Author Topic: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96  (Read 1259 times)

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Offline bijou

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Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« on: June 21, 2011, 09:09:34 AM »
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GLOUCESTER—

— James Downey Jr., who survived the infamous Bataan Death March in 1942 and became an inspiration to his family, died Monday. He was 96 years old.

Downey served with the Army's 26th Cavalry Philippine Scouts, a decorated unit that still rode horses into battle in the early days of World War II. Half-Filipino by birth, his mother was of Philippine and Spanish heritage and his father was from Augusta County, a cavalry officer who fought in the Spanish-American War.


News of his death came from family members. ...
read more here

RIP.



Offline Rebel

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2011, 09:32:41 AM »
 :taps:
NAMBLA is a left-wing organization.

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There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site

Offline BlueStateSaint

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2011, 09:35:33 AM »
:taps:

Ditto.  He'll show up in Heaven just before the 135th anniversary of Little Bighorn (this Saturday).
"Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty." - Thomas Jefferson

"All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk!" -Ayn Rand
 
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Chase her even when she's yours.
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Offline FreeBorn

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2011, 09:43:46 AM »
I'm glad I learned as much as I have about WWII directly from several people, relatives of mine and others I had the good fortune to meet and learn from who were in the thick of it like this Gentleman. Lest we forget.

The Imperial Japanese Army was a particularly nasty bunch of cutthroats. The Japanese killed more people in Asia and the Pacific than were killed anywhere else in WWII.

Today the Japanese are working hard to ensure that those facts fade into oblivion. Since the end of WWII subsequent generations of Japanese have been taught, and to this day continue to be taught a very different version of history.
They need to be held to task on this.

http://spice.stanford.edu/docs/134


"How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin; And how do you tell an anti-communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin." ~Ronald Reagan

Offline debk

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2011, 09:45:05 AM »
God Bless.



I'm sure most of us have seen the movie giving a "glamorized" view of the Bataan Death March.

I cannot imagine what these men went through...I don't think any of us can. I don't know how they survived, or how they managed to maintain any sort of hope of survival.

All I can say about these men, is they were incredible. Heroic courage was needed not only for themselves as individuals, but for the group to keep forging on. To survive years of captivity and unfathomable torture.

It's men like Mr Downey, who felt it their duty - regardless of what that entailed - to sign up to protect the United States and her citizens from enemies near and far.

We can't honor them enough, to thank them for what they did.

I hope we will remember to thank each military person we see, as we go about our daily life, in the grocery, at the gas station, at our kids' school or our church.

Thank them for being willing to stand up and swear to protect us, even if it means sacrificing themself in order to do so.

Without those brave people...we would not have the freedoms and priviledges we often take for granted.

May God watch over them and protect them from harm.

Just hand over the chocolate...back away slowly...far away....and you won't get hurt....

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." – Dave Barry

A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands.

Offline Eupher

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2011, 11:04:32 AM »
The history of WWII is replete with example and example of how these men and women addressed very real and very demanding threats on their lives and, by extension, our way of life as freedom-loving Americans.

This man's story is amazing just with the sheer adversity and the personal courage and strength that he experienced and shouldered.

It's worthy of its own thread perhaps, but this man's story is equally amazing and inspiring.

I encourage EVERYBODY to check out the web site, if not the book. I simply could not put the book down. Compelling, powerful, and awesome.

Louie Zamperini is still alive and still motivating others.
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Offline CG6468

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2011, 11:09:36 AM »
About 35 years ago I worked with a crusty old fart who survived the Bataan Death March. He was permanently disabled and walked with a serious limp.

He was a crusty old fart BEFORE that experience, everyone at the company told me!
Illinois, south of the gun controllers in Chi town

Offline namvet

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Re: Bataan Death March survivor dead at 96
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2011, 01:27:25 PM »
the battling bastards of Bataan - no mama no papa no uncle sam and no one gives a good god damned.

RIP

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY