Oral History Interview with William R. Sanchez, June 24, 2011 Page: 24

                                
Mr. Sanchez:
Mr. Metzler:
Mr. Sanchez:

Mr. Metzler:

They held him in a different place, not with the common. So at least they
showed a little respect for him. I will never forget that, because we were
headed for Bilibid prison. This was the penitentiary where they held all the
criminals. The Japanese released all of them and they put us in there. Now,
when the time came, a few days later, they took us to the railway station. And
they put us in groups of 100. Now at this station, the railroad station, these
boxcars are small boxcars and they put a hundred of us in each car. And as
they went through, people were dying inside, they were fainting, everything.
There was no air. I got in the corner because the slats were open, and once the
train started, I could feel the wind. But it was quite the train trip. When we
unloaded, which was before Cabanatuan, there was another group of
prisoners, and they were from Bataan. We finished the Death March, the last
27 kilometers.
Together with them.
Together with them. And I said to myself, "If these guys can make it, I'm
going to make it." Before we started the march, I got a little stone and put it
in my mouth, so I could have the saliva to. Because they wouldn't let us stop
for water or anything. I had a canteen where I had a little bit of water and as

we were marching, one of the old timers was a marine and oh, he was in a sad
state so I said, "Here, wet your lips. Don't gulp any water. Just wet your
lips." So he made it to the camp but he didn't make it after we got to the
camp.
Where were you when the actual surrender took place?

Page 24 of 68