Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Primary Collecting Areas:
West Virginia and Appalachia History and Culture
Description:
The West Virginia & Regional History Center preserves and provides access to the records that document the history and culture of the state and the central Appalachian region. The Center is part of West Virginia University Libraries.
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Start Over Repository West Virginia and Regional History Center Subjects Prisoners of war
West Virginia and Regional History Center

Robert Paul Evans, WWII Soldier, Typescript Regarding Experiences in a Japanese Prison Camp, 1945

0.01 Linear Feet Summary: 1/4 in. (1 folder)
Typescript regarding the experiences of Robert Paul Evans of Littleton, West Virginia while he was held prisoner by the Japanese. The typescript was written by Evans's aunt and based on Evans's description of his experiences and his testimony to the War Department. Evans held the rank of Technical Sergeant and served as a B-29 Radar Observer with the 500th Bomb Group, U.S. Army. He was forced to parachute from his plane during a bombing raid over Tokyo and was captured and taken to Kempei Tai prison run by the Japanese military police. ("Kenpeitai" was the name of the Japanese military police, but the typescript uses "Kempei Tai" as the name of the prison.) Evans was later moved to Camp Owari. The typescript describes Evans's capture, his experiences in the camps, the release of prisoners at the end of the war, and Evans's return home. The account of Evans's experiences in the camps describes the lack of medical care; frequent beatings; his relationship with a Japanese Christian minister who was also a prisoner; the behavior of guards; especially poor treatment of prisoners who had been involved in bombing raids; and how prisoners and civilians would sneak food to Evans and other prisoners.
1 result

Robert Paul Evans, WWII Soldier, Typescript Regarding Experiences in a Japanese Prison Camp, 1945 0.01 Linear Feet Summary: 1/4 in. (1 folder)

Evans, Robert Paul.
Typescript regarding the experiences of Robert Paul Evans of Littleton, West Virginia while he was held prisoner by the Japanese. The typescript was written by Evans's aunt and based on Evans's description of his experiences and his testimony to the War Department. Evans held the rank of Technical Sergeant and served as a B-29 Radar Observer with the 500th Bomb Group, U.S. Army. He was forced to parachute from his plane during a bombing raid over Tokyo and was captured and taken to Kempei Tai prison run by the Japanese military police. ("Kenpeitai" was the name of the Japanese military police, but the typescript uses "Kempei Tai" as the name of the prison.) Evans was later moved to Camp Owari. The typescript describes Evans's capture, his experiences in the camps, the release of prisoners at the end of the war, and Evans's return home. The account of Evans's experiences in the camps describes the lack of medical care; frequent beatings; his relationship with a Japanese Christian minister who was also a prisoner; the behavior of guards; especially poor treatment of prisoners who had been involved in bombing raids; and how prisoners and civilians would sneak food to Evans and other prisoners.

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