West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown,
WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / Fax: 304-293-3981 / URL: https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/
Language
English
Abstract
Typescript regarding the experiences of Robert Paul Evans of Littleton, West Virginia while he was held prisoner by the Japanese.
The typescript was written by Evans's aunt and based on Evans's description of his experiences and his testimony to the War
Department. Evans held the rank of Technical Sergeant and served as a B-29 Radar Observer with the 500th Bomb Group, U.S.
Army. He was forced to parachute from his plane during a bombing raid over Tokyo and was captured and taken to Kempei Tai
prison run by the Japanese military police. ("Kenpeitai" was the name of the Japanese military police, but the typescript
uses "Kempei Tai" as the name of the prison.) Evans was later moved to Camp Owari. The typescript describes Evans's capture,
his experiences in the camps, the release of prisoners at the end of the war, and Evans's return home. The account of Evans's
experiences in the camps describes the lack of medical care; frequent beatings; his relationship with a Japanese Christian
minister who was also a prisoner; the behavior of guards; especially poor treatment of prisoners who had been involved in
bombing raids; and how prisoners and civilians would sneak food to Evans and other prisoners.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Conditions Governing Access
No special access restriction applies.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Robert Paul Evans, WWII Soldier, Typescript Regarding Experiences in
a Japanese Prison Camp, A&M 4125, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown,
West Virginia.
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