Latest Quan --March 2012 Available
View Photos (Flickr Photostream) The ADBC Museum has added some photos from Joe Vater's Photo Album with pictures taken at Mukden in 1945 and on his way back to the United States Ed Kozer's photo album includes pictures from Clark and Nichols Field.
The 2012 DG-ADBC Convention is scheduled for May 2-6. Registration forms available from the DG-ADBC link.
Forgotten Soldiers to be shown by producer Donald Plata at the Brooke County Public Library, April 28 at 1:30 pm. The documentary tells the story of the United States Army's Philippine Scouts. WWII Living History Regiment will be coming for the film and be bringing some WWII army jeeps to the library.
Youtube Abie Abraham at ADBC Museum by Claire Vimala Anderson called "Vee" by Abie
Abie Abraham passes away
Abie Abraham (left in picture), 98, died Thurs., March 22. He was born in Lyndora, Pennsylvania July 31, 1913. He served in the US Navy then enlisted in the Army in 1932. Besides the Philippines, he was stationed in Panama, China and Germany. In Panama he became a lightweight boxing champ and trainer. After being captured and enduring the Bataan Death March he was imprisoned at Cabanatuan, and was rescued in the Great Raid. He stayed two and a half years after the war to identify and inter the dead. He came back to the U.S. acting as a recruiter and then did a tour in Germany. After retiring from the Army with 30 years of service he worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the State Highway Dept. He wrote two books: "Ghost of Bataan Speaks" and "Oh, God, Where Are You?"
Abraham volunteered at VA Butler Healthcare in 1998 logging 38,000 hours of services. He enjoyed helping other veterans. Abie received many awards, including a Purple Heart and an Ellis Family Heritage Award in 2003. He appeared in documentaries on the History and Discovery Channels.
Abie Abraham had a fighting spirit, but he also did not hold onto resentment and forgave the Japanese for the treatment he received. He was so well received in the Philippines, that a Japanese Major asked Abie if he could arrange to have the major and his 350 soldiers surrender to the Americans instead of the Filipinos. In return, he surrendered his sword to Abie Abraham and it is displayed at the ADBC museum.
Defenders of the Philippine Islands
from World War II remembered
Eddie Jackfert, Past ADBC National Commander, is a survivor of the Philippine capture by the Japanese. He began donating his materials to the Brooke County Public Library in Wellsburg, West Virginia on September 13, 2002, initiating military related donations from other American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor(ADBC) members and their families. The collection increased steadily since that time and the ADBC supported the museum as its official repository.
Mr. Jackfert and his wife Henrietta
Get Adobe Reader to view PDF(portable file document) files
 |
 |
 |
| Abie Abraham | Lester Tenney, National Commander of ADBC 2008-2009 | Major Ralph Levenberg, PNC |
 |
 |
 |
| Joseph Vater, PNC | Richard Winter | Frank Shannon |
 |
 |
 |
| Anton Bilek | Dick Francies | Col. John E. Olson |
Abie Abraham (Sergeant Master); Joseph L. Alexander; Ed Jackfert(PNC) Joseph Vater (PNC); Dr, Lester Tenney (PNC);Major Ralph Levenberg (PNC), Max Kissel;Frank Shannon; Colonel John Olsen (Philippine Scouts); Richard Winter; Richard Francies; Anton Bilek
The
American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor Museum has the largest
collection of documents, photos, and maps relating to the
early defense (1941-42) of Bataan and Corregidor
and subsequent capture in the WWII Pacific Theater and is the only
repository devoted mainly to the ADBC membership.
"Our nation seems to have forgotten to recognize those distinguished heroes who fought so gallantly defending the Philippine islands at the outbreak of World War II. Their story must be told because of their courage and heroism. Their victory was measured in their survival, and in maintaining their faith and loyalty to our nation, when the reward for maintaining loyalty was continued starvation and death. Their strong heart, great spirit, and unyielding faith served as an inspiration to the rest of our nation. They placed their honor before everything else, even before a whole self. They absorbed with their bodies the blows that were intended for our nation and its people, and they sacrificed their own freedom for the freedom of the world. And finally, they returned from their service, regained their rightful place in society and strengthened their families, their communities, and our nation through their example of courage. Our nation owes them a debt that can never be repaid--they must not, and should not be forgotten."--Eddie Jackfert
The early defense of the Philippines, including the Bataan Death March, and transfer of prisoners on "Hellships" to prison camps in Asia, are chapters that have been neglected in our history books and school curriculums.
The ADBC collections are growing on a weekly basis.
Dissertation of America's forgotten heroes and Information on Senate Bill S3107
U.S. Legislation Link to Congressional Bills (Thomas Library of Congress)
Funding for help in providing the obituary list of POWs has been provided by Chesapeake Energy.