M/Sgt. Jesse J. Hucks was with the 27th Bombardment Group, 17th Bomb Squadron and was what we called then the Crew Chief for Lt. C.P. Gerrity, having been also at Hunter Field in Savannah and continuing in the Philippines.

At the time of surrender he was age 44 with 22 years behind him in the Army Air Corps.   I was 9 years old when he was sent over and 12 1/2 when we welcomed him home.   What a joy!!   Daddy would often talk of his experiences once we got him on the subject, although he never once held the hard feelings we had toward his captors, he always said the guards were the bottom of the pile in the military so that the prisoners were all they had to take it out on.

Daddy was at Bilibid when liberated, then age 47, and I would so like to contact anyone who was also at Bilibid at liberation, and also anyone in the group of men who actually did liberate these men.   It appears the only ones still in Bilibid at time of liberation were of no use to the Japs in sending them on over to the mainland to do the slave labor, and with Daddy's age and head of white hair and of course poor physical condition, he was continually passed over in the line up for shipment to Japan.   Fortunately, Daddy was raised on a tenant farm here in South Carolina, one of 12 children, and was fond of rice!

Several years ago on the History Channel a broadcast of the last days of the war with Japan was shown, and there in a couple of frames which I assume were taken by military newsreels, is my Daddy.   I contacted the History Channel and also the Producer and received absolutely no help in attempting to locate this film in hopes of getting some stills from them.   Daddy is shown in what I think must be a courtyard at Bilibid, outside, as stone walls are behind.   Tables are set up and men are wandering around in this area, and Daddy is seen walking away from the tables toward the camera, and a second group of X-prisoners are shown eating from bowls, one is Daddy, and I am absolutely sure this is the bowl of ice cream he told us about.

As you see from Daddy's age at time of surrender, he was an old guy compared to the young men who, many had just recently joined the service, and were in their late teens or very early 20s.   Can anyone give me help in locating the men who liberated Bilibid?   And any advice on finding the film?

Patsy Hucks Beaty
P.O. Box 13,  Bluffton, S.C. 29910
pbeaty@islc.net

Thank you kindly.