"The interpreter kept saying it was a Japanese holiday, but there was no guards." (Audio Interview, 10:52)

Romie C. Gregory

Romie Gregory [detail from video] War: World War II, 1939-1946; Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Branch: Army Unit: 31st Infantry Regiment Service Location: Philippines Rank: Corporal POW: Yes Place of Birth: Cooleemee, NC

Romie Gregory enlisted in the armed forces in 1941 and was shipped to the Philippines in that November, a month before the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines. After four months of agonizing combat against the Japanese, the Americans surrendered, and many captives were forced onto the Bataan Death March to a distant prison camp. They were given little food or water and suffered many hardships. Gregory experienced the brutality of the Japanese guards first hand and describes what was cause for a beating at the prison camp.