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Behind Barbed Wire and High Fences
For three years, a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines was home for Church of the Brethren missionaries Edward and Helen Angeny during WW II. Their tale of replacing murdered missionaries in China in 1940 and their subsequent imprisonment was aptly written into this memoir by Helen Angeny when she was 80 years old. Their internment included hunger as well as humor, frustration as well as joy, and threats as well as miracles. It also included the birth of their first child soon after imprisonment. The story ended well for the 500 civilian internees but only after MacArthur's troops accidentally came upon this POW group which had been previously unknown to the US government. Helen Angeny's reflections as well as her soul are revealed in this thought-provoking historical narrative. This book includes period photographs and 17 sketches by the author.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 10, 2026
Helen Angeny and her husband, Edward, went to China as missionaries in 1940. Little did they know that three of their five years there would be spent in a concentration camp.
Their experiences were not as harrowing as many other POW stories because they were civilians and lived in a relatively small community of 500. (Most camps were overcrowded with military personnel who were half-starved for lack of food and who were persecuted by their captors.)
But Helen and her husband faced their own challenges that stretched their faith to the limits (including the birth of their daughter during their first year in the camp). “All throughout our internment there were frightening incidents, which reminded us of how tenuous life can be. For some, it deepened their spiritual beliefs and faith in God, and for others a certain cynicism developed.”
She did not keep a dairy so most of her stories were recollected 50 years later. She shares many humorous anecdotes, which can seem oddly out of place for a prisoner-of-war tale. She explains, “At the POW reunions, I wondered why there was always more laughter than tears.” One of her colleagues replied that “it was because internment was akin to childbirth; you forgot the pain and remembered the joy…. The memories of daily problem solving, the deepening of friendships, the realization of how talented and resourceful the people with whom we were interned were, made the days of loss and fear less so.”
Upon returning to the U.S., it was disconcerting for Helen to hear, “We prayed for you!” because so many who had been prayed for had died. Unable to rejoice in her deliverance, she was filled with survivor’s guilt. “That we survived and lived to have a future is one of life’s mysteries. Even as we reveled in our release, enjoying the simple luxury of having food, new clothing, and new hope, thousands were dead or dying outside the walls of Bilibid.”
Helen and Edward were members of a pacifistic denomination. Throughout the book, Helen asserts that war is wrong (Who could disagree with that?!) and that if people would just try to understand each other, (and be reasonable!) it would never happen again. The irony of her family’s survival made possible by the “invasion” of the American army in 1945 did not escape me.
Their experiences were not as harrowing as many other POW stories because they were civilians and lived in a relatively small community of 500. (Most camps were overcrowded with military personnel who were half-starved for lack of food and who were persecuted by their captors.)
But Helen and her husband faced their own challenges that stretched their faith to the limits (including the birth of their daughter during their first year in the camp). “All throughout our internment there were frightening incidents, which reminded us of how tenuous life can be. For some, it deepened their spiritual beliefs and faith in God, and for others a certain cynicism developed.”
She did not keep a dairy so most of her stories were recollected 50 years later. She shares many humorous anecdotes, which can seem oddly out of place for a prisoner-of-war tale. She explains, “At the POW reunions, I wondered why there was always more laughter than tears.” One of her colleagues replied that “it was because internment was akin to childbirth; you forgot the pain and remembered the joy…. The memories of daily problem solving, the deepening of friendships, the realization of how talented and resourceful the people with whom we were interned were, made the days of loss and fear less so.”
Upon returning to the U.S., it was disconcerting for Helen to hear, “We prayed for you!” because so many who had been prayed for had died. Unable to rejoice in her deliverance, she was filled with survivor’s guilt. “That we survived and lived to have a future is one of life’s mysteries. Even as we reveled in our release, enjoying the simple luxury of having food, new clothing, and new hope, thousands were dead or dying outside the walls of Bilibid.”
Helen and Edward were members of a pacifistic denomination. Throughout the book, Helen asserts that war is wrong (Who could disagree with that?!) and that if people would just try to understand each other, (and be reasonable!) it would never happen again. The irony of her family’s survival made possible by the “invasion” of the American army in 1945 did not escape me.
February 18, 2016
This book recounts the war time memories of Helen Frances Buehl Ageny, who was initially sent to China by the Church of the Brethren, but before even getting sent to the mission field, was sent back to the US. Unfortunately, a group of missionaries was captured and interred by the Japanese. The narrative recounts the days in camp, the difficulty of bearing and raising a child in this atmosphere, and the constant challenges and shortages that the internees faced as well as the emotional challenges and losses. The story is generally interesting as an autobiographical narrative, although the writing is not always as compelling as it might be. This book provides interesting insight into a unique story during World War II. I would recommend it to people interested in the Brethren as well as people interested in World War II more generally.
May 20, 2022
Unusually well written without the cuss words
I have read a large number of WW2 pow books. I enjoy WW2 military history, especially Nazi and Japanese books on pow camps. This is the first book that was not loaded with the cuss words and vulgarity to describe a obvious bad situation. The book was written with a lot of thought and even love. It made a point with plain words and it would be a very good book for a school assignment. If you want cursing on every other page, do not bother with this book. You will be disappointed.
I have read a large number of WW2 pow books. I enjoy WW2 military history, especially Nazi and Japanese books on pow camps. This is the first book that was not loaded with the cuss words and vulgarity to describe a obvious bad situation. The book was written with a lot of thought and even love. It made a point with plain words and it would be a very good book for a school assignment. If you want cursing on every other page, do not bother with this book. You will be disappointed.
November 12, 2021
World War II Personal Account Uplifting
The war in the Philippines was especially harsh. This story of American prisoners gives examples of humanity from both sides of war. There is more to war than strategy, combat and military information. A truly uplifting account of persevere and the human condition.
The war in the Philippines was especially harsh. This story of American prisoners gives examples of humanity from both sides of war. There is more to war than strategy, combat and military information. A truly uplifting account of persevere and the human condition.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews