View entire biography with pictures

The Biography of
JOHN S. KOOT
Born: November 14, 1921
Died: August 24,2004
Written by
John S. FInder
and
Patricia Shaffer
Technical assistance provided by Steve Fluder
2009
Poreword
(j3y Jolin S. P{uder, 2009
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:Mentoring ana fiefping me to 6uifif my fiouse.
:Making tfie famify proua 6y your...
:Mifitary service ana acfiievements, especia{{y 7Tie Siever Star, (]3ronze Star ana
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f}'"our si6fings ana tfieirfamifies.
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Por fiaving tfie confidence d trust in me to aaminister your estate.
Those wfiose fives fiave 6een cfiangeafore1Jer 6y your generosity:
The incfivUfuafs, institutions, ana organizations tfiat mal?! tfie Wina6er )f.rea a 6etter prace.
The senior citizens tfiat are seroea witfi transportation via tfie 'l(pot 'l(flrt (]lroject.
The many stuaents tfiat receivea assistance for tfieir eaucation.
)f.gain, Vncfe Jofin, we say, "Thank. f}'"ou. "
''jImen, I say unto you, wfiatsoe1Jeryou ao to one of tfiese, tfie feast of my 6retfiren, you aUf it unto me"
:Mattfiew 25:40
The Biography of John S Koot
Table of Contents, Continued
Pictures and Documents
Page
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Mukden POW Roster
Model, Mukden POW Camp
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender page 2
Starving Prisoners
POW About to be Beheaded
POWs Carrying Fallen Comrades
POWs Being Lectured
Camp O'Donnell Monument Photo by James Litton
V-J Day Paris
V-J Day Kiss- Times Square
Surrender Aboard The Battleship Missouri
The Battleship USS Missouri
President Truman's Victory Address
Bob Wolfersberger and Military Decorations
Honeymoon Bound
The Kid on the Farm
Sargent John S. Koot
Life at Home
Uncle Stan Koot
USS Umbria
Ann's Former Home
John and Ann's Memorial Tree Brick
Frank and Mary Koot Family Portrait
Ann Jeba Koot, the Bride
John Koot, Merit Award Photo
Past Commander American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
Presiding Commander, ADBC 1977, John S Koot
Whitehouse Invitation
Laying Wreath at Arlington, May 26, 1997
Windber Parade, 50th Anniversary of End of World War II
Principal Speaker, Windber WWII Event
Jennifer Koot Husted wedding kiss with John
Obituary, Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Richland Cemetary
John & Ann Koot
Robert Koot
John S. Fluder
Ronald S. Koot, PhD
Brethren Home Sign
Recipients of Koot Memorial Fund Gifts
Koot Memorial Fund Supported Projects
Koot Karts
The Biography of John S Koot
Table of Contents, Continued
Pictures and Documents
Page
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
Mukden POW Roster
Model, Mukden POW Camp
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender page 2
Starving Prisoners
POW About to be Beheaded
POWs Carrying Fallen Comrades
POWs Being Lectured
Camp O'Donnell Monument Photo by James Litton
V-J Day Paris
V-J Day Kiss- Times Square
Surrender Aboard The Battleship Missouri
The Battleship USS Missouri
President Truman's Victory Address
Bob Wolfersberger and Military Decorations
Honeymoon Bound
The Kid on the Farm
Sargent John S. Koot
Life at Home
Uncle Stan Koot
USS Umbria
Ann's Former Home
John and Ann's Memorial Tree Brick
Frank and Mary Koot Family Portrait
Ann Jeba Koot, the Bride
John Koot, Merit Award Photo
Past Commander American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
Presiding Commander,ADBC 1977, John S Koot
Whitehouse Invitation
Laying Wreath at Arlington, May 26, 1997
Windber Parade, 50th Anniversary of End of World War II
Principal Speaker, Windber WWII Event
Jennifer Koot Husted wedding kiss with John
Obituary, Johnstown Tribune Democrat
Richland Cemetary
John & Ann Koot
Robert Koot
John S. Fluder
Ronald S. Koot, PhD
Brethren Home Sign
Recipients of Koot Memorial Fund Gifts
Koot Memorial Fund Supported Projects
Koot Karts
Chapter 1
Childhood Days In Pennsylvania
John S. Koot was born in a customarily
cold winter on November 14, 1921. He was born
in an unusual little hamlet known as Hagevo. The
village is situated about seven miles from the
Borough of Windber in Paint Township, Somerset
County.
The area was made up of the pioneer farm
families and the families of immigrants that came
to the region looking for jobs in the coal mines,
lumber camps and for any work available, all
seeking jobs that could provide a better life for
their children and grandchildren.
John's father, Frank Stanley Koot, was
born on October 4, 1881 in Poland. His mother,
Mary Gorczk Koot was also born in Poland on
March 26, 1886. In 1918, when World War I
started, Frank Koot signed his draft card
registration papers giving his birth date and place
of birth as Austria-Hungary. He listed his place of
employment being the Shade Coal Co., where he
was a miner and also listed a wife and five
children.
The family resided on a small farm
consisting of about four acres of tillable land,
with buildings occupying two acres and woods
covering two more.
The parents and ten children lived in the
six room house. The three rooms downstairs were
the kitchen, with a coal & wood fired cook stove,
the dining room, and a living room. The living
room contained a heating stove that provided heat
for most of the house. Upstairs were three small
bedrooms, and a hallway with a closet for clothing
and for storing soiled linens & clothing until wash
day. There was also a basement referred to as the
cellar.
Occupying one comer of the cellar was
the potato bin that could store 40-50 bushels of
harvested potatoes. A good harvest would be
enough to feed the family until the next harvest.
Another portion of the basement the walls were
lined with wooden shelves that stored the home
canned foods, fruits and vegetables harvested
from the farm. The cellar was cool so it served as
storage for the milk products, eggs, meat etc., as
there was no refrigeration. There was usually a
large pottery crock containing 10-15 gallons of
home made sauerkraut.
In another comer of the cellar were several
kegs of Grandpa's (Jaja's) variety of home made
wines. Later, a small bar was added. Grandpa's
guests commemorated many memorable
occasions in that little comer.
Atop the steep narrow steps that led to the
cellar was a small landing, upon which was a
small cupboard. The top was a built in bread box
with a hinged, lifting cover. In this "treasure
chest," Grandma stored her home-made bread and
small buns filled with cheese and raisins. The
cupboard always contained a jar of grape or
strawberry jelly. What a treat; Fresh, warm bread
and strawberry jelly!
Often the kitchen also served as the bath
room. In winter, bathing in a large galvanized tub
near the warm kitchen stove was standard
procedure. The water was heated on the stove and
poured into the tub.
On several occasions the family of twelve
shared their home with as many as three boarders,
immigrants from Poland, searching for jobs and a
place to live. Grandma and Grandpa, immigrants
themselves, helped others get established.
There were several buildings on the
property. Adjacent to the home was a small
summer house that served as partial living
quarters for the older boys. There were two coal
and wood sheds, a chicken coup, a two story barn
that, on the upper floor, served as a garage for the
1927 Dodge. This was considered to be the old, or
work car. There was a garage that housed the 1933
Dodge, referred to as the good, or new, car. It also
served as Grandpa's work shop. The outhouse
was ftrst class, considered to be the fmest in the
area. There was also a small three sided shed that
housed several honey bee hives.
The work on the farm was mostly done by
hand, with assistance of a small pony named
Tommy. The family was busy for the planting,
growing, and harvesting seasons with work
necessary to support and feed themselves on the
small farm. In winter there were additional chores
cutting and chopping wood for cooking and
heating. Leisure time was not plentiful.
Sled riding was fun in colder months,
especially in1936, the worst winter in memory.
The snow was several feet high and covered the
fence posts. It had an icy crust that allowed us to
ride anywhere there was a slight grade. Most
families were "snowed in" for several days.
In the painting below left to right: The eastern side of the summer house. The wire going down
the side of the building is from the lightening rod. The outhouse, the coal and wood shanty, and the upper
floor of the bam are seen in the background. In the foreground is "Daisy, " the milk cow drinking water
from a tub. The well with the hand pump furnished water for all family and livestock needs. The cross
shaped object is the lower anchor post for the four line clothesline, used to dry clothes after washing.
The large tree is a plumblprune tree. The vertical object on the right side of the picture is a crock tree.
It was used to hang crocks to dry and to store them, for they occupied so much space in the house. Crocks
are pottery containers used to store milk & other types of liquid or semi-liquid products. Also hanging
from the crock tree is a bag containing sour milk being drained, about to be processed into cottage or
other cheese products.
2
Making hay was a tough summer job. First
the hay was cut by hand with a scythe and let lay
for a day or two to partially dry. I t was turned
over by hand with pitch forks to let further dry.
