The decision to design and launch a Website for the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor was made at the National Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky, May 1998.   The goal was to make available E-Mail addresses of members, that they might easily contact one another and have a place to post information regarding meetings and reunions.


Father Bob Phillips met with members Warren and Ruth Jorgenson for coffee one morning in the Louisville Hotel Dining Room; they had been introduced the night before by Joe Vater.   The discussion centered around Ruth's ability to design and maintain websites and her willingness to get involved as a volunteer.   They agreed on some "ground rules" and Ruth went home to set-up a few sites for viewing.


A site on "Switchboard" was approved and a Nat'l Committee was chosen including Martin Christie, Don Versaw and Warren Jorgenson.   The new website worked fine for a while; but soon it became too limited in scope.   Ruth offered to "attach" the ADBC site to her Genealogy Website, which she calls "Harrison Heritage"   (thus the name "harrison" became a factor).


The change was made in September 1998 with pleasing results.   The ADBC site was able to grow as much and as fast as needed.   Ruth uses her own software HomeSite by Alaire allowing for choice of design and layout.   She serves as the Designer & Builder of the Website.


In October, 2000 Ruth's website HOST (Simplenet) was purchased by YAHOO and we were offered a new opportunity.   ADBC would be able to have its own URL and no longer be dependant on the Harrison name.   The WebTeam Committee met and decided on the URL: ADBC-POW.ORG which fortunately was available to us.


Some Statistics about our Website:
We have grown from our original 19 E-Mail Members to more than 500 persons who are either members, associate members, researchers, students or individuals seeking help in finding family members who were lost in the Pacific during WWII.   Information offered is now found in "485 files" posted from Ruth's HomeSite software.   The information is updated daily.   The average number of persons logging-on to our website is 225 per day (July 2001 Statistics).

The WebTeam membership remains the same; only the time donated has increased.   The Webmistress says "Thank You, Father Bob for being so wonderful to work with as Chairman of the Website Committee."   (RHJ)
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Note:  Health problems forced Ruthie Jorgenson to relinquish her duties as Webmistress in April 2005.  Since that time, this web site has been maintained for Father Bob and the ADBC by John B. Lewis.  Also, the site was moved to the West-Point.Org domain.