July 20, 2008
Robert L. Hudson wrote:

Reverend Phillips,
  Thank you for your quick reply to my query. I will do my best to give you a condensed bio of myself in relation to my father.

Son of Richard C Hudson, Tech Sgt. with 31st infantry, Company A, Quartermaster who was:

- Stationed at the Cuartel De Espana in Manila.
- Retired from the Army in Aug. 1963 as a Chief Warrant Officer W4.
- Surrendered at Mariveles in April 9, 1942 where he began the Death March.
- Arrived at Camp O'Donnell on or around the 17th of April.
- Was chosen to go on the Tayabas work detail in which 85% of the detail died.
- Transferred to Cabanatuan in July of 1942.
- Boarded the Hellship Nissyo Maru on July 17, 1944 and arrived in Moji, Japan on August 3.
- Transferred to Keisen #23 POW camp, 30-40 miles from Nagasaki.
- Released on October 3, 1945 and shipped to Madigan General hospital in Washington State.
- Hospitalized until the Spring of 1946.

As the son of a POW of the Japanese I have been saturated in the stories of the Battle of the Philippines my entire life. It was not until after my father passed away in 1988 that I began in earnest to learn the truth about his past. During my father’s life, all I heard were funny stories about events in POW camps. I heard some horror stories my father told his Army buddies during poker games at home as I listened from around the corner of the room.

During the last seven years when information became available through the internet and having read some 30-40 books by and about POW's, have I come to understand the depth to which humans can sink to and the depths from which human tenacity and character can rise from. It has become my passion to expose the truth, and broadcast the truth as I find it. I have the greatest love and admiration for all soldiers but those who are dearest to me are my family of Philippine combatants. I try to honor them and my father in a blog that I maintain. www.bataanson.blogspot.com .

I hope to attend the ADBC reunion in San Antonio in 2009 as I have a son who is a firefighter there. I hope to have the honor of meeting you as well as the many people I have communicated with but have never met.

I will keep you in my prayers,
Robert L Hudson
www.bataanson.blogspot.com
"Pro Libertate Patriae" - For the Liberty of my Country