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"THE LETTER "
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"I, mistakenly, surmised that as the years passed these memories would fade into oblivion as so many others have, but this event seems to be indelible."
The Letter
When Darlyne Jaynes of Eugene Oregon wrote to the International Travel News about her trip to the Philippines, her intention was to share her profound experience of touring Corregidor Island. She did not know that a fellow subscriber had profound experiences of his own on Corregidor some fifty years earlier. After contacting her by telephone he sent a letter he had been meaning to send to someone, somewhere for some time. |
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Darlyne did as James requested. After calling all eight of the Skeltons listed in the local phone directory, she was put in touch with the Skelton family genealogist in Cottage Grove, Oregon (Beth Habian, International Travel News December 1995)
"When I started inquiring if she was from the family of a young man killed in the Philippines during World War 11" Darlyne later wrote, "she answered unhesitatingly, "That would be Johnny!" She then contacted Lucille Bowman, John Skelton's sister. (Beth Habian, International Travel News December 1995)
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Royal and Darlyne passed the letter along to Joanne and Harry Skelton, cousins of John Hundley Skelton, and ....they immediately contacted Johnny's sister, Lucille Bowman.
The story was picked up in August 21, 1995 by Eric Mortensen writing for Eugene, Oregon's The Register-Guard.
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Following the Register Guard publication, Lucille received many good wishes from people that had known her brother. One call was from a young lady who said, "I didn't know Johnny, but grew up with his picture hanging in our living room. So when I saw the picture in the paper, I knew it was him [sic.]." She went on to say that her folks who knew him all his life, held him as an example for them. Everyone who knew him had good things to say. Lucille recently said of her older brother: "Johnny was very happy with military duty. He was always proud of his country and it was his nature to be willing to help anyone who needed it."
In December 1995, the Louisville Courier Journal rier Journal ran the story. This also provoked a warm response. Copies were distributed to members of the Mullaney family. It was through the efforts of Thomas E. Peoples of Sacramento, California, a nephew of James Mullaney, that the incident was brought to the attention of Lt. Gen. Kicklighter, who was at that time the director of activities related to the 50th Anniversary of World War II.
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Present at the memorial dedication were Major General Raymond F. Rees, Oregon National Guard Adjutant General, James B. Thayer, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Brigadeer General Alexander Burgin, Commander of the 41st Enhanced Infantry, Chaplain Terry M. Larkin, James M. Mullaney, author of the letter, the Mullaney family, and over 150 Skelton family members, friends, and media representatives. Beneath a red, white and blue banner the brother and sister of the forever-young man were presented with the Combat Infantry and Expert Rifleman badges, the Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and a Campaign Medal for the Philippine and Pacific Theater.
COMMENTARY: "The Mullaney-Jaynes Letter" and the text of the Mortensen newspaper article are reproduced in their entirety, as submitted. Other entries have been extracted by the editor from the originals.
Al McGrew recalls that shortly following the incarceration of the US and Filipino prisoners in the 92nd Garage area, the Japanese spent several days sending work parties of prisoners throughout the eastern end of the island for the purpose of locating and disposing of all bodies. US bodies were buried. Japanese bodies were cremated after a hand was removed and cremated separately (for return to Japan). Al believes that the prospects of locating any number of bodies after almost three years is unlikely. "The termites there were voracious, and they would eat almost anything - wood, clothing, leather." He also states that wool O.D. shirts were not, to his experience, used as uniforms, except during the 'hazing' of new Coastal Artillery recruits during their 'boot camp' training. He recalls fellow recruits fainting like ten-pins when required to stand in the sun - to the quiet amusement of the old hands witnessing the scene.
The author stands by the accuracy of the original letter, "down even to the punctuation."
Ed
© 2001 Jim Mullaney
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