942-1945. She leads the group Civilian Prisoners of War (CPOW), an organization dedicated to supporting and telling the story of the Allied civilians who were captives of the Japanese in the Philippines during World War II.
Meadows’ grandparents and father were part of the expatriate community in pre-WWII Manila, where her father attended the American School. Ten hours after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, they attacked the Philippines. The Santo Tomas Internment Camp was established Jan. 4, 1942, and “enemy aliens” were sent there – including Sally’s father, who was 11 years old when his family was interned.
Meadows shared some background information on the Philippines, the ex-patriate community and the World War II internment camps in the Philippines. She shared some of her father’s stories and artifacts about life in the Santo Tomas Camp along with context about the camp and how it was run. During World War II, almost 14,000 U.S. civilians were held by the Japanese (while Germany held about 4,700), with 7,448 of these U.S. civilians interned in the Philippines. Civilians from other U.S. allied countries were also interned. Food deprivation was a major issue for the prisoners from day one. Parents deprived themselves of rations in order to give their children more food. In 1944, after the Japanese military took control of the camp from Japanese administrative authorities, more people were dying of malnutrition and starvation. Santo Tomas Internment Camp was liberated by U.S. forces on Feb. 3, 1945.
While some survivors never talk about their experiences, others share their stories and work to keep this history alive in the nation’s memory. Meadows is the commander (akin to chair of the board) of CPOW, (formerly known as Bay Area Civilian ex-Prisoners of War), founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by former internees. Members include those who were former civilian and/or military prisoners, their families and friends and researchers interested in the history of the POW and internment camps in the Philippines. CPOW is the only civilian-focused Chapter of American ex-POWs (AXPOW), a congressionally chartered Veterans’ Service Organization. It periodically holds reunions for survivors and their descendants. For more information, visit cpow.org.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonpolitical women’s community service organization founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Women 18 years or older are eligible to join if lineal descent from a supporter of the American Revolution (through military service, financial donations, food supplies or other support) can be provided.
The Los Altos Chapter, DAR focuses on local historic preservation projects, genealogy research, fundraising for a Foothill College scholarship fund, environmental conservation, service to veterans and other community projects. To learn more, email [email protected] or visit losaltos.californiadar.org.
