Forgotten Men - Softcover

Robinson, Leonard L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0961926708 ISBN 13: 9780961926700

Publisher: self-published, 1987

Synopsis

The story of one who survived being a Prisoner of War to the Japanese. The Bataan Death March and forty-one months, including slave labor in Japan. I watched Psalm 23 fulfilled.

About this title

About the Author

Leonard L. Robinson was born on July 30, 1919 in Englewood, Arapaho County, Colorado. His parents were William A. and Frantie K. Robinson.

He grew to maturity in the Denver, Colorado area and graduated from East Denver High School in 1937. He attended college for two years before the United States National Draft. His number was one of the lowest and he did not go back to college in the fall of 1940. He was drafted for a year of Army services in March 1941.

He was sent to El Paso, Texas and then sent to the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), Battery E. This was the 50 cal. Machine gun battery. The 200th was originally the National Guard regiment from the state of New Mexico. The unit consisted of between 85 to 90 % of the men from New Mexico. The 200th was shipped to the Philippines in September 1941 and stationed at Fort Stotsenberg (Clark Field).

When the Japanese bombed Clark Field a few hours after Pearl Harbor the 200th was stationed along the edge of the field. About a third of the regiment was taken to Manila to protect the city. The service people in the Philippines were moved into Bataan by New Years day. The troops on Bataan with little food and old ammunition were able hold out against the Japanese until April and Corregidor until May. This kept the Japanese from landing in Australia. General King surrendered Bataan and then the death march of Bataan was the treatment of the Prisoners of War. The next three and a half years were years of sadistic treatment and forced slave labor.

The Atomic Bombs saved the P.O.W.s from certain dead and probably saved at least a million or more American Servicemen lives and ten million Japanese lives, if any invasion had to happen. Then the P.O.W.s were able to return home to loved ones.

Leonard finished his college work for a degree in Architectural Engineering at Colorado University. He went to Northwestern Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota to earn his B.D. Later he earned graduate degrees at Pioneer Seminary. He married Erma Paul and the home was blessed with three children; Paula, Len, and Pamela. He has served several churches and worked with youth camps. He has been Chaplain to Veteran and Law Enforcement organizations. Leonard has been retired for the past decade but has continued to serve as Chaplain.

Edition details

• Publisher: self-published
• Publication date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0961926708
• ISBN 13: 9780961926700
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 126