Tracy's Blog - LETTERS FROM A P.O.W.

LETTERS FROM A P.O.W.

Posted : Sep 27, 2007 3:38 AM

SHORT STORY

The following is a true story, told by a Parsons native.

Thanks to my Father for passing this on. I have not read this yet, so we will be reading this together for the first time. I hope to add a new letter daily Mon.-Sat. First, a word from Arvon:

This is an article I ask John Daley about & he sent it to me several years ago. John has been a lifetime resident of Parsons & retired from the Katy Railroad several years ago. I asked him to be the Tennis Director for the Parsons Recreation Commission after his retirement, and he held that position for several years until his wife "Kitty" became ill and they moved to KC.
Parsons holds the John Daley Memorial Tennis Tournament annually.
John is the person responsible for writing The History of the Katy Railroad in Parsons. The book lists the names of every Parsons resident that ever worked for the Katy.
Mike Daley was one of John's Brothers.
I think most of you will enjoy reading this because of your connection either with Mr. Daley, Parsons, or WW II.
~Arvon

JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR
Little is to be found in history or other books on World War Two about the campaign of American forces in Java. Usually a few lines about the Naval engagement or the Dutch surrender is about all you find. This makes these letters unique.

These are the letters of Michael J. Daley to and from his Mother, Mrs. Mary B. Daley. He also referred to her as Mamie (as the rest of the family does). Also, he refers to our sister (Rita) as Dolores. She later used her first name Rita in business life. Now Rita and Bernard live in Parsons as I do. Margaret is in Charleston, S. C. and Mary in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

Michael always known as Mike was a teen-ager in the depths of the depression during the heat waves and dust storms of the terrible thirties. There was very little employment in Parsons, Kans. A lot of Parsons’s boys went to California the Promised Land. They went by rail, highway, by hitchhiking and hoboing on the rails. At first about thirty of them ended up in the same run down hotel in Los Angeles. But later they found employment and happiness in California as did the "Oakies."

But Mike’s euphoria lasted only five or so years, as the pages that follow will show. Our mother preserved all the letters and information and Brother Bernard kept good care of it. And now fifty years later my sister Rita has organized it very efficiently and I have keyboarded it --John Daley

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Mike’s first draft card:

Los Angeles Selective Service

March 27, 1941

Induction Station No. 1

This is to advise you that: Daley, Michael Joseph, army serial number 39156123 has been accepted for active military service.

=Pearl Harbor attacked by Japs almost nine months later.

Mikes’ Second draft card:

Fort MacArthur, Calif. Reception Center

March 28, 1941

Michael J. Daley (39156123) has this date been assigned to:

FIELD ARTILLERY REPLACEMENT CENTER, CAMP ROBERTS, CALIF.

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SHORT STORY

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Rox said:

My mother's maiden name is Daley. Yes, spelled the same. I'm not as familiar with her father's side the family tree as I am with her mother's family, so I don't know if there's anything to it. Interesting, though.

Thanks for sharing, Tracy. I look forward to reading Mike's letters.