When sufficiently dry it was then raked into rows,
allowing it to be more easily loaded onto the hay
wagon. In the event of possible rain, all the hay
had to be raked quickly and put into a pile,
creating a "hay stack"to keep as much hay as
possible from getting wet. After the rain, the stack
was dismantled and the procedure of drying was
repeated. The hay was then hauled into the barn
and unloaded with pitch forks, manually placed in
the hay mow. It was then used to feed to the
livestock in the winter.
John received the Holy Sacraments at St.
John Cantius Catholic Church. In 1999, the
church merged with St. Mary's Roman Catholic
Church and the church was later renamed St.
Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
The photo below pictures a typical
summer scene offamily members loading the hay
wagon: Thressa is atop the wagon tramping down
the hay to make more room. Grandma (Busha) is
holding a hay rake while Anne and John are
pictured along side of Tommy, the pony. The
aroma offresh cut hay is a precious, everlasting
memory.
I
do. 7
I
Taking time offfrom work
to be photographed.
John, Grandma, (Mary Koot) &
Aunt Rose (Czajkowski)
3
John and many family members received
their grade school education at Morningland
School, commonly called the Hagevo School. It
was one of several Paint Township rural grade
schools. It consisted of two rooms, one referred to
as the little room, the other called the big room.
The little room held grades one through four, the
big room five through eight. One teacher for each
room. There was a bell in small cupola atop the
roof. It was rung by pulling a rope that came down
through the ceiling into the big room. On one
occasion the bell couldn't be rung because
someone had tied it fast. It was rumored that John
and neighbor, Sherm Shaffer might have been
involved. (Just rumors of course!)
A few hundred feet from the eastern side
of the school, separated by about thirty yards,
were two outside toilets. To get permission from
the teacher to use these toilets, the student had to
raise their hand and signify with one fmger for
number one or two fingers for number two. In the
spring it was a pleasant break to go outdoors, but
wading through the snow in winter wasn't much
fun, and you didn't go unless you really had to.
Pictured above is the northern side of the school as
Seen from the playground. The students pictured are
Chester Fluder, Mary Schimilance & Eddie Fluder
In one comer of each room was a large
pot bellied heating stove. It was enclosed by a
black embossed "tin" metal skirt to prevent
touching the hot stove. Only the door for
stoking the stove with wood and coal and the
door to the ash pit were exposed. The skirt was
about 6 ft. tall, and was supported by legs that
left a space about a foot from the floor. In winter
we dried our wet shoes and "artics" (boots) in
this area. We hung our wet clothing atop the skirt
to dry.
4
Some of the students had to walk almost
two miles in all types of weather to get to school.
In winter the roads were slow to get plowed.
Occasionally, Charley Naugle would haul some
of the kids in a snow sled pulled by a team of
horses. Sitting in a soft bed of straw on the sled,
huddled together while blizzard winds raged, was
a real treat.
The road to school, from the hill at the
old church house on Milt Shaffer's farm to a
point past the school was about a half mile long.
It made for excellent sledding with our personal
sleds.
There was no running water or electrical
power at the school until the mid 1930's. Water
was "hauled in" in 5 or 10 gallon milk cans by the
teachers or local students. The teachers
maintained the heat for the school, carrying coal
and wood from a storage area beneath the
building. Teachers had to come to the school early
enough to build a fire so the class rooms would be
at least partially warm upon the student's arrival.
Each classroom had an adjoining long,
narrow cloak room. There were hooks or nails on
which you hung your clothing and a wooden shelf
on which the lunch pails or brown bags were kept.
In the fall most lunches contained tomato
sandwiches, in the other months the aroma of egg
sandwiches or peanut butter & jelly filled the air.
John graduated from Morningland
in May of 1936 and enrolled at Windber High
School. Public transportation from Hagevo at
that time did not exist and the school system did
not provide transportation. In order to attend
school in Windber, it was necessary to walk along
Route 160, takingshort cuts through yards and
woods when possible. Hitch-hiking was the other
choice to cover the six miles each morning and
evening. Operating a car was a fmancial
challenge for the struggling families during the
depression years of the early 1930's. Not many
could afford the luxury.
Despite the distance and severe winter
weather, John had near perfect attendance and
was never tardy. His attendance record was
marred only once when he suffered a minor eye
injury in the school's industrial arts class and was
sent to Windber Hospital. There they ordered him
to return home rather than attend school for the
remainder of the day.
Chapter 2
Military Service
July 31 , 1940 - June 24, 1945
John S. Koot joined the Army Air Corps at
the Johnstown recruiting office. His enlistment
was for a period of two years and was to be served
in the Philippine Islands.
He entered the military service at Fort
Slocum, New York and shipped out at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard on August 14,1940. They
sailed to San Francisco via the Panama Canal.
They departed California on October 8, 1940
traveling to the Philippines via Hawaii, Midway
Pvt. John S. Koot enjoying life at an amusement park.
and Guam. He arrived at Manila on October 31 ,
1940.
From November, 1940 to January in 1941,
the Army Air Corps temporarily assigned him to
the Coast Artillery Base on Corregidor, Philippine
Islands, for basic and advanced training. He
returned to duty with Headquarters and
Headquarters Squadron, 4th Composite Air
Group, Nichol's Field Manila, in February 1941.
Concurrently with such training he served as a
crew member of the ground stationed and airborne
units that were assigned to fly routine and
reconnaissance missions.
On June 20, 1941, The Army Air Corps
became the Army Air Force. It continued to exist
as a combat arm of the Army until Congress
created the United States Air Force in 1947.
In September of 1941, the 4th Composite
Group was deactivated and the functions of the
group were scheduled for transfer to other air
groups that were en route to the Philippines from
the United States.
The new air groups that were scheduled to
assume the functions of the former Headquarters
never did arrive in the Philippines but were
diverted to Australia and other bases in the Pacific
when World War 11 started.
Accordingly, Headquarters and
Headquarters Squadron 24th Pursuit Group on
behalf of the 4th Composite Group, included all
air to ground and ground to air communications,
air traffic control, air reconnaissance and related
activities.
B-29 Bombers, such as this one, carried the nuclear
bombs, that contributed to ending the war with Japan.
5
Japanese Invade Philippine Islands
December 8, 1941
John Koot was stationed at Clark Field in
the Philippines. The Islands are situated
approximately 5,500 miles west of Pearl Harbor.
On December 8, 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl
Harbor. Hawaii and the Philippines are on
opposite sides of the International Date Line,
therefore December 7 in Hawaii was December 8
in the Philippines.
The fIrst hostile act by the Japanese Army
after the attack on Pearl Harbor was the bombing
and strafing of Clark Field. The air attack started
at 12:00 noon and lasted about one hour. The
attack was vigorously resisted by both ground and
air units but the Japanese, superior in number,
inflicted severe damage to the fIeld installations
and aircraft that were being refueled and rearmed.
Fifty minutes after the fIrst bombs fell on Clark
Field the Japanese flew back to Formosa, leaving
Americans to confront the destruction and
demoralization. Bewildered, the United States
military asked "What has happened?" The fIrst
known message sent out to the troops was, "THIS
IS NOT A DRILL!"
When the Japanese flew away, half the B17's and one third of the P-40's were destroyed
and two of the four P-40 equipped pursuit
squadrons were eliminated. It's pilots thought
their planes were death traps in aerial combat with
Japanese fIghters, but found the P-40s were more
durable and proved a better match for the Japanese
Zero fIghters they once thought were invincible.
Two days later, on December 10th, the
Japanese bombed and strafed Nichols and Del
Carmen Fields. Three days after the war had
started the Japanese had effectively eliminated US
air power from the Philippines.
6
At Pearl Harbor, the carnage had ended
as the last Japanese attacker flew away. In
contrast, the surrender of the Philippines marked
the largest surrender ofU. S. troops and the
largest loss ofU. S. territory in history.
During the attack on Clark Field Pvt.
John S. Koot maintained communications with
the defending air units and assisted with the
relocation of the only mobile radio transmitter the
Army Air Force had on the entire island of Luzon.
The transmitter and related facilities were
located adjacent to the main Clark Field runway
and were prime target of the attackers.
Pvt. Koot and four other men, under
heavy enemy fIre, moved the transmitter to a
protected location and managed to re-establish
ground to air and air to ground communications
during the remainder of the attack. He also
assisted in relocating the ground defense unit that
was assigned to protect the communications
center.
Pvt. John S. Koot was wounded in the
process but he remained at his post until the attack
was over. After the attack he was treated for his
wounds but refused to be hospitalized. He
continued to participate with the remainder of the
squadron in the defense of the Philippines until
April of 1942. He was awarded the Purple Heart
Medal for his wound and Silver Star for his
actions on December 8, 1941.
The Silver Star is the third highest
award given for valor in the face of the enemy. It
is the fourth highest military decoration that can
be awarded to a member of the United States
Armed Forces.
The 17th Pursuit Squadron was one of the
squadrons that formed the 24th Pursuit Group and
was commanded by Lt. Boyd D. Wagner. "Buzz"
Wagner was born on October 31, 1916 in Emeigh,
Pa. near Koot's hometown. He graduated from
Nanty Glo High School in 1935 and enlisted in
the Army Air Corps in 1938.
