It was my 8th-grade history teacher, Mr. Danhausen, who started me on my life-long obsession with World War II.
It was my friend, Anthony Garrett, who provided me with a copy of his grandfather's journal.

Elwood Llewellin Garrett was an American businessman in Manila at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
This is his story, as he recorded it, of living under Japanese rule in an enemy-occupied foreign land.

April 13, 1942

The rumors sure came in hot and heavy last night about yesterdays bombing. Some said it was the Japs blowing up houses to make way for a new air field. Others said it was a Jap plane that developed motor trouble and had to unload her bombs and others said it was from our planes bombing Nichols Field. The optimists were right this time for the Jap paper this morning confirms that it was from our planes but that no military damage was done. Rumor has it that our planes bombed and caused considerable damage at Nichols Field scoring direct hits on the repair hangar, killing two hundred Japs and Filipinos. It sure is good to know that we do have a plane or two around these parts. We heard planes flying around right after the bombing but they were so high they could not be seen. That is the first bit of encouragement we have had in quite some time and of course, all are hoping that this is just the beginning.

The news about the fall of Bataan appears to be a confirmed fact for todays papers shows pictures of General King talking to Japanese command arranging for a surrender. It seems incredible that the U.S. should have to surrender even Bataan to Japan, but guess they got the jump on us in the first blow and took a lot of the wind out of our sails from which it is taking us some time to recover. The Japs now claim they expect the fall of Corregidor by the fifteenth and unless we get reinforcements and in a big way, I don't see how they can possibly hold out much longer. This is the last stronghold the U.S. forces have here and it seems a crime that it be permitted to fall into Jap control. It seems that the powers that be, in Washington, will have a lot to answer for after this is all over. Guess we'll be here for a long while yet, so have taken a new lease on life and settled down for the rainy season which should be along most any time now. It has been hotter than hades lately; yesterday 98.2'. In order to write this I have a towel around my arm to hold the flow of perspiration and what I mean, it's hot! And that's no rumor! I don't know whether it's the heat or bad news lately but things are very quiet in camp and from the looks on some of the faces, one would almost think it was the end of everything. Maybe it is and I haven't got sense enough to realize it but I can still smile and look forward to some day reading the history of this war to my kids in a cozy little farm house some where in sunny California. How does that strike you? Or am i bragging again?

We are all keeping in good health despite congested conditions and meager chow. Every so often some one in our camp gets laid up for a day or so but nothing serious so we feel most fortunate.

About half the men in camp have raised a beard, too lazy to shave, and this "joint" gives the appearance of a convention of the "House of David." I had a mustachio for two months but shaved it off soon as I proved to myself I was still a man and not a mouse.

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