August 6, 2007

Jeff Blunier wrote:

I am trying to retrace Yakopcic, George L., CPL, 6282189, CAC my father in-law's path from capture to internment as a Japanese POW during WWII.  He was captured in the Philippines in 1942 while serving with A Battery, 59th Coast Artillery Regiment and was liberated in 1945 from a POW camp in Japan.  I believe he was captured in Bataan and was transferred first to Taiwan to a camp known as Taichu and then to Tokyo-01-D Yokohama - formerly Tokyo-02B Mitsubishi ship yards.  I believe he was a member of the "Battling Bastards of Bataan" although he never told us this.  The reason I am doing this is for his family and especially his grand children. He never spoke of this time in his life.  He passed away in Sept of 2005 without sharing this time of life with his family.  He sacrificed so much for so many his whole life and is and continues to be an inspiration. I feel it is time to pass this information on to his children and grand children so that they will "never forget".  Please help me to trace one extraordinary man's path thru life.

Sincerely,
Jeff Blunier
yakblu@msn.com