Former POWs carry on American resolve

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shad Eidson
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  Americans honored the nation's patriots Sept. 15 during National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

They took part in ceremonies, parades and observances held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, veterans' facilities and the Pentagon.

This day commemorated America's past patriots still missing in action and those who safely returned home from the hands of the enemy. But it also was a day for today's Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines who continue serving.

Former POW, retired Maj. William Roberts Jr., is proud of his son, Col. William Roberts III, for accepting the risk and serving as a B-1 Lancer pilot. When Major Roberts was a staff sergeant aerial gunner with the Army Air Corps assigned to the 463rd Bomb Group, his B-17G Flying Fortress was shot down July 7, 1944, near Velehrad, Czech Republic.

He spent 11 months as a POW in various camps in Poland. The camp commander then marched them out of Poland for four months to stay ahead of advancing Russian troops. Major Roberts' mobile camp was liberated by a British tank force in May 1945 while staying on an abandoned farm.

Major Roberts recalled many details of his conduct as a POW.

"You call up an inner self to do what is needed and to keep going," he said.

Major Roberts continues to honor POWs and MIAs by being a public speaker, a national director for the American Ex-Prisoners of War and in several veterans' organizations. He honored them Sept. 15 by joining his son at the Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, basic trainee graduation parade for the Air Force's newest Airmen.

While Major Roberts was fortunate to return home, there are more than 88,000 Americans from World War II to today's conflicts still unaccounted for and listed as missing in action.

Being a POW or MIA in service to country is not solely reserved for active-duty members.

Roger White Jr. of Amarillo, Texas, joined the Texas Army National Guard and served in an activated unit, the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery. While a sergeant, his unit left Pearl Harbor Dec. 3, 1941, by ship to support operations in the Netherland East Indies before he and 901 Americans were captured by Japanese forces on the island of Java March 8, 1942.

While many would spend the next three and a half years in work camps throughout Burma, Thailand and Japan, Mr. White ended up in Camp Fukuoka No. 2 in Japan. He survived "inhuman conditions" until he saw an American plane drop food and supplies just before the camp was liberated in August 1945.

"Faith" and keeping his spirits up with the smallest things he could find allowed him to endure beatings and times when he thought "this is it."

"The experience helped me a great deal in many ways. I became more understanding toward people," he said. "All hardships you can overcome. The difficult we do immediately and the impossible -- takes a little longer."

Mr. White joined his daughter to observe POW/MIA Recognition Day by visiting the grave of his wife of 54 years and paying his respects at the Fort Sam Houston cemetery. Still, as he does every day, his thoughts turned to his grandson, a captain in the Army commanding a field artillery unit in Afghanistan.

His advice to those serving today is to serve proud and if captured, "Keep the faith, to never give up. Every one of these guys (POWs) will tell you -- you can't give up."