Foo : A Japanese-American Prisoner of the Rising Sun : The Secret Prison Diary of Frank 'Foo' Fujita (War and the Southwest Series, No 1)

These memoirs are unique because of the six thousand Japanese-Americans who saw military service in the war against Japan, only two were captured by the Japanese and one of them was Frank Fujita—the only combat soldier taken prisoner by the Japanese. For him, capture involved the implicit threat of torture and execution as a traitor to Japan. Fujita was also a prolific diarist who regularly, and secretly, kept a written record of his experiences. The diary was hidden in the walls of his barracks at the POW camp and later recovered by the army and used in several of the war crimes trials in San Francisco. Fujita also made drawings, which are included in the book, along with photographs—some from the Japanese prison camp. Fujita was a member of the 2d Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard. The 2d Battalion was sent to Java, Netherland East Indies, where it was captured intact by the Japanese when the Allied command surrendered there in March, 1942. Fewer than nine hundred Americans were taken prisoner on Java. The bulk of American POWs in Japanese hands surrendered in the Philippines, and most of the published POW memoirs reflect their experience. Fujita’s account of the defense of Java and of the fate of the “Lost Battalion” of Texas artillerymen serves to distinguish his memoir from all the others. During His Time As A Pow, Frank Foo Fujita Kept A Diary Of Daily Happenings, Embellished With Drawings Of Life In The Camp. He Secreted The Diary In The Walls Of His Barracks, As The Practice Was Forbidden. That Diary Forms The Basis Of These Memoirs. Fujita's Memoirs Are Also Unique In That He Was One Of The Fewer Than Nine Hundred Americans Taken Prisoner On The Island Of Java. The Bulk Of American Pows In Japanese Hands Surrendered In The Philippines, And Most Of The Published Pow Memoirs Reflect Their Experience. Fujita's Account Of The Defense Of Java And Of The Fate Of The Lost Battalion Of Texas Artillerymen Serves To Distinguish This Memoir From Others. At One Point While A Pow In Japan, Fujita Was Forced To Be Part Of The Japanese Radio Group Broadcasting Propaganda. After The War, He Testified At Some Of The War Crime Trials In San Francisco, And The Diary On Which This Book Is Based Was Used As Evidence In Those Trials. Foreword / Stanley L. Falk -- Foo Joins The Texas National Guard : 1938-1941 -- The 2d Battalion Sails For The Plum: 1941-1942 -- Java Falls To The Japanese: January 1942-march 1942 -- Foo Becomes A Pow: Jaarmarkt And Bicycle Camp: March 1942-october 1942 -- Singapore And Fukuoka Camp In Nagasaki, Japan: October 1942-february 1943 -- Labor In The Shipyards: February 1943-may 1943 -- Guard Discovers Foo's Japanese Heritage: June 1943-july 1943 -- Foo Beaten, Dutchmen Tortured: July 1943-october 1943 -- Camp Routines At Omori And Bunker Hill: October 1943-december 1943 -- Bunker Hill Boys Broadcast: December 1943-june 1944 -- Bombing Raids, Benjo Honcho Plans Escape: June 1944-january 1945 -- Fire Bombings Of Tokyo: February 1945-may 1945 -- Night Of Ethyl/methyl Alcohol: May 1945-july 1945 -- Japan Surrenders: August 1945 -- Okinawa, Alabang, Reunions With Old Friends, Home: September 1945 -- Tacoma To Texas: September 1945-february 1946. Foreword And Notes By Stanley L. Faulk [i.e. Falk] ; Introduction By Robert Wear. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This work chronicles the internment of the only Japanese American combat soldier captured during the Pacific campaign of World War II. Frank ""Foo"" Fujita, a Texan who served with the ""Lost Battalion"" of the 36th Infantry Division, recounts his experience in this diary.