After transferring to the 17th Squadron, he
was promoted to First Lt. in September 1940 and
took command of that squadron. He and the 17th,
equipped with Curtis P-40s went to the
Philippines in late 1940.
From December 8th to December 23rd,
1941 the air and ground communications unit, the
air operations center and the commander's field
headquarters were all located in the same little
farm house adjacent to Clark Field. It was during
this time and during debriefmg sessions that the
two young men frequently met and became
friends.
Later, Lt. Colonel Wagner became the first
American WW II Ace when he shot down his fifth
Japanese aircraft on December 8, 1941.
Boyd D. Wagner died on November 29,
1942 when he crashed his plane on a routine
training flight out of Elgin Field, FL. He is
buried in the Grandview Cemetery in
Johnstown, PA.
All allied troops on the island of Luzon in
the Philippines were ordered to withdraw to
the Bataan Peninsula. The 24th Pursuit Group
moved it's equipment to the two airstrips on
Bataan, December 23, 1941. During the defense
of Bataan and Corregidor, American air activity
steadily declined as aircraft were lost and
damaged. Therefore, the available aviators and
equipment were assigned to assist the ground
defense units.
I U I ()
...
December, 1941-Acel
On December 8, 1941 the Japanese struck
the Philippines, destroying most of the American
air power in the first attack. Flying out of
Nichols Field, south ofManila, Wagner led the
remnants of his squadron in repeated counterattacks.
On December12, Wagner took off on a
solo reconnaissance mission over the Japanese
landing site at Aparri. A couple destroyers fired
at him without effect. But five Zeros that pounced
on him presented a deadlier challenge. Aware of
the P-40 s superior speed and diving capabilities,
he zoomed away from his pursuers and then
returned to shoot down two of them.
As he strafed the airfield, more Zeros
came after him. When
they pursued, he pulled
"the oldest trick in the
book, " throttling back
suddenly, causing them to
overtake him. He then
destroyed two of these
before returning to his
base at Clark Field.
Five days
later, Wagner, Lt. Allison
Strauss, and Lt. Russell
Church, attacked 25
enemy planes parked on a new strip near Vigan.
Flying at low altitude, they approached the
airstrip, armed with fragmentation bombs.
Wagner directed Strauss to cover, while he and
Church hit the field. Wagner went in first,
bombing parked aircraft. Church s P-40 was hit
by enemy fire and burst into flames, but he
continued his attack until his aircraft dove into
the ground and exploded. He was posthumously
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
Wagner strafed the enemy field repeatedly,
destroying nine and damaging seven aircraft.
As he made his last pass, one Zero got off the
ground, somewhat obscured by Wagner swing.
He rolled his P-40 inverted to spot the Zero,
rolled back, chopped his throttle to drop behind
the Zero, and shot it down. He thus became the
first USAAF ace of WWII and earned a DSC.
On the 22nd, again attacking the Japanese
beachhead at Vigan, he was badly injured by
glass splinters in his face. He managed to return
to base and was evacuated to Australia in early
January 1942.
7
Despite dwindling supplies, ammunition
and food, the American and Filipino troops had
been holding off the large Japanese Army for
several months. Soon dysentery, the dreaded
beriberi, and other illnesses began taking their
toll. Civilian refugees, men, women, and children,
started pouring in for protection from attacks by
the reinforced Japanese army.
General MacArthur, in Australia getting
troops, sent word not to surrender. After six days,
Major General Edward P. King Jr., in order to
save the lives of over 80,000 American and
Filipino people, went against orders and
surrendered to the Japanese.
Pvt. Koot, and his unit, participated in
several major ground engagements before
Bataan was surrendered on April 8, 1942.
On that date, he and six other men were in
the jungle at a remote communications base in the
mountains of Bataan. Their communications
equipment consisted of the same transmitter that
had been preserved from the destruction at Clark
Field. The transmitter, as well as other equipment,
was being used to direct and navigate the few
remaining aircraft located on the remote islands to
safety in the southern most island and Australia.
Pvt. Koot continued communications with
Corregidor and the southern islands and managed
to avoid capture until April 14, 1942.
Bataan Death March
After being captured, our troops were
marched through the jungle to the main road in
Bataan. There they joined other captured
Americans and Philippine troops in what
became known as the infamous "Bataan Death
March" where some were maimed, beaten,
bayoneted, and beheaded.
From the day of the surrender, the POW's
would be harshly beaten and killed for the
slightest infraction or for no reason at all. First the
troops were searched and any prisoner found with
Japanese souvenirs was executed immediately
The Japanese believed these soldiers must have
killed Japanese soldiers in order to get these
prizes. Many of our soldiers had simply found
these items. Their own personal property was
usually stolen by the Japanese as well.
John's group joined the last to leave the
Bataan Peninsula on the march. Subsequently
they observed the hundreds of dead bodies of
those captured American and Philippine troops
who had gone before them.
They arrived at the fIrst of the prison
camps in the Philippines on April 23, 1942. It
was the fIrst of several Prisoner of War camps in
which John would be imprisoned.
Shortly after the attack and invasion of the Philippines the family had not received any
communication from or about Uncle John for almost 2 years. Was he wounded, perhaps a prisoner or
possibly not even still alive?
As the war raged on the worries only grew deeper. At Christmas Eve Supper (Vihiglia or Vileo) and
other family gatherings, there was always an empty chair and a place setting set for him and prayers were
said on his behalf.
One evening some family members gathered to have their tea leaves read by neighbor Ellen Skibo.
When grandma had her leaves read, she was told that she would soon receive a communication from some
one distant that she had not heard from in a long time. Several days later there was a simple postcard in the
mail box, it read, Dear Mom, No news is good news. Love, John. Grandma's elated words were (in Polish),
"Thank You God, Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ" over and over again as the tears of joy streamed down
her face.
It wasn't until a few days later that the ladies who had their tea leaves read recalled Mrs. Skibo's
predication. A few months later there was another communication with more details from John. Soon the
war was over.
8
Since March of 1942, our commanders,
planned to move the men about 100 miles away.
Those on Bataan were not in good enough
physical condition to make the trip. Since
January, many men were sick and all had been on
half-rations or less. During the surrender, Major
General King offered to drive the troops to the
camps but his request was denied. According to
the Japanese military, once the POW's were in
their captivity they could do with them as they
wished. They felt King's request was disgraceful.
The POW's spent seven days on the
march in the hot tropical climate with very little
water and food. When they arrived in the camp
they were informed by Americans having arrived
earlier, that in excess of three hundred prisoners
were dying each day.
The function and responsibility of burying
the dead fell upon the remaining prisoners. They
took part in burial details several days each week.
In May, Pvt. Koot and some other
prisoners were transported back to Bataan to
salvage American equipment that had been
abandoned, damaged or destroyed before the
surrender. He remained on such detail until
August of 1942.
In September 1942, John and fourteen
hundred other prisoners were transported aboard
a Japanese freighter to Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
From Korea they were taken by train to a POW
Camp in Mukden, Manchuria. John remained in
such camps for two years and ten months. During
this time, the POW's were used as slave labor in
various Japanese industries. The harsh conditions,
cruel treatment and severe weather produced a
prisoner death rate of one in three.
This was the fIrst of many Japanese troop
transports to carry American POW's to Japan.
The hell ships bore no special markings to
indicate the American prisoners were aboard. On
about the tenth day, just off the island of Taiwan,
two torpedoes were fIred at the vessel by what
was assumed an American submarine. The
Japanese captain managed to maneuver the vessel
so that one torpedo passed to the port side and the
other to the starboard side of the ship. Both
torpedoes were clearly visible to the passengers
on deck.
In this instance the American POW's were
very fortunate. Many other Japanese ships
leaving Manila at later dates transporting POW's
to Japan, were sunk by American and other Allied
submarines. All or substantial numbers of
American and Japanese aboard such ships
perished when these vessels sank.
The American prisoners that survived
such incidents were not critical of the attacks
since they understood that the Japanese failure to
properly identify the prisoner transport made such
ships legitimate targets.
Pvt. John Koot's transport ship arrived in
Pusan, Korea in early November of 1942. The
POW's were placed in heavily guarded railroad
coaches at Pusan and were then transported to
the prison camp at Mukden, Manchuria on
November 11, 1942.
The conditions in the camp were
somewhat better than in the Philippines and
aboard the Japanese transport. The weather was
extremely severe, reaching fIfteen to twenty
degrees below zero for a week or longer. Very
little heat was provided, proper medical attention
was not available and the quantity of food
provided was far from adequate. Approximately
three hundred American prisoners died the fIrst
winter at Mukden. The extreme, cold
temperatures prohibited burial since the graves
could not be excavated in the frozen soil. John
and another prisoner volunteered to make
wooden boxes in which each corpse was placed
and then stored in a large shed. In April and
May, when the thawed ground allowed burial of
the bodies, the crude hand made caskets were
buried.
