DIAZ, John E., Pfc. 1918-1944

DIAZ

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/30/2011 at 19:21:54

#1:

JOHN DIAZ, PRISONER
OF JAPS IN PHILLIPINES,
GOVERNMENT SAYS

Baldo Diaz received a communication from the war department Saturday evening saying his son, John, 21, is a prisoner of the Japanese, and the message proves Mr. Diaz' contention that his son was not dead.

The only message the family has had concerning John since August 1941, was a message from the war department stating that he was missing. It has been a long, anxious time for the family, and they are happy to know that he is still alive. The rest of Osage rejoices with them.

John enlisted in 1940 in the army and had been in the Philippines for several months before he was captured.

The Diaz' have two other sons in the services - Cpl. Richard Diaz who is in Africa and Tech. Sgt. Phillip Diaz, who is at present at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, but expects to be transferred soon. Lupe, another son, was given a medical discharge from the army some months ago.

Source: Mitchell County Press - Thursday, Feb. 11, 1943
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#2:

JOHN DIAZ
July 12, 1918 - Dec 14, 1944

THIRD DIAZ SON
DIES IN ACTION

Osage G. I. Gives Life
as Japanese Prisoner

OSAGE, IOWA - A 3rd war casualty came to the Baldo Diaz family with a message from the adjutant general stating that their son, Pfc. John E. Diaz, was killed in action, December 14, 1944, while a prisoner of war of the Japanese. Pvt. Diaz was captured shortly after Pearl Harbor.

Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz have had six sons in service. Lupe Diaz died at a veterans hospital following a medical discharge from the army.

T. Sgt. Felix Diaz was killed in action as an aerial gunner.

One son, Richard Diaz, has been discharged and the other two sons are still serving in the European theater.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, September 4, 1945]
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#3:

PFC. JOHN DIAZ
DIES IN PRISON
CAMP IN JAPAN

Third Son of Family To
Lose Life During
World War II

Mr. and Mrs. Baldo Diaz of Osage received official notification Saturday from the War Department informing them that their son, Pfc. John F. Diaz, had been killed in action on December 14, 1944, while a prisoner of war of the Japanese government.

Pfc. Diaz had fought in the Philippines and was one of the Americans who made the heroic stand on Bataan, where he was captured with General Wainwright's forces. The Osage soldier had been classified as missing until notification of his death was received last week.

Six Diaz brothers served in the armed forces in World War II. Three of the, together with a son-in-law, are gold star sons of the Osage family. Lupe Diaz died in a veterans' hospital June 2, 1944, shortly after receiving a medical discharge from the army. T. Sgt. Felix Diaz was killed in action over Germany November 30, 1944. He was an aerial gunner. The son-in-law, Donald Albert lost his life April 4, 1945.

One Diaz boy has been discharged and two of the brothers are still serving in the European area.

Mitchell County Press, 6 SEP 1945.
(KK)
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#4:

The following was borrowed from findagrave.com, and Eric Kreft.

Palawan Massacre

During World War II, in order to prevent the rescue of prisoners of war by the advancing allies, on 14 December 1944, the Japanese herded the remaining 150 POWs at Puerto Princesa into three covered trenches which were then set on fire using buckets of gasoline, followed by flaming torches. As prisoners tried to escape the flames they were shot down. Some escaped by going over a cliff that ran along one side of the trenches, but were later hunted down and killed.

Only 11 men escaped the slaughter and between 133 and 141 were killed. The site of the massacre can still be visited. The massacre is the premise of the recently published book "Last Man Out: Glenn McDole, USMC, Survivor of the Palawan Massacre in World War II" by Bob Wilbanks, and the opening scenes of the 2005 Miramax movie, "The Great Raid".

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