I want to thank you for the continued reporting on the Bataan Death March. I reside in Longview, Wash., but my father, Robert E. Swanson, was a member of the group of men that were from Brainerd and subsequently taken prisoner and forced on the death march. Through out the years we met many of his fellow survivors and recall their obvious bond. My father rarely spoke of his ordeal except for positive statements about his comrades. He made a career of the military retiring in 1967. I believe he was the youngest soldier in the unit.
A relative that still lives in Brainerd, Donna Smith, is kind enough to forward articles about Bataan and the men that served. Thanks again for the reports. It’s important that we not forget.
Robert W. Swanson
Longview, Wash.