The prisoners worked six days a week in
the Japanese operated factories and other
facilities. The workdays were ten to twelve hours
long. The food was of poor quality and given in
inadequate amounts and nutrition. The living
quarters were extremely cold and damp in the
winter. The only heat provided was on a part time
basis and was generated in very crude brick space
heaters.
Mukden, Manchuria was a large, modem
industrial center in 1942. The factories located
there were supplying the Japanese army with vital
military equipment, replacement parts, and
9
Other supplies. Such military hardware included
parts for tanks, planes, ships, and other much
needed items of warfare.
Pearl Harbor Day
December 7,1944
On December 7, 1944, Pearl Harbor Day,
the United States Army Air Force, using 90 B29's, flew a tight formation bombing mission over
Mukden, Manchuria. This was the fIrst and only
bombing mission with Mukden as the target.
When the air raid siren sounded, the
Japanese guards evacuated the POW's from the
living quarters and assembled them in a large
outdoor space. The prisoners referred to this area,
in jest, as the "Parade Ground". The B-29's
dropped bombs on the factories and other
industrial facilities that surrounded the prison
camp. However, one plane broke formation and
bombed the parade ground. The temperature was
ten to fIfteen degrees below zero and the frozen
ground deflected the blast sending bomb
fragments flying into the assembled prisoners.
Several were killed, others lost limbs, and many
were injured. The prisoners, casualties not
withstanding, cheered the attackers as the B-29's
departed, leaving long, distinct condensation trails
behind them.
Japanese interceptor aircraft and antiaircraft batteries downed three B-29s. Later
discussions with surviving crew members of the
planes disclosed that the bombing of the camp was
not intentional but was caused when the B-29
crew broke formation in order to dislodge two
bombs that were jammed in the bomb racks.
At approximately 12:00 noon, August 14,
1945, the Japanese Emperor, for the fIrst time
ever, addressed the Japanese people by radio. He
informed those in Japan, Korea, Manchuria and
elsewhere that he was surrendering to the Allied
powers immediately following the broadcast.
The camp at Mukden had approximately
twelve hundred prisoners, fIfteen of which were
general officers. General Wainwright and General
Wavell, who had been the British commander in
Singapore when it surrendered to the Japanese,
were imprisoned in a satellite camp that was a
short distance from the main camp in Mukden.
USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay,
Sept. 2, 1945
Japanese Surrender POW Camp
On August 14, 1945 at approximately
10 AM, a lone American B-24 appeared near the
POW camp and dropped fIve American military
men who parachuted into a fIeld adjacent to the
camp.
As the Japanese camp guards surrounded
them, the paratroopers presented them with a
written directive signed by the Emperor of Japan.
This communique instructed the Japanese
commander to surrender the camp and all the
Prisoners of War. The Emperor 's directive was
immediately delivered to the camp commander.
10
President Truman awarding General Wainwright
TheAledalofllonor
The ranking American General being held
prisoner in Mukden assumed control of the camp.
The Japanese guards were then disarmed and the
liberated American POWs were then armed with
Japanese weapons. In the matter of several hours,
the reversal of roles was accomplished.
Two days after the Japanese surrendered,
American B-29s flying at low altitudes dropped
medicine, food, clothing and other supplies by
parachute into the camp. For weeks, they repeated
the process. At least every other day, three B-29s
would approach the camp, drop to approximately
100 feet, and unload their welcome cargo.
Witnessing and signing the terms of
surrender of the Japanese Empire aboard
the USS Missouri.
By September 1945, the camp at Mukden was
abandoned. By request, Pvt. Koot was on the last
truck load of liberated POW's to leave camp. They
were taken to Port Arthur, Manchuria where they
boarded an American ship to Okinawa.
During the trip from Mukden to Port
Arthur, John ate several cans of rations that had
been dropped by the B-29's. Apparently the cans
had been damaged and he developed a severe case
of ptomaine poisoning. Fortunately, he was near
Port Arthur and was rushed to the hospital aboard
the American evacuation ship where he was
immediately treated. He was informed there that if
he had not received prompt treatment the food
poisoning could very well have been fatal.
This American evacuation ship departed
from Port Arthur the next day and several days
later arrived at Okinawa at Buckner Bay. While
waiting to disembark, a typhoon formed and was
heading for the island.
All ships in Buckner Bay were ordered to
leave the bay and ride out the storm on the high
seas. After one day at sea, the typhoon reached
the evacuation ship in the China Sea where it was
severely battered by the storm. In the early
evening of the second day, the ship hit a floating
mine that had lost its anchor. The mine exploded
amidship, ripping a hole in the ship's hull about
twenty-five inches in diameter. The explosion
killed in excess of twenty people.
The entire engine room was flooded and
the vessel was helpless in the storm without
power. After several rescue attempts failed, it was
concluded that the ship could stay afloat. On the
third or fourth day, two large sea tugs fmally
towed the damaged transport into Buckner Bay.
While in Okinawa, awaiting transport to
the United States, Pvt. Koot contacted several Air
Force friends there with whom he had flown in
the Philippines but had not been captured. These
men were at now in command positions. They
arranged for his transportation by air. He left
Okinawa by B-24 for Formosa and on to Clark
Field in the Philippines.
Several weeks later he departed the
Philippines and arrived on the west coast of the
United States on October 25, 1945. He went to
the Woodrow Wilson General Hospital in Virginia
and then returned on leave on November of 1945
to Windber, Pennsylvania.
He returned to active duty with the Army
Air Force at March Field, California and was
discharged at Camp Beale as a Sergeant in June,
1946.
His original two year enlistment for
overseas duty was extended to more than five
years. Sergeant Koot's total service to his country
was approximately six years.
One of the two Japanese swords John
"nursed" all the way home from Manchuria
11
Major General Edward P. King, Jr
Commanding General of all Filipino &
American Forces on Bataan in April 1942.
General King was compelled to surrender
the largest military force in American History.
This courageous act saved the
lives of thousands of his troops,
who would have been annihilated
if he had not surrendered. In
meeting with his troops prior to
being sent to a POW camp in
Manchuria, he assured his men, in a tearful
farewell, that he alone was responsible for the
surrender. In his own words, "we were asked to
lay down a bunt, we did just that. You have
nothing to be ashamed of."
General King spent three and a half years
as captive of the Japanese. He was often
mistreated and always in his mind was the
surrender of Bataan. The camp was only a short
distance from the camp where Uncle John was
imprisoned. General Wainright was also
imprisoned in the area.
When Corregidor fell on May 6, 1942, a
terrible silence fell over the land. White flags
were raised from every flagpole that was still
standing and the triumphant Japanese Army
forced their eleven thousand captives to Bataan.
The next day began the brutal Death March.
They were destined to the hell hole called Camp
O'Donnel.
When the survivors were asked why the
Japanese were so vicious and brutal, the general
opinion is that the Japanese were humiliated by
the tremendous casualties inflicted on them by
such a relatively small force of Filipino and
Sleep my son, your
duty done, for freedoms
light has come. Sleep in
I
the silent depths of the
sea or in your bed of
~~ hollowed sod, until you
hear at dawn the low
clear reveille of God.
r----.----__
I \( II Il
'\ A R
\1
\1l11l1 \
The poet is unknown. It is inscribed on the monument to
the Pacific War Dead in Corregidor, Philippines. Each
May 6th, the sun is in such a position that it s rays fall
into the center of the monument exactly at noon.
American forces, especially after having been
shelled and bombarded continually for weeks.
The stubborn defense of the islands disrupted the
Japanese war plans by several months and was
considered disgraceful.
General Masaharu Homma, who
conquered
the Philippines in five months instead of the
projected two months, was relieved of his
command.
At the time of surrender, General King
asked the Japanese colonel to whom he tendered
his pistol (in lieu of his lost sword) whether the
Americans and Filipinos would be well treated.
The Japanese aide-de-camp indignantly replied,
"We are not Barbarians." The forthcoming days
would prove how barbaric and uncivilized this
enemy could be by forcing the infamous Bataan
Death March.
Little did the participants in the surrender
of Bataan realize that within a few weeks the tide
of the war would change. Slowly, battle by battle,
the Americans and their Allies were winning. On
the second day of September, 1945, slightly more
than three years after the surrender of Bataan, it
was the Japanese Empire who would surrender to
the Allied Forces.
Left: B -25 Bombers line
up on the carrier deck
about to launch the raid
on Tokyo; the raid that
Japanese thought could
not happen. Right: The
Hornet launches the first
bomber to strike the
Japanese homeland.
The Tide of the War Turns: The Jimmy Doolittle air raid on the Japanese Homeland 4/18/42, launche~ fro~ the
aircraft carrier Hornet, so surprised and embarrassed the Japanese, they resolved to destroy the Amencan ~rrcraft
carrier fleet. This led to the battle of Midway which started the destruction of the Japanese Navy, thus turmng the
war in favor of the American's and
12
Returning To His Hometown And Family
November 1945
Home for the fIrst time in 5Y2 years Cpl. John S. Koot of Windber rushes into the
arms of his mother Mrs. Frank Koot, at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station following his
return from the PacifIc.
