Person Page - 347

     Harry John Tracey was born on 23 November 1893 at Taylor, Stark Co., North Dakota.¹ Harry John Tracey was a Farmer. He was the son of John Michael Tracey and Bridgett Cecilia McCarthy. Harry John Tracey married Elsie Gleason on 28 November 1917 at Cascade, Cascade Co., Montana. Harry John Tracey and Elsie Gleason were divorced. Harry John Tracey married Amelia Louise Matilda Manke, daughter of Julius Manke and Emilie Redmond, on 6 October 1943 at Glasgow, Valley Co., Montana.² Harry John Tracey lived in January 1948 at Harlem, Blaine Co., Montana.³

Alice Morgan has Harry married to an Amelia Manke.



Soc Security has last residence as Kalispell, MT.

His Social Security Number was 534-20-3701 issued in WA. He died on 13 May 1985 at Whitefish, Flathead Co., Montana, at age 91.⁴ He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson, Lake Co., Montana.⁵

     John Tracey was born circa 1826.¹ He married Eleanor Paxmax. John Tracey was buried at St. Marys Cemetery, Newry, Freeborn Co., Minnesota.² He died circa 1910.¹

     John Michael Tracey was born circa 1848 at Illinois.¹ He was the son of John Tracey and Eleanor Paxmax. John Michael Tracey was baptized on 9 July 1848 at Illinois. He married Bridgett Cecilia McCarthy, daughter of John McCarthy and Saraphine Sheehy, on 8 September 1877 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Faribault, Rice Co., Minnesota; Marriage Record shows name as Bridgette Tracy.² John Michael Tracey died circa 1903 at Minnesota.¹ Had lived in Montana. Most records show name as TRACEY rather than TRACY.

     Marjorie Bernice Tracey was born on 28 March 1922 at Weldon, McCone Co., Montana. She was the daughter of Bernard Stanislaus Tracey and Letha Ellen Payne. Marjorie Bernice Tracey married Lewis L. Kollenborn, son of Charles Kollenborn and Dollie (?), on 20 July 1941 at Whitefish, Flathead Co., Montana. Marjorie Bernice Tracey died on 3 September 1984 at Kalispell, Flathead Co., Montana, at age 62. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Columbia Falls, Flathead Co., Montana.¹

     Mary Dorothy Tracey was born circa 1918 at Montana CENSUS: 1920 MT, McCone Co., E.D. 148, pg 9723. She was born on 18 October 1918 at Weldon, McCone Co., Montana.^1,2 She was the daughter of Bernard Stanislaus Tracey and Letha Ellen Payne. Mary Dorothy Tracey married Wallace Carl Marsonette on 8 September 1939 at Whitefish, Flathead Co., Montana.^3,2 Mary Dorothy Tracey married Dale Wayne Taylor in 1968.² Mary Dorothy Tracey married William Thomas Draper in 1986.² Mary Dorothy Tracey married Joseph Elias Basha on 7 June 1997.² Mary Dorothy Tracey died on 25 December 2012 at Springfield, Lane Co., Oregon, at age 94.^2,4 She was buried at Maplewood Pioneer Cemetery, Clackamas Co., Oregon, SEC C BLK 21 PLOT 16c.⁴

Following is her obituary:

Mary Dorothy (Tracey) Marsonette Basha
October 18, 1918 December 25, 2012

SPRINGFIELD Dorothy Tracey, 94, was born on October 18, 1918 as the fourth child of Bernard and Letha Tracey on homestead land near Weldon, Dawson County, Mont. When she was about seven years old, her family moved by train to a two-room cabin near Coram, Mont, where she was able to attend school. Dorothy loved the beautiful, care-free days of life on the prairie where she developed a real passion and appreciation of nature. Throughout her life she enjoyed studying plants, rocks and birds. She loved to take walks in the forest and on the beach to observe sea life. The Tracey family moved to Columbia Falls, Mont., when Dorothy was a teenager and graduated from high school at St. Matthews School in nearby Kalispell. She and Wallace Marsonette were married in Whitefish, Mont., on September 8, 1939 and moved to Chinook, Mont. While living in Chinook they had nine children. In 1959 the family moved to Scotts Mills. Sadly, in 1963 Wallace passed away. Dorothy married Dale Taylor in 1968 and she and the younger children moved to Dale's home in Springfield where they started a fuchsia and geranium nursery. Dorothy loved to work with flowers and together they had a very rewarding and successful business. Dale passed away in 1986. In 1988 Dorothy met and married Bill Draper. They did many exciting things together, such as taking bird-watching classes at Lane Community College, and traveling in their motor home to the northern reaches of Alaska and south to Mexico with Dorothy's brother, Robert and his wife, Darlene. They spent many winter months in their motor home near Yuma, Ariz. Bill Draper passed away in 1996. Dorothy met and married Joe Basha in 1997. Joe passed away several years ago. In 2003, when she was 84-years old, Dorothy decided to write a book about her life, to pass on to her children. Her 229-page hardback book entitled, "The Journey," was published in 2004. Dorothy always had a positive attitude and looked for the best in everything and everybody. She had a zest for learning and exploration, and loved to travel. Some of her foreign trips include Rarotonga, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. She also had a love of singing and often broke into song with one of the 'oldies but goodies.' One of her favorite games was 'Spite and Malice' and, even at 94, she was a consistent winner. Swimming and water fitness with her friends was a favorite social event. Dorothy is survived by her brother, Robert and his wife, Darlene and all nine of her children: Wayne Marsonette and Sandy (Oregon City); Robert Marsonette and Sue (Olathe, Kan.); Theresa Mellott and John (Salem); Glenn Marsonette and Pat (Eugene); Ruth Ewald and Greg (Silverton); Donna Ruscitti (Portland); Vern Marsonette and Sheila (Springfield); Judy Allen and Randy (Eugene); and Jay Marsonette and Krista (Aloha). Dorothy has left a legacy of numerous grandchildren, as well as great and great-greatgrandchildren. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Florence Wolvington and Marjorie Kollenborn.

Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon · Page A5, 02Jan2013.²

     Gladys Erma Tracy was born on 25 January 1897 at Rochester, Monroe Co., New York. She married male1 (?) circa 1916. Gladys Erma Tracy married Samuel Roy McFarland. Gladys Erma Tracy married Robert Richard Dupuis, son of Caville Dupuis and Agnes Irvine, on 3 June 1939 at Stevenson, Skamania Co., Washington. Gladys Erma Tracy died on 27 January 1978 at Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon, at age 81. She was buried in 1979 at Wilhelm's Portland Memorial Mausoleum, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.¹

     Female Travers married Edward Norrington. Female Travers died circa 1916.¹

     Laura Treadwell was born circa 1826 at New York.¹ She married Hiram Rupel, son of Peter Rupel and Christina Shumaker, on 14 May 1857.¹ Laura Treadwell died circa 1894 at Indiana.¹ Ruple Family in America, 1988, by Jack D. Ruple Sr., pg 149.

     Tony Treglia was born on 26 November 1900 at Naples, Città Metropolitana di Napoli, Campania, Italy.¹ He married Norma Olga Retzer, daughter of Fred Retzer Jr. and Lula Mae Fields. Tony Treglia died on 2 June 1985 at Beaver, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 84.¹ He was buried at St. Cecilia Cemetery, New Brighton, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹

     Sue Trelly married Thomas B. Cholowsky, son of Stephen Cholowsky and Doris Marie Hillick.¹ Sue Trelly and Thomas B. Cholowsky were divorced.¹

     Donald Dale Trent was born on 3 March 1921 at Wayne Co., West Virginia. He married Georgene Louise Harn, daughter of Stephen Peter Harn and Ruby Louise Lamb, on 14 February 1982 at Clark Co., Nevada. Donald Dale Trent died on 13 April 1999 at Umatilla Co., Oregon, at age 78. He was buried at Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Umatilla Co., Oregon.¹

     Ancestral File Number 8JHZ-D0, submitted by 48 individuals. His Ancestral File Number is 8JHZ-D0. Joris Jan Jeronimus Trico Tricault married female (?)

     Catalynte Trico was baptized circa 1605 at Paris, France.¹ She was the daughter of Joris Jan Jeronimus Trico Tricault and female (?) Catalynte Trico married Joris Jansen De Rappalje, son of Jean Rapareilliet and female De Raparlier, circa 1623/24 at Walloon Church, Amsterdam, Holland.² Catalynte Trico died on 11 September 1685 at New Amsterdam, Kings Co., New York.¹ Her Ancestral File Number is 3SZD-LH. She was buried at Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery, Flatbush, Kings Co., New York.³

     Male Trimble married Ellen M. Oliver, daughter of William G. Oliver and Lillian Pauline Harn.

     Tammy Trimmer married Marvin Dale Hammack, son of Dale M. Hammack and Doris Irene Harn, in 1992 at Rushville, Schuyler Co., Illinois.¹ Tammy Trimmer and Marvin Dale Hammack were divorced in 1993 at Rushville, Schuyler Co., Illinois.¹

     Bertha Marie Trinkler was born on 30 July 1937.¹ She married Harvey Lee Hutson, son of Jentry Hutson and Georgia Elma Warfel, on 20 August 1955.¹ Bertha Marie Trinkler died on 19 June 1999 at age 61.¹ She was buried at Kinder Cemetery, Cuba, Crawford Co., Missouri.¹

     David Tripoli married Rebecca Sue Walz, daughter of Christopher Walz and Rosemarie Ann Christina.¹

