Oral History Interview with John Kidd, March 2, 2002
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Oral History Interview with John Kidd, March 2, 2002 (Sound)
The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John F. Kidd. Kidd enlisted in the US Navy in 1938. After boot camp, he was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB-36) and was later transferred to the USS Blackhawk as a yeoman striker. After a short time he was assigned to the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Hart and stationed at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. He tells of the Japanese attack on 8 December 1941 and of commandeering civilian automobiles to carry wounded military personnel from Cavite Navy Yard. He also mentions shortages of food and water. He was sent to Corregidor and recalls the surrender of American forces. He was sent to Cabanatuan. From there he went aboard a Japanese hell ship for transfer to the Yodogawa Bunsho prison camp in Japan. He describes the hellacious conditions aboard the ship. He tells of the death of a friend and the frequent deaths among the prisoners. He relates the experience of being one of ten prisoners selected for experimental surgery of which only two survived. He recalls the unsanitary conditions of the operating room, the experience of undergoing surgery without proper sedation and the lack of medication following surgery. After a twelve month recover, he was moved to Honshu to unload ships. He tells of hearing of the surrender of Japan and disappearance of the camp guards and the arrival of American forces.
Oral History Interview with John Kidd, March 2, 2002 - ark:/67531/metapth1607761
Oral History Interview with John Kidd, March 2, 2002, text, March 2, 2002; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1603948/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.