Captive of the Japanese for 3Y2 years and a survivor of the infamous "Bataan Death
March," the soldier is shown with the two Japanese swords he "nursed" all the way from
Manchuria, where he was held prisoner.
A member of The Army Air Corp at the time of the fall of the Philippines and
Corregidor, Cpl. Koot was wounded during one of the fIrst days of the war and exhibited
extraordinary heroism that won him the Silver Star Medal.
The photos and story are from the Johnstown Tribune.
Pictured in the photos below (left) John and Mother, Mary Koot
(right) Father, Frank Koot , Laurine Fluder Russell, John & Mom, Eddie Fluder
and Thressa Koot Ledney.
Happy Home Coming
Mother & Son Reunited
(, ,(
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t{'t,\1nl('1\
home )"'!4tcrd,,~·
l1 ft n nUH(' th:'llt ft (' H'ftl" q'rvif'(" in tht" P:\cilir thf':\tl'l' of opf"13ti ll ltC:--H1oc; 1 of it in a .I.qMuCSe l'trt~n1\ <~aIT11)-S('('mC'd mosi
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13
John S. Koot's Military Awards
American Defense Medal
WW2 Victory Medal
Silver Star
II I II
J
Army Good Conduct Medal
lII-.IU
Philippine Defense
Medal
Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal
Bronze Star
Six additional
medals awarded
by The Philippine
Government
The Presidential Distinguished Unit Badge with two Oak Leaf Clusters
14
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John Stanley Koot, "registered guest" of The Emperor of Japan
at the POW Camp, Mukden, Manchuria.
Museum model of The POW Camp at
Mukden, now Shenyang, China
15
Copy
INSTRUMENT OF SUR ENDER
Iwi
e, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the Japanese
Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby accept the provisions set forth in
the declaration issued by the heads of the Governments of the United States, China and Great Britain on
26 July 1945, of Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which
four powers are hereafter referred to as the Allied Powers.
We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the japanese
Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces and all armed forces under japanese
control wherever situated.
We hereby command all japanese forces wherever situated and the japanese people to
cease hostilities forthwith, to preserve and save from damage all ships, aircraft, and military and civil
property and to comply with all requirements which may be imposed by the Supreme Commander for
the Allied Powers or by agencies of the Japanese Government of his direction.
We hereby command the japanese Imperial General Headquarters to issue at once
orders to the Commanders of all japanese forces and all forces under japanese control wherever situated
to surrender unconditionally themselves and all forces under their control.
We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to obey and enforce all
proclamations, orders and directives deemed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to be
proper to effectuate this surrender and issued by him or under his authority and we direct all such
officials to remain at their posts and to continue to perform their non-combatant duties unless
specifically relieved by him or under his authority.
We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the japanese Government and their successors
to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good faith, and to issue whatever orders and
take whatel-'er action may be required by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers or by any
other designated representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving effect to that Declaration.
We hereby command the japanese Imperial Government and the japanese Imperial
General Headquarters at once to liberate all allied prisoners of war and civilian internees now under
Japanese control and to provide for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to
places as directed.
The authority of the Emperor and the japanese Government to rule the state shalf be
subject to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who will take such steps as he deems proper
to effectuate these terms of surrender.
16
Signed of_
TOKYO BAY. JAPAN'
SE ;COND
on the
day of
/
~t
of~'f
at
.,
SEPTEMBER
.,
794S
~r
('
~r
/G
By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of japan
and the japanese Government.
,l~
,r
r;1 7:'-. ~:: jp
#--'
By Command and in behalf of the japanese
Imperial General Headquaners,
Accepted at
on the
TOKYO BAY. JAPAN
SECOND
day of
at
0qcr 1
SEPTEMBER
1945
for the United States, Repu tJlic of China, United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in
the interests of the other IJnited Nations at war with japan,
Supreme Co
~v
United States RepresenJ v ' " " e - - - - - - - -
fJ.J "'= '-"'- ~ 4A~
United Kingdom Representative
Republic of China Representative
-Jh-r--..f60.~~~4
Union 0 Soviet Socialist Republics
Representative
G-~ .--"1~ w...,
Dominion of Canada RePeientative
.,k~'L---__
Provisional Government of the French
Republic Representative
~"",..tI it ea..itt-
Dominion 0; New Zealand Representative
17
Chapter 3
Memories of a Comrade and Neighbor,
Robert Wolfersberger: In His Own Words
I am Bob Wolfersberger, I am from Windber, Pennsylvania. This is the unique
way that I met John Koot.
We were imprisoned in Camp 0' Donnell, it had rectangular huts with thatched
roofs situated on bare ground where the Japs did their parading. There was one water
faucet on this site and one of the Jap soldiers operated it, they would not let us use it on
our own. The guard sat on a box and opened and closed the faucet where there was a
long line of people waiting to fill their canteens. This was the only water available.
Men from all places and units of the Army, Navy, Air Corps and Marines were in
line to fill the canteens for themselves as well as other men who were in too bad of
condition to get it for themselves.
If the J ap decided to take a break, he would go for hours and we were left standing
in the hot sun waiting for our drinking water.
At one such time when the Jap decided to take a break we were left standing in
line and so I started to ask people around me where they were from. One guy said, "I am
from Windber, I am in the Air Corp." I said, "Oh, from where?" He said, "Hagevo,"on the
opposite side of the town. I said, "I am from Paint Borough." We were in the same High
School, I graduated in 1937 and I believe he graduated in 1940. That was certainly a
bright spot in our day.
After this, I do not know where he ended up, we were separated and I ended up in
Mukden, Manchuria.
After the war we returned home and met up in Windber and later on we met at
different reunions of the 27th Bomb Group, the outfit I was in. The group had most of
their reunions in the south where John attended the reunions because he was living in
Georgia. We met from time to time at the reunions.
We met again in 1997 at the Windber Centennial Anniversary. That was the last
time I saw John before he passed away.
That is how we met and that is all I can tell you right now.
Bob Wolfersberger
Bob was born October 11, 1919, in Bell, Pa. He lived in Scalp Level and attended
schools in the Windber Area until enlisting in the Army Air Corp. He made the U. S. Air
Force a career, serving 28 112 years. He retiredfrom the military in 1968 as Chief
Warrant Officer. Following his service in the military he was employed as a water
treatment operator by the city ofFairfield, California.
Bob was married three times. His first wife was Pearl Berkheimer from Scalp
Level, Pa. His second wife was Daisy Purnell from Muscogee, Oklahoma. His third and
present wife was the former Florence Yeager from Scalp Level, Pa.
In recent years they spend the winter seasons in Orville, California and the
summer seasons in Windber, Pa.
Reflections and Lessons
"The Pain of Defeat"
Bob Wolfersberger
It is difficult to explain or describe the desolate feeling that a person had after fighting a steady,
losing battle for 4 months then finally surrendering to the enemy and now to be in his custody. After seeing
the enemy lower the US flag and raise the "Rising Sun" in it's place, it took a lot of pride out of an
individual witnessing such an event.
We members ofthe 16th Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group were renamed the
16th provisional infantry company and were ordered to report to the small fishing village of Mariveles at the
southern tip of Bataan peninsula. There we mingled with the U. S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and Filipinos
and awaited instructions from the Japs as they poured in among us. After fmally getting us into formation,
they started to move us out, heading north on a two lane dirt road.
The fortified island of Corregidor was two miles away but US forces there were withholding their
artillery fire because we were moving out on one side of the road as the Japs towed their artillery on the
other side. We POWs were used as human shields as we marched approximately 65 miles north to San
Fernando. I marched 65 miles in six days in extreme heat and witnessed and heard other people talk of
numerous atrocities committed by the victors. Such events as beheading, stabbing and shooting prisoners
took place because the POW's were weak, exhausted and sick; people who couldn't keep marching and sat
or laid down by the side of the road. Since this event I have read numerous accounts in Europe, The Civil
War in the U. S. and throughout history where the victors brutally abused the defeated.
So the lesson learned in all of this is: Do not be defeated! Don't be afraid to fight and win!
These gruesome photos show the ugliness
and brutality of war, especially if you put
the face of a loved one on photos such as
these.
Upper left: Prisoners being worked and
starved to death. Upper right: POWs
carrying comrades who have fallen by the
way. Left: A POW about to be beheaded.
Right: POWs with hands tied behind their
backs being"lectured" by a Jap captor,
probably telling the POWs how badly the
U S. was being beaten; how the Japs
would occupy our country and live
wherever they wanted and take possession
ofwhatever appealed to them.
19
What I Can Recall
by Bob Wolfersberger
It is interesting how some of the Japanese viewed the war. Some were not favor of it, but most were.
There were two hundred of us moved from the camp to a leather tannery on the outskirts of Mukden
where we had a Lt. Ando as our commander. He was a graduate of a military school similar to our ROTC.
He never served in combat but believed Japan was going to win the war and when it did and then occupied
the US, he wanted to acquire a ranch in Texas.