     Anna Mae Tripp was born on 27 March 1874 at Featherstone, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.^1,2 She was the daughter of Merritt Tripp and Sarah V. Perkins.¹ Anna Mae Tripp married Charles Bryon Crandall on 24 October 1894 at Featherstone, Goodhue Co., Minnesota. Anna Mae Tripp lived in 1909 at Randolph, Dakota Co., Minnesota. She died in 1961 at Minnesota.² She was buried at Burnside Cemetery, Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.²

     Blanche Harriett Tripp was born on 5 April 1886 at Featherstone, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.¹ She was the daughter of Merritt Tripp and Sarah V. Perkins. Blanche Harriett Tripp lived in 1909 at Afton, Washington Co., Minnesota. She married Lester Wayland Button in 1917. The cause of death was Bronchopneumonia, due to congestive heart failure, Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease and Marked Senility. Blanche Harriett Tripp died on 4 January 1964 at Lebanon, Linn Co., Oregon, at age 77.¹ She was buried on 7 January 1964 at Oddfellows (I.O.O.F.) Cemetery, Lebanon, Linn Co., Oregon.¹

     Cora P. Tripp was born on 10 September 1867 at Minnesota.¹ She was the daughter of Merritt Tripp and Sarah V. Perkins.¹ Cora P. Tripp married Ferman Duane Crandall on 5 May 1890 at Goodhue Co., Minnesota. Cora P. Tripp died on 21 June 1939 at Aberdeen, Brown Co., South Dakota, at age 71.² She was buried at Riverside Memorial Park, Aberdeen, Brown Co., South Dakota.²

     Frank Merritt Tripp was born on 3 November 1882 at Featherstone Twsp., Goodhue Co., Minnesota.¹ He was the son of Merritt Tripp and Sarah V. Perkins. Frank Merritt Tripp married Lydia R. Smith on 5 October 1907 at Tippecanoe Co., Indiana. Frank Merritt Tripp lived in 1909 at Decatur, Macon Co., Illinois. He died on 27 January 1956 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, at age 73.¹ He was buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.¹

     George Tripp married Hannah Smith. George Tripp died in 1841.

     George Merritt Tripp was born on 14 September 1911 at Goodhue Co., Minnesota.^1,2 He was the son of Timothy Burton Tripp and Isabelle Watson. George Merritt Tripp married Frances Irene Mossberg in June 1950 at Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota. George Merritt Tripp married Helen M. Mosely on 17 September 1966 at Hennepin Co., Minnesota. The cause of death was Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.¹ George Merritt Tripp died on 27 May 1972 at Houston, Harris Co., Texas, at age 60.¹ He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.²

     Gertrude Abbie Tripp was born on 6 October 1884 at Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.¹ She was the daughter of Merritt Tripp and Sarah V. Perkins. Gertrude Abbie Tripp lived in 1909 at Bradley, Clark Co., South Dakota. She married Charles Howard Towers on 5 November 1913 at Goodhue Co., Minnesota. Gertrude Abbie Tripp died on 20 November 1970 at Milbank, Grant Co., South Dakota, at age 86.¹ She was buried at Riverside Memorial Park, Aberdeen, Brown Co., South Dakota.¹

     Gregory Robert Tripp is the son of Phillip Burson Tripp and Shirley Rose Henneman. Gregory Robert Tripp married Sharon K. Dent, daughter of Kenneth Arthur Dent and Anna Marie (?), circa 1977 at Minnesota.

     Jeanne Tripp is the daughter of Phillip Burson Tripp and Shirley Rose Henneman. Jeanne Tripp married male Dinnerstein.

     Marion Rolfe Tripp was born on 29 September 1896 at Minnesota.¹ She was the daughter of Timothy Burton Tripp and Mary Frances Rolfe. The cause of death was suicide.² Marion Rolfe Tripp died on 8 November 1915 at Pierce Co., Wisconsin, at age 19.³

Following obituary for Marion Rolfe Tripp:

Red Wing Girl Leaps To Death in River
-Red-Wing, Minn., Nov. 8.-Miss Rolfe Tripp, 19-year-old daughter of Timothy Tripp of this city, leaped from the Wisconsin channel bridge on the island road in Wisconsin, opposite Red Wing, today and was drowned. She had been employed as a domestic at Edward Maetzold's home at Hager and it is said she quit work at 8 a.m. and started to walk to Red Wing, three miles.
Harlie Johnson, a Wisconsin dairy-man, saw her jump from the wooden span to the water, 25 feet below, and heard her cries, but was unable to rescue her.
It is thought her mind was temporarily deranged by worry over ill health and failing eyesight.
The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Mon, Nov 08, 1915 -Page 2.²


She was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.¹

     Merritt Tripp was born on 27 February 1837 at Tompkins Co., New York.^1,2 He was the son of George Tripp and Hannah Smith. Merritt Tripp lived in 1861 at Featherstone Twsp., Goodhue Co., Minnesota. He married Sarah V. Perkins, daughter of Timothy Foster Perkins and Thirza Cottle Ellsworth, on 20 December 1865.¹ In 1878 Merritt Tripp was a farmer in Section 15, at Goodhue Co., Minnesota.¹

TRIPP. Merritt, farmer, sec. 15, P.O. Red Wing. Born in Tompkins County, NY, February 27, 1837. Was engaged in farming there until 1861, when he came to this county, landing in Red Wing, May 17. Rented farm of Samuel Giles, in sec. 2. Was married December 20, 1865 to Abbie S. Perkins. She was born in Franklin County, Maine, May 10, 1847. In 1866, he purchased this farm consisting of 160 acres. They have three children, Cora P. born September 10, 1867, Timothy B., April 6, 1870, and Anna May, March 27, 1874. Family attends the M.E. Church. History of Goodhue County, Red Wing, 1878.¹ He lived in 1909 at 721 Fifth St., Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.

