Name/Title
World War II, Japanese Prisoner of War, Scrapbook, Walter Daffron, Jr, 1941-1965Entry/Object ID
AM2020.2.41Scope and Content
World War II, Japanese Prisoner of War, Scrapbook, Walter Daffron, Jr, 1941-1965. Scrapbook maintained perhaps by mother of Walter Daffron, Jr. who served in the 194th Tank Company along with numerous other soldiers from St. Joseph.
They departed from St. Joseph as a unit in February, 1941 and received training at Fort Lewis, Washington. They were deployed to the Philippines, coming first through Gilbratar and the evacuation there. They were present in the Philippines when it fell to the Japanese and many of these soldiers were involved in the Bataan Death March and were taken as prisoners of war, dispersing to various Japanese POW camps in the Philippines and Japan.
The scrapbook has new photos of these men, articles about the death of various members, reports about the notices sent to homes in St. Joseph by the Army about the imprisonment of some.
Included are the original documents received by the Daffron family from the Army about Walter's POW status, Japanese notification of his imprisonment, letters Walter wrote from such imprisonment, telegrams about Walter's release in September, 1945 and his journey home.
The scrapbook concludes with news photos, news articles, certificates, etc. about Walter Daffron, Jr. during his civilian life in St. Joseph after the war until his death in 1965. He was credit manager for Townsend & Wall Department Store and was active in Boy Scout leadership.Collection
Marshall & Melanie WhiteLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
ScrapbookNomenclature Primary Object Term
AlbumNomenclature Sub-Class
MemorabiliaNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
World War II, Bataan Death March, St. Joseph Soldiers in Bataan Death March, War in the Philippines, Japanese Prisoners of War from St. Joseph, Boy Scouts, 194th Tank CompanyRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Walter Daffron, Jr.
