Here is a list of some articles which had to be procured, taken out the gate, and stashed away in a safe place in the jungle, to be available at the appointed time: compass, sextant, chronometer, navigation tables, protractor, dividers, chart of the Southwest Pacific, pencils.

Each man had to have a change of clothing, blanket, shelter tent, mosquito net, canteen, mess kit, and food for five days.

Medical supplies had to include quinine, sulfa drugs, first-aid kit, water purifier, and any other medicines they could get their hands on.

Other equipment included bolo knives, field glasses, file, hammer, pliers, matches, cooking-can with handle.

Then, with the help of the guerrilla soldiers, they go up north to get communications with an American submarine to come and take them to Australia where they could be safe and then rejoin the fighting.

Although Corregidor was well-fortified with artillery, the guns were pointing towards the South China Sea, meaning the island couldn’t defend against those coming from within Manila Bay.

During battle, US commander General Wainright didn’t want to lose any more lives → US troops in Philippines surrender May 6th → everyone including Hawkins became a prisoner of war.

Japanese moved him from Corregidor to Bilibid Prison in Manila for two days, and then served internment in Prisoner-of-war Camp One (in Cabanatuan in Luzon, Philippines).

The interpreter’s name was revealed as Major Maeda (Mike called him Simon Legree), who would address them with Hozumi translating.

This work continued for a long time; they had to do many tasks involving the farms → Jack knew the exact location of everything on the land (was later to prove valuable…).

Their legs were covered in leeches, and the Filipinos taught them a trick to remove them by applying wet tobacco to the lighted end of a homemade cigarette.

On Sundays, considered break days, four men of the detail group were required to take the animals to graze and feed them water.

“The Red Cross shipment was a boon to our escape plans, since it provided the initial food supply we would need to sustain us after our break until contact could be made with guerrilla forces or other friendly civilians.

It also gave us hope of obtaining medicines, such as quinine, antiseptics, and sulfa drugs, which would be essential for survival in the jungle.” As their planning progressed, they wanted to enlarge their escape group with men who would display courage and who were strong enough to endure the hardships they were yet to face.

However, McCoy wanted to bring three other soldiers (Major Stephen Mellnik, an artillery man, and Sergeants Paul Marshall and Rober Spielman), which would make the group too large.

The party was finally increased to ten (with the addition of McCoy, Mellnik, Marshall, and Spielman) Their conferences continued through February and March.

It was literally the DAY BEFORE the escape, and Hozumi gave an order saying all soldiers wouldn’t participate in Sunday recreation and must work in the rice fields (as a punishment for smuggling fruit).

The 4th member of the plow detail who had malaria recovered, and insisted upon going to fend off the animals → Sam couldn’t go anymore → the whole plan would basically be screwed.

Here they found a guerrilla band of about 50 people led by Lt. Antonio, who provided them with borotos (another type of boat) so that they could complete the journey through the river.

“Guerrilla military operations were limited to raids, ambushes and sniping.” However, “McLish hoped to keep these bands alive because they served as a major source of intelligence for the forces in Australia.

They were confident in the place’s fortification → encouraged people to remain in their homes and continue normal life; they even attended a wedding in the meantime instead of buckwheating.

After a lot of persuading, Fertig finally sent a message to Australia saying McCoy and Mellnik were set to leave, but didn’t mention any of the other men who wanted to escape.

Upon reaching Australia, McCoy, Mellnik, and Dyess reported the atrocities of the Japanese against American and Filipino prisoners of war in the Philippines to General MacArthur.

The worst part was that there was a huge lack of medicine → many soldiers fell sick through diseases such as gangrene → had to get limbs amputated without anesthetic.

The Tubay incident started when McLish assigned Jack the mission of reconnoitering a town on Lake Mainit in the Surigao Province as a possible site for the new headquarters.

Shof announced that the Japs still maintained control over Medina and Gingoog, and recently landed in Anakan, just a few miles south of Linugos.

After discussion, the Shof, Mike, and Jack were cleared to board the submarine at Nasipit on November 15, which was extremely close to their headquarters.

They said McCoy had promised to personally petition President Quezon of the Philippines, then in the United States, to remit their sentences for homicide, in view of their valuable contribution to the men’s escape.

Several days before November 15th, Jack and Mike hiked from Rizal (headquarters) to Nasipit to check the depth of the channel where they wanted to dock their boat.

One day they were summoned by General MacArthur, who awarded them with the Distinguished Service Cross to honor their escape from the Prisoner of War camps.