Foo : A Japanese-American Prisoner of the Rising Sun : The Secret Prison Diary of Frank 'Foo' Fujita

War and the Southwest Series

by Frank Fujita, Stanley L. Falk, Robert Wear

These memoirs are unique because of the six thousand Japanese-Americans who saw military service in the war against Japan, only two were captured by the Japanese and one of them was Frank Fujita—the only combat soldier taken prisoner by the Japanese. For him, capture involved the implicit threat of torture and execution as a traitor to Japan. Fujita was also a prolific diarist who regularly, and secretly, kept a written record of his experiences. The diary was hidden in the walls of his barracks at the POW camp and later recovered by the army and used in several of the war crimes trials in San Francisco. Fujita also made drawings, which are included in the book, along with photographs—some from the Japanese prison camp.

Fujita was a member of the 2d Battalion, 131st Field Artillery, Texas National Guard. The 2d Battalion was sent to Java, Netherland East Indies, where it was captured intact by the Japanese when the Allied command surrendered there in March, 1942. Fewer than nine hundred Americans were taken prisoner on Java. The bulk of American POWs in Japanese hands surrendered in the Philippines, and most of the published POW memoirs reflect their experience. Fujita’s account of the defense of Java and of the fate of the “Lost Battalion” of Texas artillerymen serves to distinguish his memoir from all the others.

Genres: World War II, Biography

392 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1993

Reviews

[Jared Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was particularly interesting and personal to me, as my Grandfather’s brother was also in The Lost Battalion. This was recent news for me, as I never knew my grandfather, but started doing genealogical research. Now to Foo and his memoir. A detailed, graphic and at times humorous account of the hell on earth Foo and other POWs encountered while imprisoned by the Japanese. He recounts his time before, during and after imprisonment. The creativity and fortitude Foo had to write down his experiences while surviving those experiences is remarkable. This book is not only worth reading as a time capsule, but also a reminder of what humans can do to one another. Enjoy life, war is brutal. And, be kind!

[A. B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nah ini buku ketemu di internet gara-gara doyan baca sejarah tentang Pacific War. Buku ini belum dibeli, tapi udah download sample nya di Google Books. Dari judulnya aja udah tertarik banget. Bayangin aja ini orang Jepang-Amerika ketangkep ama tentara Jepang pulak yang mana berarti siksaan yang dia dapet walahualam maknyus tuh kejamnya. Dan yang bikin lebih tertarik karena kejadiannya di Pulau Jawa, di Surabaya, Singosari dll. Sayangnya cuma baca sample nya doang yang mana tersedia cuma sampe bab 3 doang, pas lagi seru-serunya mau ketangkep tentara Jepang di Pulau Jawa. Ntar kalo duit udah ngumpul, dibeli deh.. Atau kalo ada gratisan e-pub nya, mau banget download.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informed by his diary, which he kept throughout his imprisonment at great personal peril, these are Fujita's recollections of World War II. The writing is clear and direct, and he pulls no punches. His voice is authentic, without any attempt to sugarcoat his generation's experiences or to claim more credit than the considerable amount he manifestly has earned.

[Alstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Finished it in a day. Honestly written.