Japanese Prisoners of War

Well we had a pretty good life you know, we, we, we were like on loan to the Americans so we, every once and a while, we got a little treat. Some ice cream or something that the Americans were getting.

Interviewer: Americans always had everything didn't they?

Yeah they did. But we had a lot compared to the Australians. There were Australians up in the same area we were and they became very good friends, I became very good friends with some Australians. And we said we'd meet when I got back down to Sydney, and you get down there and call someone up or get in touch with them somehow and, "Let's go out to dinner", and "No", he couldn't go out to dinner. "Why? " " I can't afford it." "That's alright I got the money." No, if I can't pay my way I don't go." And that's the way they were, but they're great people. And they're great gamblers. My Heavens they'd gamble on anything.

Interviewer: Would they?

Oh yeah. A guy is dying over in the, in the, one bed in the hospital and they're taking bets on what day he's gonna pass out.


They never did, but I saw Japanese who were taken prisoners and marched right in front of me, the Americans took them prisoners and they were...

Interviewer: What were they like, what are your memories?

Well, I think they're like everything else we see, it wasn't very good for them if they stepped out of line. They had to keep in line. And the Americans were much the same as the Japanese were, I guess, when they were took prisoners. If they stepped out of line, look out.