Lawrence, Kansas
Last week these US Military veterans met for a reunion in Kansas City, Mo. Now in their 80's, they were captured on the island of Guam on December 8, 1941 and spent the duration of World War II in Japanese prisoner of war camps in Japan. Although some went in different directions all began their encarcerations at the Zentsujji Prison Camp. From left: Howard Ross, 86, Melbourne, Fl; Harris Chuck, 86, Vista, Ca.; Donald Binns, 86, Lawrence; Richard Salsbury, 82, National City, Ca. and Robert Epperson, 84, Cottonwood, Ca.
A group of POW's at the Zentsuji Camp. Richard Salisbury is second from left.
The Zentsuji prisoners of war ran their own camp while waiting for the American liberation forces to arrive to organize their departure back to the United States. They posed outside of the old Japanese headquarters for a group shot.
A post card sent to Eunice Binns from her husband Don from the Zentsuji POW Camp. Binns or his fellow POWs didn't receive any mail for almost two years.
The day the liberation forces arrived in the Zentsuji POW Camp was a happy one for all involved.
Every morning the enlisted men in the Zentsuji POW camp were marched to trucks, loaded up and hauled to a nearby train station where they were used to load and unload cargo. They were often beaten and existed on small rations. They were literally used as slave labor.
A list of supplies that were going to be air-dropped into Zentsuji POW Camp before the prisoners were liberated.
The tub where the entire camp was treated to a hot bath, all in the same water, every two weeks.
Don Binns as a young sailor in Zentsuji POW Camp.
Harris Chuck as a young Marine at the Zentsuji POW Camp.
Navy seaman Robert Epperson in Zentsuji POW Camp.
Navy Corpsman Richard Salsbury in Zentsuji POW Camp.
Howard Ross, USMC, in Zentsuji POW Camp
The inside of the enlisted men's living quarters where 28 men ate, slept and tried to get along with one another.
Bunks in the enlisted men's living quarters.
The area where prisoners washed after returning from a day of loading and unloading cargo from trains.
The first group of American prisoners captured in Guam on December 8, 1941, stood in lines after they arrived at the Zentsuji POW camp in Japan. Don Binns, Lawrence, is wearing a white towel on his head, standing fourth from the left in the front row.