One of our POWs was nicknamed "Tex" because he was from Texas. When Aldo learned that, he
made him his office boy. His job was to clean and tidy up Ando's office several times a week. Ando would
invite Tex to sit down and rest. Then he would ask all kinds of questions about his life on the ranch in Texas,
such as what kind of cows do they have in Texas. Tex would explain how they were the same as Japanese
Manchurian cows, except that they "mooed" in English instead of Japanese. He said the chickens were the
same but they would cluck and crow in English also.
We did not see Lt. Ando for about a week. Then when he did show up, we had a roll call at about 3
am for no apparent reason except to harass us. We had found out later that he had spent several days at the
library and no doubt became suspicious ofTex's explanations about the animals etc. However, it did give us
diversion from the monotonous routine of forced work by the enemy.
It is difficult to recall the atrocities that were inflicted on the POWs, as we were driven, not marched
off the Bataan Peninsula in April of 1942 after four months of fighting a one sided battle in favor of the
enemy. The enemy was allowed to set foot on the battlefield before any hard resistance was established. We
had no food, equipment, or medical replacements. The enemy had complete control of the sea and air. We
fought a hard but futile battle against terrible odds, but the battlefield was not the worst experience. The post
combat battle for survival as a prisoner became the most severe challenge.
We were transported all over Asia, Japan, Korea, the southern Philippine Islands and North China on
over crowded "Hell Ships." These ships were often attacked by US planes and submarines, their
commanders not knowing that POW's were aboard the unmarked ships. If there was a way the Japs could
make life more miserable, they did.
Battling Bastards of Bataan
This is a picture of the Camp O'Donnel Monument. The memorial was built by the organization
known as the "Battling Bastards ofBataan" to honor those American men who died at Camp O'Donnel,
while prisoners of the Japanese. The Cement Cross is a replica of the original built by the POWs. The
monument is located in the Capas National shrine in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines adjacent to the memorial for
the Philippine Army dead. Camp 0 'Donne! was the first prison
camp for the men who survived "The Death March."
After their separation at Camp O'Donnel, John and Bob were sent to
the POW Camp at Mukden, Manchuria. They were imprisoned there
until the end of the war, but neither knew the other was there!
Camp O'Donnel was afacility of the US Air Force in Tarlac, the
Philippines. Tarlac is a land locked province of the Philippines, located in
the Central Luzon region. During the Japanese occupation of the
Philippines in World War Il, Camp a 'Donnel was the final stop of the
Death March and was used as an internment camp for American and Filipino paws. About 2,200 American and
27,000 Filipinos died at CampO'Donne!. Memorial photo by James Litton.
20
Reflections and Lessons
"The Glory of Victory"
Bob Wolfersberger
From defeat and slavery to victory and freedom: I and about 199 other American POW's,
were living and working in the leather tannery which was a satellite camp on the opposite side
of the city from the main Mukden camp. One mid-afternoon in August of 1945 we were told to
quit work and return to our living quarters which adjoined the tannery. We marched from the
tannery without being searched, which was very unusual! We were then told that we were
returning to the main camp and that we were to take our possessions with us. I can't remember
exactly which hand I carried them in. At that instance, I and, I'm sure, most other POW's were
wondering if the war was over. Did America lose? Did Japan declare a cease-fire? Was this
"our" end? Since we POWs were "disposable," were we all "going" together? The mind can
depict all kinds of sequences at a time like we were in! So we were not to talk or signal to
anyone along the way as we rode, standing up, in a Japanese stake-bed army truck. When we
arrived, we were told that the war was over and that we dropped the atom bomb. This sounded
to me like the "Adam" bomb, and I marveled at the man, "Adam," who made a super bomb that
ended the war!! Then the roller coaster of emotions and feelings began! The experience of
transformation from defeated soldiers and confmed slaves to free men was indescribable. Even
though we were still at that moment and behind brick walls, unable to go anywhere, we were
"Free." We were unbound from enemy persecution and free to gather in groups to talk and just
fellowship with one another in an environment different than moments before. One will never
fully appreciate his freedom until it is taken away or severely limited.
This IS the day we have been
walbng for Since Pearl Harbor
This IS the day when Fasasm
finally dies. as we always
knew It would
, ,
- President Truman
THE END OF THE WAR -VJ DAY
Photos above:
Left: GIs in Paris
celebrate V-J Day
Center: The famous
"Times Square Kiss "
Right: President Truman s
Victory Speech
Left side: Japanese
surrender aboard the
USS Missouri.
Right side: The Battleship
Missouri.
21
A
neighbor in
Windber, PA
A neighbor In
Mukden, China
POW Camp
Air Force, Chief Warrant Officer
Robert (Bob) Wolfersberger
at the age of 89. (2008)
Bronze Star
American Defense
Commendation
Good Conduct
"I
Presidential Unit Citation
With Two Clusters
Served 28 V2 years
Army Air Corp &
US Air Force
22
III
Purple Heart
Philippine Defense
With One Cluster
Chapter 4
Memories
life at home, sisters Martha,
Thressa and Rose
gather wood for winter.
The SS Umbria
Associated Passenger Date of Arrival
Kat Franciszel<
February 13.1905
Port of Departure
Liverpool
The ship that brought
Grandpa Koot to The United States.
After returning home from the war and years of
imprisonment John, had a lot of pent-up energy
and a lot of catching-up to do. His brother Stan
and his wife Ann, along with their family helped
John begin to lead a normal, functional and
enjoyable life back in the States. They gave him
the use of their automobile until he was able to
buy his own. They often
gave him spending
money and the warmth
of their home as a place
to "hang out". John
never forgot their
kindness and friendship.
Stan was probably age
36 when this photo was
taken.
This tree grows
in the front of
Annsformer
home at 11th
St. & Graham
Ave. Windber.
Inscribed in a
brick at the
base of the
tree:
"John &Ann
Jeba Koot"
23
The Family of Frank and Mary Koot
Married January 13, 1908
40th Wedding Anniversary. 1948
Anne
Rose
Frank (father)
Frank (Father)
Sophia Fluder Yarzumbeck
Steve Fluder
Joseph Yarzumbeck
Stanley
Anna Smarek
William
Ann Czajkowski
Joseph
Martha Fluder
Rose Czajkowski
Frank Czajkowski
24
William
Martha
1881-1967
1908-1996
1903-1943
1914-1971
1910-1982
1914-1976
1912-1993
1913-1969
1914- 2006
1915-2006
1916-2006
1915-1980
Joseph
John
Stanley
Thressa
Sophia
Julia
Mary (mother)
Mary Koot (Mother)
Julia Zack
EdwardZack
John
Ann Jeba
Anne Dowgiallo
William Dowgiallo
Martha Neal
EmestNeal
Thressa Ledney
Charles Ledney
On October 10, 1970, William
Koot married Ann E. Slavick.
1921-1999
1886-1981
19191911-1987
1921-2004
1927-1991
19241919-2002
19261923-1984
1928-1999
1928-1988
.9Lnn Je6a 1(pot
.9Lnn was Eom May 7, 1927 in tlie smar{ mining town oft])unfo, Pa. wlii£e .9Lnn was
quite young, tlie famuy movea to Seanor, Pa. , tlien to Mine 40 ana eventuaf[y to
WinaEer. It was in Mine 40 tfiat slie spent most oflier cliiUfiooa aays. Slie attenaea
WinaEer scfioof.s. .9Lftergraauating scfioo{ slie was empfoyea as a aentaf assistant.
Sfie is tlie aaugliter ofJolin & t£,{izaEetli 1(aclie{JeEa . .9Lnn's sister 'Betty is marriea to
1Janie{ Luciew. .9Lfter tlie ena ofWW II, .9Lnn met Jolin wfio retumeafrom tlie Pacific
rrFieatre of war. %ey Je{{ in fove ana were marriea on .9Lprif21, 1951, at St.Jolin Cantius
Cliurcli in WinaEer.
In tlie earfy years of tlieir marriage tliey fivea in Monroevi{{e, Pa. %ey tlien movea to
.9Ltfanta ga. wliere slie resitfea witli lier liusEana untif fier aeatli. .9Lnn aiea at o/encor
J-fospitaf in .9Lt[anta 9{9v. 9, 1991, at tlie age of64 .
.9Lnn spent mucli oflier time entertaining lier two Pomeranian clogs, Cofone{ ana 'Barron.
Sfie fovea to k.nit, reaa ana work. crosswora puzz[es.
25
Chapter 5
Return To Civilian Lfe
Civilian employment 1947-1980
In 1947 John S. Koot attended the
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida as a
pre-engineering student.
In June of 1947 he was hired as
Construction Superintendent by L.M. Limbach
Construction Company of 993 Berwin Avenue,
Akron, Ohio. He traveled throughout his
assigned area to supervise the rehabilitation and
construction of commercial properties. These
properties consisted of large retail stores and
office facilities located in the main business
districts ofthe larger cities in the Tri-State area
of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He
remained in this position until October of 1950.