BOOK - HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY, MN. PUBLISHED IN 1909

Merritt Tripp, a retired farmer, living at 721 Fifth street, Red Wing, comes of eastern parentage, born in Tompkins county, New York, February 27, 1837. His parents, George and Hannah (Smith) Tripp, were natives of eastern New York state, where they both spent the span of their years, the former dying in
1841 and the mother in 1880. Left fatherless at an early age, Merritt Tripp had to obtain what education he could by attending school during the short winter terms, working on farms in the summer, thus contributing in boyhood to his own support and later to the support of the family. While working in
the crowded state of his birth, he longed for wider opportunities that were afforded in thickly populated districts, and accordingly decided to come west. In 1861 he located in Featherstone township, this county, where he purchased 160 acres. To this he added 160 more, and still later made other
purchases, until at one time he owned an entire section. Upon his broad and rich acres he carried on general farming until the fall of 1901, when he retired. For four years he rented his farm and at the end of that time sold it, purchasing his present residence at 721 Fifth street. For twenty years
he was town treasurer of Featherstone, and in addition served a number of terms as town supervisor and school director. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been a member of the Masonic order thirty years. He has also been a member of the Odd Fellows.

Mr. Tripp was married November 22, 1864, to Abbie S. Perkins, of Maine, daughter of Timothy and Thurza (Ellsworth) Perkins, the former of whom died in June, 1889, and the latter October 30, 1882. Mrs. Tripp has one brother, T. E. Perkins, now living at Featherstone. To Mr. and Mrs. Tripp have been born seven children-Cora P., September 10, 1866; Timothy. B., April 6, 1870; Anna M., March 26, 1870; one born in February, 1875, who died in infancy; Frank M., born November 3, 188z; Gertrude A., October 6, 1885; Blanche II., April 5, 1887. Cora married F. D. Crandall and lives at Aberdeen, S. ). Timothy is married and
lives at Red Wing. Anna married C. Crandall and lives at Randolph, Minn. Frank is married and is an electrical engineer at Decatur, Ill. Gertrude A. is principal of public schools at Bradley, S. D., and Blanche F. is teaching in Afton, Washington county, this state. The family religion is that of the Methodist Church.


He died on 26 September 1911 at Featherstone Twsp., Goodhue Co., Minnesota, at age 74.^3,4,2

DEATH OF MERRITT TRIPP
Resident of Goodhue County Since 1861 Passes Away at Red Wing

-Red Wing, Minn., Sept. 28, Merritt, a resident of Goodhue county since 1861, died at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, at his home. He had been suffering for several months from stomach trouble. He was born in Tompkins county N. Y., Feb, 27 1837, and came to Minnesota in 1861 and located in Featherstone, where he purchased a farm. He was for twenty years town treasurer of Featherstone and served a number of terms as town supervisor and school director.
The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Thu, Sep 28, 1911 ·Page 6.²


He was buried at Sec W, Hope Cemetery, Red Wing, Goodhue Co., Minnesota.^3,4

     Phillip Burson Tripp was born on 9 November 1915 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.^1,2 He was the son of Frank Merritt Tripp and Lydia R. Smith. Phillip Burson Tripp began military service on 1 April 1941 at HQ Company, 194th Tank Battalion, Fort Lewis, Washington. He ended military service on 17 April 1946. He married Shirley Rose Henneman on 2 January 1947.

https://bataanproject.com/
This site is dedicated to the men of Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard

Tripp, PFC Philip B.
194th - HQ Co., 194th Tank Battalion, Noto Maru, Provisional Tank Group

PFC Philip Burson Tripp was born in Minneapolis on November 9, 1915, and was one of two sons of Frank M. Tripp & Lydia R. Smith-Tripp. His family resided at 3857 Garfield Avenue in South Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Selective Service Act went to effect on October 16, 1940, and Phil registered for the draft. He made his father his next of kin on the form and indicated that he was working for his father who appears to have been an electrician.

Philip was inducted into the army on April 14, 1941, and assigned to HQ Company, 194th Tank Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a radio operator. This was done to fill out the ranks of the company which had been created at Ft. Lewis. During his training, he was sent to radio school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he qualified as a radio operator, which indicates that he was assigned to one of three tanks assigned to HQ Company.

