Johlerpow and Zale et al.

“Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

The “Great Raid” is a film about a special mission of the United States Army 6th Ranger Batallion. On January 28th, 1945, this Batallion infiltrated behind Japanese enemy lines in the Philippines. Five hundred and thirteen American and British prisoners of war at the Cabanatuan prison camp were rescued. Had they not been, all would have been executed.

This film was painful to watch and it left me sobbing at the end.

My late father,  Jacob Johler was at Cabanatuan #3  for five months, then moved to Camp Hoten in Mukden, Manchuria.  His camp was liberated in August of 1945 by Soviet troops. He weighed approximately sixty pounds when he returned.

Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines fell to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. Shortly thereafter, the infamous “Bataan Death March” began.
Thousands died on this forced march and thousands died during their time in captivity. They experienced torture and starvation and were forced into slave labor.

Imagine, no medical supplies nor pain medication, no running water, minimal food, torture and slave labor.
Imagine, surgery without anesthesia, lice, scabies, rats and cockroaches. Imagine slit trenches in the ground for latrines and hundreds of flies all around.

These men had an extraordinary will to survive. My father Jacob shared that it was his faith in Jesus Christ that helped him to endure, along with a deep desire to return home to his family in Buffalo, New York.

There is nothing in my life past or present that can compare to the suffering experienced by Jesus  or these amazing men, women and yes children. ( There were civilian internment camps as well.)

Thinking about all this helps to provide comfort when I am very sick or feel alone.

Had my earthly father gave up in the prison camp, I would not be here writing this today.

If Jesus said no in the Garden that night, where would we all be?

Let us never stop praying for peace.

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