Post #266029 by stuff-o-rama on Sat, Nov 11, 2006 4:43 PM

My Uncle, who is 83, is a P.O.W. from WWII. He was a gunner for the Marines, held captive in Corregidor, was in the Bataan Death March. Yesterday was the Marine Corps birthday, for the first time he told me what it was like for him during that time. He's told all the fellas but never us gals, I've heard it all second hand, but never from him directly. He told me how he caught and killed iguanas for food, how they would hide them from the guards and either eat them raw or dry them in the sun to make jerkey. How during the march they took turns carrying other soldiers to keep them from getting shot. How he lost so much weight, by the time they were released he was in the hospital, barely alive. Coincidentally it's how he met my Aunt, she was a Navy Nurse and was taking care of him. She said all the G.I.s used to hit on her but she always politely refused, but for some reason she fell instantly for my Uncle. They've been married since 1946, just celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. It was a special moment for me to actually hear his stories first hand. I will never forget it.