Diary, Brigadier General William E. Brougher, January 1, 1943-January 10, 1943

The diary of Brigadier General William E. Brougher, a member of the United States Army who served in the Battle of Bataan. Brougher served in the Philippines from October 1939 and was eventually captured as a prisoner of war in 1942. He remained a prisioner of war until April 1945. During his time as a prisoner of war, he kept a steady diary. In these entries, Brougher describes his New Year's Day dinner, the food from his garden, local holidays, and his days working in the camp.

Bataan, Battle of, Philippines, 1942
Bataan Death March, Philippines, 1942
Prisoners of war

en-US

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Vol. II
NOTE-BOOK
Brig. General Wm. E. Brougher, USA
Squad 1, Room 4
Jan. 1, 1943 to July 31, 1943.
A few selected recipes in back pages.

VOLUME II

KARENKO, TAIWAN
Prison Camp

Jan. 1, 1943. New Year's Day in Prison Camp. What was it like? We went to bed as usual at 8:30 PM, no liquor, no party, fair food for supper. Arose at 6:30 AM, after 9 or 10 hours sleep! Extra food for the day - 2 oz. each port in soup and rice for noon meal - 1 small potato cookie! I had 1/2 a delicious large tomato from my garden, with cabbage leaves and green onions for salad. Salt only dressing. Sold 1/2 to Weaver for a cigar. Many envious eyes as we ate. Sing-song held in evening- second at Karenko - very good program. Nice sunny morning. Thought much about family and guessed what they were doing at different hours of the day. Revived rumors re possibility of exchange. Wishful thinking - our most hopeful pastime!

Jan 2. Day after New Year's - back to quiet routine. Main interest - a full bowl - contents of the soup - possibility of more food!

Jan. 3. Nipponese holiday - very good food - 13 ducks in soup 3rd and pork bones in soup for 4th. Many officers with colds - some with grip. Beebe, Lough and Ausmas sick.

Jan 4. Everybody ordered out to work AM and PM, on new plot, north of camp. Very cold windy day. Got colder at night and we had to put on all clothes and go to bed to get warm. New plan of work: everybody worked 30 minutes and rested 10 minutes. No shifts as before Christmas. 20 goats received for farm. High winds damaged my tomatoes very badly.

Jan 5th. Nipponese holiday - no work. Asked to write a [?] on my impressions of Christmas + New Year in Prison Camp. Made 1st draft of paper - 30 ducks in soup for supper - very good.

Wed Jan 6. Worked morning + afternoon on farm - compulsory work - no shifts - reduced food. Little time for other things - Sugar Issued - 1 lb.

Thur Jan 7. Going out to work again. Worked in the raining in PM - no work - Shave + wrote essay on "Christams at Karenko."

Fri, Jan 8. Nipponese holiday - celebrating beginning of war - no extra food - guard doubled for some reason - bath in PM. Getting no news lately - cold dreary day - reading Shakespeare.

Sat Jan 9. Worked on farm in AM - PM clean-up - Withdrew from PO deposit of pay 40 yen - Balance 1454.88.

Sun Jan 11. [Luau?] by Camp C[?] at 9:30 AM - Religious Services at 10 AM - Pretty sunny day. Have started saving a bit of my breakfast & noon rice so as to have a feast for supper & go to bed with full stomach.