On August 15, 1941, orders were issued from Ft. Knox, Kentucky, to the 194th, for duty in the Philippines because of an event that happened during that summer. A squadron of American fighters was flying over Lingayen Gulf when one of the pilots, whose plane was at a lower altitude, noticed something odd in the water. He took his plane down and identified a buoy in the water. He came upon more buoys that lined up, in a straight line, in the direction of a Japanese occupied island. The squadron continued their flight plan to Mariveles before returning to When the squadron landed he reported what he had seen. The next morning, when another squadron flew to the area, the buoys had been picked up and a fishing boat was seen heading toward shore. Since communication was poor between the Air Corps and Navy, the boat was not intercepted. It was at that time the decision was made to build up the American military presence in the Philippines.

The battalion was ordered to San Francisco, California, and arrived at 7:30 A.M. on September 4 and ferried, on the U.S.A.T. General Frank M. Coxe to Ft. McDowell on Angel Island, where they received physicals and inoculations. Those who had health issues were held back and replaced by other soldiers. They boarded the S.S. President Calvin Coolidge and sailed to the Philippine Islands at 9:00 P.M. on September 8. The soldiers were quartered in the hold of the ship while the officers slept in wardrooms shared by four officers. At 7:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 13, the ship arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii, and the soldiers were allowed ashore but had to be on board the ship before the ship sailed at 5:00 P.M.

After leaving Hawaii, the ship was joined by, a heavy cruiser, the U.S.S. Astoria and an unknown destroyer. On several occasions, smoke was seen on the horizon and the cruiser revved its engines up and took off in the direction of the smoke. Each time, the ship belonged to a friendly country. The ships arrived in Manila Bay on Friday, September 26, in the morning, but the soldiers did not disembark until 3:00 P.M. The battalion, minus its maintenance section, rode buses to Ft. Stotsenburg. The maintenance section and 17th Ordnance remained behind on the pier to unload the tanks and reattach the turrets which had been removed so that the tanks would fit in the ship’s hold.

The soldiers were greeted by Colonel Edward King who apologized to them that they had to live in tents. He made sure they were settled into their bivouac before he left.

The soldiers spent the next weeks cleaning their weapons of cosmoline. The guns were sealed in it to prevent them from rusting on the trip to the Philippines. At one point, the battalion went on a maneuver to Lingayen Gulf.

The first week of December 1941, the 194th was ordered to its position at Clark Field. Their job was to protect the airfield from paratroopers. Two crewmen remained with the tanks at all times.

In September 1941, the 194th was sent to San Francisco for transport to the Philippine Islands. Arriving in the Philippines the battalion was housed in tents since their barracks were unfinished. They were moved into barracks in November.

On December 8, 1941, Philip lived through the Japanese attack on Clark Airfield. On December 19, he sent home this message by cablegram: “All ok. Everything fine. Best of health. Chin up.” He also told them to tell the parents of Phil Brain and Bill McKeon that they were fine. For the next four months, he saw action in various engagements against the Japanese.

On March 5, 1942, Philip picked up a Japanese leaflet that was supposed to convince them to surrender. He sent it home to his father. In the letter he mailed home he told how the leaflet made the Filipinos furious because they knew the truth about how they would be treated by the Japanese. “They knew that Japanese allegations of friendship and protection were false from previous experiences. The native troops and civilians would fight on, even though conquered.” He also told his family he was well and gone through several battles without a scratch.

On April 9, 1942, he became a Prisoner of War when Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese. In Mariveles at the southern tip of Bataan Philip began what became known as the death march. Philip believed that he would have never survived the march had he known how brutal the 65 miles were going to be. He watched as men were shot and beaten. He felt that the Japanese purposely starved the POWs.

At San Fernando, he and the other POWs were crammed into small wooden boxcars for transport to Capas. The POWs were packed in so tightly that those who died remained standing until the living climbed out of the cars. Philip and the other POWs made their way to Camp O’Donnell.

The camp was an unfinished Filipino training base that was pressed into use as a POW camp on April 1, 1942. When they arrived at the camp, the Japanese confiscated any extra clothing that the POWs had and refused to return it to them. They searched the POWs and if a man was found to have Japanese money on them, they were taken to the guardhouse. Over the next several days, gunshots were heard to the southeast of the camp. These POWs had been executed for looting.

There was only one water faucet in the camp, and the prisoners stood in line from two to eight hours waiting for a drink. The Japanese guards at the faucet would turn it off for no reason and the next man in line would stand as long as four hours waiting for it to be turned on again. This situation improved when a second faucet was added.

There was no water for washing clothes, so the POWs would throw out their clothing when it had been soiled. In addition, water for cooking had to be carried three miles from a river to the camp and mess kits could not be washed. The slit trenches in the camp were inadequate and were soon overflowing since most of the POWs had dysentery. The result was that flies were everywhere in the camp including the POW kitchens and in the food.