In October of 1950 he was hired by the
FHA Insuring Office in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania where his principle assignment
included Architectural Analysis and Cost
Processing of multifamily projects, pursuant to
section Number 608 of the Housing Act. Such
processing was completed under the supervision
of a Senior Architectural Examiner. Early in
1951 he was assigned to assist the Senior Cost
Analyst with the preparation of a single family
cost data handbook.
In April of 1951 John S. Koot married
the former Ann Jeba also of Windber. They
made their home in Pittsburgh.
John S. Koot graduated as an
Architectural and Engineering DesignerDraftsman from the Triangle Institute, School of
Design and Drafting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in January of 1954.
From July of 1951 until November of
1958, John was employed with the FHA,
Insuring Office in Pittsburgh, where he
examined drawings and specifications for single
family homes and multifamily projects.
He consulted with the project architects,
performed compliance inspections of single
family homes and multifamily homes and
completed appropriate inspection reports.
26
John also prepared quantity surveys
and cost estimates for multifamily projects and
nursing homes and developed cost data using
information obtained from field sources.
During this time he assisted in the preparation
of two cost data handbooks.
In November of 1958, John became the
Chief Architect, Supervisory Architectural
Examiner, where his duties and related
responsibilities required him to provide
technical and administration direction to the
Architectural Staff serving the Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania FHA Insuring Office. Here he
supervised and managed a subordinate staff of
Architectural Examiners, Construction
Inspectors and Cost Analysts that were actively
engaged in construction, design, and inspection
activities of multifamily projects and single
family homes.
He concurrently served as a continuing
member of the United States Civil Service
Commission, Board of Civil Service Examiners.
The functions as a member of the board entailed
the examination and rating of all applications
received for FHA Civil Service positions in
Western Pennsylvania for Architectural
Examiners, Construction Inspectors and Cost
Analyst for all of Pennsylvania West of
Harrisburg.
He remained in Pittsburgh until September
of 1964 when he accepted the position of
Regional Advisor with the Federal Housing
Administration whose regional office was in
Atlanta, GA. Here he served as the Regional
Multifamily Cost and Architectural Advisor for
the Project Review Division. He was responsible
to the Division Director for all multifamily project
processing matters pertaining to cost estimates,
architectural analysis, construction inspections
and cost certifications. This geographical area of
jurisdiction was Region IV and included Puerto
Rico. He advised and assisted Chief Underwriters
and their staffs in resolving major problems in
closing costs, architectural, inspection and other
construction related matters. He also reviewed
and evaluated the performance ofField Office cost
and operations and reported to the Division
Director with respect to such activities. He
prepared written directives to the Field Office
Directors and Chief Underwriters regarding their
respective operations.
From September 1964 to January 1971
John S. Koot served as the Regional Multifamily
Cost and Architectural Advisor for the Project
Review Division. He reviewed and evaluated the
performance of the Field Office cost and
architectural operations and reported to the
Division Director with respect to such activities.
Here again, he prepared written directives to the
Field Office Directors and Chief Underwriters
regarding their respective operations.
In January of 1971 he took the position of
Director Project Review Division for Region IV.
He was responsible to the ARA-HPMC for the
technical acceptability and administrative property
of the Field Office operations.
In September of 1971 he took the position
Rehabilitation Coordinator where he advised and
assisted the Field Offices with planning and
developing viable rehabilitation programs. John
participated in the screening and selections
process, which was the mechanism for
determining which cities would be selected for
participation in the Project Rehab Program. He
conducted all the preliminary negotiations with
officials of the cities that made applications to
participate.
In July of 1972 John S. Koot became the Regional
Production Coordinator and Deputy for ARAHPMC in Atlanta, GA. He was the principal
advisor on all underwriting administrative,
regulatory and policy matters relating to the
production of housing. He served continuously
and concurrently as the Deputy to the ARAHPMC Director and functioned as the Acting
ARA-HPMC Director a minimum of35% ofthe
time. He also supervised the activities of the
Valuation, Cost, Mortgage Credit, and
Architectural Advisors assigned to the ARA's staff
and provided underwriting, technical,
administrative and policy advice to the Field
Office Managers and Chief Underwriters. He
reviewed the conclusions and related
recommendations developed by the Regional and
Field Office technical and program staff members.
From August 1974 until July of 1978, he
continued the same duties but the scope of
responsibility assumed during this period was
elevated one level. On July 1978, he became the
Underwriter Evaluator where he reviewed and
evaluated specific underwriting procedures by the
OTS, Office of Technical Standards, whose office
was in Washington, DC. In November of 1978
until August 1980 he was the Director, Technical
Support Division, Washington DC, where he
directed a staff of highly skilled and specialized
technicians in the fields of multifamily
development, production and mortgage insurance
underwriting. Such staff consisted of architects,
engineers, cost analysts, appraisers, and mortgage
credit examiners. Each discipline was headed by
a Branch Chief who in turn reported to the
Division Director. The position required him to
perform the following duties and assume the
related responsibilities: Interpreted legislation and
regulatory and administrative policies, personally
or through the respective Branch Chiefs;
produced related criteria and instructions and
training curricula for use by the Central Office,
egional and field offices, with respect to all
functions pertaining to multifamily housing
programs assigned to those offices; Provided
technical and policy advice to the Field Office
Housing Directors and Chief Underwriters.
John S. Koot served as one of the seven
permanent members of the HUD Previous
Participation Committee with geographical area
of jurisdiction in the United States and Puerto
Rico.
RETIREMENT
AUGUST 31, 1980
Upon retirement on August 31, 1980, at
the personal request of the Assistant Secretary/
FHA Commissioner, John S. Koot remained with
HUD as a re-employed annuitant-consultant. He
served as the Assistant Secretary's personal
representative with respect to several large
multifamily housing projects that were
experiencing administrative, technical and
underwriting problems. Concurrently he assumed
the duties and responsibilities of his former
position as Director of Technical Support
Division. The period of re-employment
terminated December 31, 1980.
27
Retirement
After thirty years of service in several
geographical locations, John S. Koot retired from
the Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing
Administration (FHA) with the position of
Director, Technical Support Division.
Note that the position ofDirector, Technical Support
Division equates in authority and salary to the Army
rank ofBrigadier General with 12 or more years of
service or a Major General with 2 or less years of
service.
Consultant
Recognition of Exceptional Performance Award,
December 4, 1980
Certificate ofAppreciation, October 28, 1977
Recognition ofExceptional Performance
October 28, 1977
US Department ofHousing's Certificate of
Merit, Jan. 23, 1980
Certificates ofSpecial Achievement
June 30, 1971, July 12, 1974, March 7, 1977,
November 3, 1978, April 8, 1997
Assistant Secretary Commissioner, Letter
Of Commendation, July 18, 1997
In February, 1982 John moved from public
service to the position of Consultant in Atlanta
with J.D. Millican Corporation of McMinnville,
TN. This general contracting ftrm that was
building an FHA insured multi-family housing
project in Waco, TX. The contractor and
mortgagor encountered many technical and
administrative problems during construction.
John's services consisted of providing advice and
guidance to the contractor and the mortgagor with
respect to HUDIFHA requirements, procedures
and regulations, arranging and attending meetings
with HUD officials at the Dallas and Fort Worth
Area and Regional Offices, and the Central Office
in Washington, DC. This project was
successfully completed and occupied.
Vice President
In April of 1985 he became the Vice
President and Chief Underwriter for Dean Witter
Housing & Real Estate Finance Corporations,
Atlanta, Georgia.
Final Retirement
He retired in 1991 after the death of his
wife of forty years, Ann Jeba Koot.
Special Awards
Superior Accomplishment Award
September 24, 1952
Certificate ofSpecial Achievement
March 26, 1967
28
John S. Koot
Office of Assistant Secretary
for Housing
Mr. Koot is honored for his high degree of
dedication and outstanding performance in the
fteld of multifamily housing underwriting.
Through his individual efforts, extremely
complicated technical problems were resolved
and projects, which would otherwise have
failed, became housing units available to the
consumer. Mr. Koot is widely recognized, both
within and outside the department, as an
exceptionally capable and technically skilled
employee, to a degree unsurpassed in his fteld.
His long and distinguished career typiftes the
best in public service and is a credit to the
department.
Chapter 6
Leadership
John was a Past National Commander of the
American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor.
John presiding as National Commander
at the National Convention, 1997
29
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30
II
"
./
John, (nearest of the four men) laying the wreath
at Arlington National Cemetery, Memorial Day Services
at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, May 26, 1997.
John, principal speaker at the 50th Anniversary of the ending of
World War II Celebration in Windber 1995, being presented with WW II
Memorial Plaque by Tom Geiger, WWII Committee Chairman.
31
Chapter 7
A Heart Felt Thank You
The Later Years of Uncle Johnny sLife
In the final stages of John's life four people played key roles. These
were his nephew, Joe Koot (Joey); Joe's daughter, Jennifer Husted;
Joe's son, Joe Jr; and Joe Jr. 's wife, Teresa.
