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Forgotten Men

by Leonard L. Robinson

127 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0792; ISBN 1-55395-078-X; US$16.00, C$18.00, EUR13.00, £9.50

The story of one who survived being a Prisoner of War to the Japanese. The Bataan Death March and forty-one months, including slave labor in Japan. I watched Psalm 23 fulfilled.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Promises! All of us make promises that we hope to keep but sometimes we are kept from fulfilling them by life's problems. I promised many men in prison camp to contact their parents and loved ones if I made it back and they didn't. For over forty years I have searched for these families and talked to others but time is running out so I am writing their story of why they didn't make it home. This story is based on the lives of soldiers I met in basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, the men I met on Bataan and in the prisoner of war camps. This is their story of why they surrendered, why they gave up after all physical strength was gone, and why they died. This is the story of a New Testament, a billfold and a list that made it through all the searches by the Japanese during those three and a half years. The Bible was used many times to comfort these men in their final hours. The battered billfold held the few pieces of paper with vital information and the list of men in Battery E of the 200th, who made it through the first attack on Clark Field on December 8, 1941, and dates of death for many. This is a story of friendship that helped me be one of the survivors of the Japanese prison camps, the hell ships and World War II. But most of all, this is a testimony of the Grace of God toward me in the hours of need. My favorite Scripture was the twenty-third PSALM, and I saw every verse fulfilled in my life. I can only pray that He will sustain and comfort you as you read these words, as he did me as a P.O.W. I express my appreciation to those who have helped and encouraged me to write this story of my experiences. My children have asked me to write down my memories. I especially wish to express appreciation to my wife for the many hours she spent to help edit the story for publication. I could not have completed the writing without her help. I appreciate the front cover design by my nephew, Joel Freeland. Thank you to each one for your help and encouragement.

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About the Author

Niigata, 1943 (photo by the Japanese)	Vasper, 1987 (photo by son, Len)

Leonard L. Robinson was born on July 30, 1919 in Englewood, Arapaho County, Colorado. His parents were William A. and Frantie K. Robinson.

He grew to maturity in the Denver, Colorado area and graduated from East Denver High School in 1937. He attended college for two years before the United States National Draft. His number was one of the lowest and he did not go back to college in the fall of 1940. He was drafted for a year of Army services in March 1941.

He was sent to El Paso, Texas and then sent to the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), Battery E. This was the 50 cal. Machine gun battery. The 200th was originally the National Guard regiment from the state of New Mexico. The unit consisted of between 85 to 90 % of the men from New Mexico. The 200th was shipped to the Philippines in September 1941 and stationed at Fort Stotsenberg (Clark Field).

When the Japanese bombed Clark Field a few hours after Pearl Harbor the 200th was stationed along the edge of the field. About a third of the regiment was taken to Manila to protect the city. The service people in the Philippines were moved into Bataan by New Years day. The troops on Bataan with little food and old ammunition were able hold out against the Japanese until April and Corregidor until May. This kept the Japanese from landing in Australia. General King surrendered Bataan and then the death march of Bataan was the treatment of the Prisoners of War. The next three and a half years were years of sadistic treatment and forced slave labor.

The Atomic Bombs saved the P.O.W.s from certain dead and probably saved at least a million or more American Servicemen lives and ten million Japanese lives, if any invasion had to happen. Then the P.O.W.s were able to return home to loved ones.

Leonard finished his college work for a degree in Architectural Engineering at Colorado University. He went to Northwestern Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota to earn his B.D. Later he earned graduate degrees at Pioneer Seminary. He married Erma Paul and the home was blessed with three children; Paula, Len, and Pamela. He has served several churches and worked with youth camps. He has been Chaplain to Veteran and Law Enforcement organizations. Leonard has been retired for the past decade but has continued to serve as Chaplain.