The camp hospital had no soap, water, or disinfectant. When the ranking American doctor at the camp wrote a letter to the camp commandant, Capt. Yohio Tsuneyoshi, asking for medical supplies, he was told never to write another letter. When the Archbishop of Manila sent a truckload of medical supplies to the camp, Tsuneyoshi refused to allow the truck into the camp. When the Philippine Red Cross sent medical supplies to the camp the Japanese took 95% of the supplies for their own use.

The POWs in the camp hospital lay on the floor elbow to elbow and only one of the six medics – assigned to care for 50 sick POWs in the camp hospital – was healthy enough to care for them. When a representative of the Philippine Red Cross stated they could supply a 150-bed hospital for the camp, he was slapped in the face by a Japanese lieutenant.

Each morning, the bodies of the dead were found all over the camp and were carried to the hospital and placed underneath it. The bodies lay there for two or three days before they were buried in the camp cemetery by other POWs who were suffering from dysentery and/or malaria. To clean the ground under the hospital, the ground was scraped and lime was spread over it. The bodies of the dead were placed in the cleaned area, and the area they had lain in was scraped and lime was spread over it.

Work details were sent out on a daily basis. Each day, the American doctors gave a list of names to the Japanese of the POWs who were healthier enough to work. If the quota of POWs needed to work could not be met, the Japanese put those POWs who were sick but could walk, to work. The death rate among the POWs reached 50 men dying a day. The Japanese finally acknowledge that they had to do something, so the opened a new POW camp at Cabanatuan.

On June 1, 1942, the POWs formed detachments of 100 men each and were marched to Capas. There, they were put in steel boxcars with two Japanese guards. At Calumpit, the train was switched onto another line which took it to Cabanatuan. The POWs disembarked and were taken to a schoolyard where they were fed cooked rice and onion soup. From there, they were marched to Cabanatuan which had been the headquarters of the 91st Philippine Army Division and was known as Camp Pangatian. The transfer of POWs was completed on June 4.

The camp was actually three camps. Camp 1 was where the men who captured on Bataan and taken part in the death march where held. Camp 2 did not have an adequate water supply and was closed. It later reopened and housed Naval POWs. Camp 3 was where those men captured when Corregidor surrendered were taken. In addition, men from Bataan who had been hospitalized when the surrender came were sent to the camp. Camp 3 was later consolidated into Camp 1.

Once in the camp, the POWs were allowed to run the camp. The Japanese only entered if they had an issue they wanted to deal with. To prevent escapes, the POWs set up a detail that patrolled the fence of the camp. The reason this was done was that those who did escape and were caught were tortured before being executed, while the other POWs were made to watch. It is believed that no POW successfully escaped from the camp.

In the camp, the Japanese instituted the “Blood Brother” rule. If one man escaped the other nine men in his group would be executed. POWs caught trying to escape were beaten. Those who did escape and were caught were tortured before being executed. It is not known if any POW successfully escaped from the camp.

The barracks in the camp were built to house 50 POWs, but most had between 60 to 120 POWs in them. The POWs slept on bamboo slats, without mattresses, bedding, or mosquito netting. Many quickly became ill. The POWs were assigned to barracks which meant that the members of their group lived together, went out on work details together, and would be executed together since they were Blood Brothers.

The POWs were sent out on work details one was to cut wood for the POW kitchens. The two major details were the farm detail and the airfield detail which lasted for years. A typical day on any detail lasted from 7:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. The POWs on the farm detail would have to go to a shed each morning to get tools. As they left the shed, the Japanese guards thought it was great fun to hit them over their heads.

The detail was under the command of “Big Speedo” who spoke very little English. When he wanted the POWs to work faster, he told the POWs “speedo.” Although he was known to have a temper, the POWs thought he was fair. Another guard was “Little Speedo” who was smaller and also used “speedo” when he wanted the POWs to work faster. The POWs also felt he was pretty fair in his treatment of them.

“Smiley” was another guard who always had a smile on his face but could not be trusted. He was the meanest of the guards and beat men up for no reason. He liked to hit the POWs with the club. Any prisoner who he believed was not working hard enough got knocked over with it. Any prisoner who he believed was not working hard enough got knocked over with it. Each morning, after arriving at the farm, the POWs went into a tool shed to get their tools. As they left the shed, the guards hit them on their heads.

Other POWs worked in rice paddies. While working in the fields, the favorite punishment given to the men in the rice paddies was to have their faces pushed into the mud and stepped on by a guard to drive their faces deeper into the mud. Returning from a detail the POWs bought or were given, medicine, food, and tobacco, which they somehow managed to get into the camp even though they were searched when they returned.

Rice was the main food given to the POWs fed to them as “lugow” which meant “wet rice.” During their time in the camp, they received few vegetables and almost no fruit. Once in awhile, they received bread.

The camp hospital consisted of 30 wards that could hold 40 men each, but it was more common for them to have 100 men in them. Each man had approximately an area of 2 feet by 6 feet to lie in. The sickest POWs were put in “Zero Ward,” which was called this because it was missed by the Japanese when they counted barracks. The Japanese put a fence up around the building to protect themselves and would not go into the area. There were two rolls of wooden platforms around the perimeter of the building. The sickest POWs were put on the lower platform which had holes cut into it so they could relieve themselves. Most of those who entered the ward died.

On Tuesday, February 2, 1943, Philip was admitted to the camp’s hospital. No reason was recorded as to why he was admitted, and no date indicating when he was discharged was recorded. It should be mentioned that in May 1943, his parents learned that he was a POW. It was the first information on him in thirteen months. They later received two POW postcards from him dated May 6, 1944, and July 22, 1944.

It is known that in August 1944, Philip was selected to be sent to Japan. On August 25, he was boarded onto the Noto Maru which sailed, for Japan, on August 27, 1944. The ship spent the night in Subic Bay before sailing the next day. The ship stopped at Takao, Formosa, on August 30 and sailed for and arriving at Keelung, Formosa, the same day. It sailed again on August 31 and arrived at Moji, Japan, on September 4, 1944.

In Japan, he was sent to Sendai #6, which was also known as Hanawa, where 500 POWs worked in the copper mine owned by Mitsubishi and under company supervision. The camp was approximately 200 feet wide by 350 feet long and had a 12-foot high wooden fence around it and was located at 4,000 feet. The POWs were housed in wooden barracks, with 30-foot ceilings, and two tiers of bunks, against each long wall, with straw matting and a mattress stuffed with straw for sleeping. They also had a 4? by 4? by 8? block of wood for a pillow.

The floors of the barracks were packed dirt with a center aisle. There were covered walkways, without sides, that connected the barracks. To heat the barracks, there was a small potbelly stove. If they were lucky, the Japanese gave them enough wood for an hour’s heat. The POWs – who worked in the foundry – stole coal knowing that if they were caught they would be beaten. The barracks were not insulated and the heavy snow – which was as deep as 10 feet – served as insulation.

Other buildings in the camp were two buildings that served as a hospital for the POWs and an “L” shaped building that was the kitchen and POW bath. The latrines were three low buildings, and there was one building that served as the camp office. The POWs spent several days setting up the camp.

In the camp, 500 POWs worked in the copper mine owned by Mitsubishi Mining Company and worked under company supervision. The POWs woke up at 5 A.M. and ate breakfast which was a small bowl of rice, barley or millet, and watery soup. Meals for the POWs were brought to the barracks, in buckets, and the POWs ate at tables in the barracks. After breakfast, at 5:30, roll call was taken and the POWs and the POWs left the camp. They arrived at the mine at 7 A.M., had a half-hour lunch, and worked until 5:00 P.M. before returning to camp, usually after dark, and had supper. Afterward, they went to bed.

The clothing issued to the POWs was a combination of Japanese clothing, made of thin cloth and shoes, and captured American clothing. For the winter the POWs were issued a uniform made of burlap and long socks. Those who needed shoes were issued Japanese canvas shoes with webbing between two toes. They also received grass shoe covers so they could get through the snow.

Work details were set up for POWs who were machinists, electricians, mechanics. Those who did not have these skills were assigned to working at a foundry or mining. The POWs worked in a copper mine owned by Mitsubishi. Each day, the POWs were marched up the side of a mountain to the top and then down into the mine. To their amazement, their guards always seemed to be waiting for them. It turned out there was a tunnel into the mine which the guards used so they did not have to climb the mountain.

Each detail had a “honcho” who was employed by Mitsubishi and supervised the POWs. They carried a large stick which they used on the POWs when they felt they were not working hard enough. The POWs believed these supervisors wanted to work them to death. At the mine, the POWs were divided among drillers, car loaders, and car pushers, with the miners having the worst job.

The work in the mine was dirty, dangerous, and difficult. Each miner received a carbide headlamp as his only lighting. A quota was set but the Japanese and the Japanese were always raising the quota. The number of carloads mined by the men was never enough. The POWs were beaten for not working hard enough or fast enough. Many shafts of the mine were so low that the miners had to crawl through to get to the ore. Some shafts had standing water with threats of sudden flooding. Most areas were not even shored up to prevent cave-ins. Accidents were frequent and many POWs were hurt. There was no gas detecting equipment and there was always the danger of setting off an explosion from the open burning carbide headlamps.

Mitsubishi expected the Japanese Army to supply a certain number of POWs to work in the mine each day so men too sick to work were sent to work. To meet the quota, the sick had to be carried between two healthier POWs to the mine. Since the Japanese found that the sick were too ill to work, the company came up with work for them to do in the camp like making nails or rope. If a POW still could not work, his rations were cut in half.

In the camp, the Japanese withheld the Red Cross packages from the POWs and took the canned meats, canned fruit, canned milk, and cheese for themselves. Blankets and clothing intended for the POWs were used by the guards. If a POW violated a rule, the grain ration, for all the POWs, was reduced by 20 percent. At one point, 49 POWs were lined up – because one POW had broken a rule – and beaten with leather belts.

While working in the mine from November 1944 until August 15, 1945, the POWs were abused by the civilian foreman, Hichiro Tsuchiya, who was known to the POWs as “Patches.” Tsuchiya used any excuse to abuse the POWs. He was known to hit the POWs for no reason in their faces and to also use a wooden club or pickaxe handle. He also used a sledgehammer to hit the POWs on their heads. His parents received a postcard from him in January 1945.

On August 16, the POWs noticed all the guards were gone and only the camp commander who told them to paint the letters “POW” on the roofs of all the buildings so any planes flying over would know they were there. They were told the war was over on August 20 by the camp commandant in his broken English.

“Peace, peace comes to the world again. It is a great pleasure to me, to say nothing to you, to announce it for all of you now. The Japanese Empire acknowledges the terms of the suspension of hostilities given by the American Government even these two Nations do not still reach the best agreement of a truce. As a true friend from now, I am going to do my best in the future for the convenience of your life in this camp because of having been able to get friendly relations between them, and also the Japanese Government has decided her own Nations policy for your Nation.

“Therefore I hope you will keep as comfortable a daily life by the orders of your own officers from today, while you are here. All of you will surely get much gladness in returning to your lovely country. At the same one of my wishes for you is this: Your health and happiness calls upon you and your life henceforth and they will grow up happier and better than before by the honor of your country.

“In order to guard your life I have been endeavoring my ability, therefore you will please cooperate with me in any way more than usual, I hope.

“I close this statement in letting you know again how peace, the peace has already come.”

It should be noted that nowhere in his speech did the camp commander say that Japan had surrendered.

An American Naval plane flew over the camp on August 27. The pilot dropped a note to the POWs and told them to paint one stripe on the roof of a barrack if they needed medicine, two stripes if they needed food, and three stripes if they needed clothing. The POWs painted one stripe on one barrack, two stripes on another barrack, and three stripes on a third barrack.

When the plane returned. he dropped another note saying that there was no way for him to drop everything, so B -29s would have to drop the supplies. The POWs had no idea what the pilot was talking about. When the B-29s appeared over the camp, the POWs had never seen anything so large in the sky. The POWs received so much food and clothing that they shared it with the Japanese civilians who had been kind to them

On August 28, 29, and September 1, food was dropped near the camp by American planes. The Japanese civilians helped the POWs carry it into the camps. A great number of the former POWs gorged themselves on the food and became sick, but no one became seriously ill. The only thing the civilians were interested in was the silk from the parachutes so that they could make clothing.

A jeep with American Military Police arrived on September 2, 1945. The MPs patrolled the camp and kept the former POWs from leaving until arrangements were made to move the men. On September 13, the prisoners were sent to Yokohama by train, where they boarded the American hospital ship the U.S.S. Rescue on the 14th and received medical examinations. It was at that time the decision was made to send him to Okinawa on the U.S.S. San Juan. From there, he was taken by another ship to Japan. The reason for this was that the former POWs were in such poor physical shape that the American Military Command did not want them to be seen back home in this condition. In Philip’s case, he had gone from 165 pounds down to 87 pounds.

After being “fattened up” Philip was allowed to return home. It appears that he was flown home since no records have been found of He was discharged on April 17, 1946. Philip married, Shirley Henneman, on January 2, 1947. Two of his groomsmen were Sgt. William McKeon and Sgt. Philip Brian who were members of the 194th Tank Battalion. The couple became the parents of a son and daughter. He worked as an electrical contractor and was known for his love of food and his sense of humor.

Philip B. Tripp passed away on March 25, 1992, in Minneapolis and was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis in Section 15, Site 2479.


Name Philip B Tripp
Serial Number 37026139
Grade (alpha) Staff Sergeant
Service Code Army
Arm or Service Infantry
First Report Date day: 07 | month: 05 | year: 1942
Last Report Date day: 16 | month: 09 | year: 1945
Racial Group White
State Residence Minnesota
Organization Type
Parent Unit Number
Parent Unit Type
Area Southwest Pacific Theatre Philippine Islands
Source of Report Official Sources
Status Liberated Or Repatriated
Detaining Power Japan
Camp Tokyo Pow Camp Shinjuku Tokyo Bay Area 3

Created on April 18, 2019
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3511064/philip-burson-tripp.² Phillip Burson Tripp died on 25 December 1992 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, at age 77.^1,2 He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.¹

     Robert Smith Tripp was born on 27 October 1912 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.¹ He was the son of Frank Merritt Tripp and Lydia R. Smith. Robert Smith Tripp married Margaret Evelyn Johnson. Robert Smith Tripp lived in December 1992 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota. He died on 8 February 1993 at Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota, at age 80.¹ He was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.¹