In the late 90's, John suffered and recovered from a number of strokes.
Joe was there to assist by driving him and helping him tend to various
matters of everyday living. Sadly, Joe's own health was deteriorating
as well. Joe died a few months before John. Jennifer, Joe Jr. and Teresa
continued to help John through this difficult time.
When it was determined that John needed heart surgery, Jennifer was at
his bedside. The surgery did not go well. She provided tender loving care
and daily reports on his condition to me and other anxious members of
the family. She continued in this manner for several weeks, helping to
make difficult, end of life decisions on his and the family's behalf.
When John passed, these three also assisted in making the John's
funeral arrangements
For Uncle John, myself and the families involved in John's life,
I express our deepest appreciation to Jennifer, Joe Jr. and Teresa for their
kindness and care.
Sincerely, Buddy
A "Thank you in Advance" to John's niece,
Jennifer Koot Husted
32
Thursday. August 26. 2004
DEATH NOTICES
•
KOOT - .John ., 82. Atlanta.
Ga .. native of Winrlber, died
Aug. 24. 2004. in Georgia. Born
, 'ov. 14. Ifl21 , in Windber. son of
Frank and .1a1'Y (Gorczyk)
Koot. Precl'd I in death by pa·
rpnt::;;
\\ ife,
Ann
(Jeba)
Koot; bruthers,
lanl y
Kool
and wife. Ann
(Smarek): WiI·
liam Koot and
first wife, Ann
(Czajkowski);
and
second
wife. Ann (Sla
vick): sistl'r', Sophia, and fit"!>t
husband, Steve J . Fluder; and
econd husband, Joseph r'. Yar·
zumbcck: Thressa, and hus·
band. CharI . Ledney: also Pl'cia! nephe\\, Joseph Koot. Sur·
vi\'ed b\' and brother of Jos ph
Koot. marripd to former :Ylartha
Fluder; Ru"e, wife of the late
Frank Czaikowski. both 01
Windber: Julia, wi~ of the leM
Edward 7~'lck. Conneocticu ,
Ann. wife of the lat William
Oowgiallo, Florida; and Martha,
wife of Ihe late Ernest 'I'al,
Windber; also sur\'lved hy spe·
cial great·niece. Jennifer Hllst·
cd: and great· nephew, .Joseph
Koot: also 'p~ial nephew, John
Fluder: and numerou: nice!'
and nephews. Veteran of World
War II. having erved in the Ar·
my Air Corp. On 0 c 7.1941,
John was stationed in the Phil
ippines and wa wounded dill'
In' the attack by the .Japanese.
He was a\ arded the PlII-ple
Heart and the Sih'er Star Later
during the war John \\as cap
tured by the Japanese and
forced to participate in the infa
mous "Rataan Death :vrarch."
HI" remained liS a pri.oner of
war from April 23.1912, to April
14. 19-15. lie was awarded nu
merous military award . John
retired from the Federal Hous·
ing Authority. ha\ing risen
from a houing inspector to di·
rector Technical SUppal·t Oi"i·
'ion (HUO) \\ith jurisdiction
over the United tate' and I'U·
erto Rico. .1emb€'r and past
commander of the American
Defender of Bataan and Corre·
gidor. Member of Windber VFW
and American Legion. Friends
received from 2 to 4 cme! 7 to 9
p.m. Friday at the William Ki·
iel Funeral Homl'. Windber.
Funeral la. will be cf>lebrated
at 10 a.m. Saturday at SI. Eliza
beth Ann • eton Catholic
Church. Windber. the Very Re\.
Leonard E. Voytek. V1" En,
tombment. Rich'land Mausole·
um, with military !lonol' b~
Windb r vrn·. Vi il for the d
cea"po will be held Frida) at the
fun€'ral home.
The Tribune-Democrat. Johnstown, Pa.
Page D7
Soldier survived
Bataan march
By FRANK SOJAK
THE TRIBGNE·DF.M i' >1AT
[email protected]
John S. Koot. a Windber area
native who received the Silver
Star for gallantry while bat·
tling the Japanese when they
attacked the Philippine the
day after Pearl Harbor. died
Tuesday.
Mr. Koot. who 1'e ided in
Atlanta for about 30 year al 0
urvived the infamou Death
March of Bataan and was held
as a prisoner-of·war at a Japan·
ese prison camp in Manchuria.
was 82. He died at Piedmont
Ho pital. Atlanta.
Mr. Koot and fellow soldier
were ordered to withdraw from
the Philippine after tlle Dec. 8
attack on the Bataan Penin u·
lao where they were captured
by the Japane e April 23. 1942.
They were liberated when
the Japanese surrendered
April 14, 1945.
"He wa a hero to everybody
in the family," aid his nephew.
John Fluder of Windber.
He said hi uncle \Va a sur·
vivoI'.
"He wa a tough man," he
said. "He had a trong will to
live and cheated death many
time ."
Mr. Koot was tough when
facing the enemy but kind
when it came to his family and
community. He was a devoted
on to his late parents and a
caring husband to his late wife.
Mr. Fluder aid.
"He cared about his sib·
ling ." he said.
OBITUARY
Mr. Koot had an illu trious
career with the federal Depart·
ment of Housing and Urban
Development. which he joined
in 1950. re iding in Pittsburgh
and then Atlanta during hi 30·
year career with the agency.
But he never forgot his roots.
He returned to visit family
and friends and remained a
member of the Veterans of For·
eign Wars and American
Legion posts in Windber.
During Windber Borough'
centennial celebration in 1997.
he provided se,'eral $500 schol·
ar hip in memory of his wife.
Ann. who dif'd in 1991.
He al 0 provided fund to
build float for the parade. Mr.
Fluder aid.
He al 0 gave to projects pon·
,ored by Windber veteran orga·
nizations.
Mr. Fluder aid his uncle
tarted as an inspector with
HUD and advanced through the
rank to become econd in com·
mand of the huge agency.
Mr. Koot died of heart·relat·
ed problem. 11'. Fluder said.
In addition to hi nephew.
Mr. Koot is urvived by a
hrother. ,Joseph of Windber:
four iter: Ro e Czajkow ki
and r-.Iartha Neal of Windber.
Julia Zack of Greenwich, Conn.
and Ann Dowgiallo of Lake
Sarasota, Fla.
The William Kisiel Funeral
Home. 1015 Graham Ave ..
Windber. is handling arrange·
ment .
33
'~
KOOT
J OH
S
1921 -= 2004
Jr
NJ
192 7 -
·,,00
19 9 1
Final Resting Place
Mausoleum-A, Richland Cemetery
Johnstown, PA
34
Chapter 8
The John and Ann Koot Memorial Fund
John s. Fluder, Trustee
Ronald S. Koot Ph. D., Successor Trustee
8/24/04
1117/08
Robert Koot, Successor Trustee
1117/08
John S. Fluder
Ronald S. Koot Ph. D
John S. Koot provided a portion of his estate to fund a trust titled;
"The John and Ann Koot Memorial Fund."
The "Fund" shall be administered by John S. Fluder, trustee, or ifhe so
designates, or if he is unable to fulfill his duties, the successor trustee, current at
that time, shall assume the duties of administering the "Fund."
The Fund shall be used for various causes, Education related costs for family
members, military veterans organizations, civic, cultural, social, religious
activities or any other purpose that will generate good wilL
35
The John and Ann Koot Memorial Fund
The John & Ann Koot Memorial Fund came into existence upon the death of John S. Koot, August 24, 2004.
It is being administrated by nephew John S. Fluder. Nephew Ronald S. Koot served as Successor Trustee until
January 2008, when for practical and logistical purposes he relinquished the position. He remains a consultant
and advisor. Nephew Robert Koot, now serves as Successor Trustee and coordinator of "The Koot Kart" project.
It has been the desire of the fund to give assistance to as many aspects of community life as possible.
Windber Community: Erected an electronic bulletin board at the Community Building; provided funds for
renovating the town gazebo; funds for the Windber Area Museum, The Windber Area Library, The Arcadia
Theater, The Windber Food Pantry, Compassion House Thrift Store, co-sponsor funding for "Our Town
Windber," a public TV production. Projects in this category exceeded $100,000.00.
Military and Veterans Organization projects include: Perpetual Care of the Veteran's Memorial Park,
donations to the Windber VFW & American Legion, funding for buglers at military services, aid to the
armed forces involved in the Iraq War and other lessor projects totaling in excess of $25,000.00.
The Windber Medical Center, The Windber Research Institute and related projects were
the recipients of funds in excess of $72,000.00.
Youth Programs: Approximately $35,000 was donated for the youth of our community. Projects included
helping to fund the building of The Skateboard Center at Recreation Park, builing a refreshment stand at
The Windber Area High School Track Fields named The Koot Korner, support of The New Day "Youth Drop
In Center" and The Windber Rotary HS Basketball Tournament.
Seniors: The Center for Life, was given a large screen TV/monitor, a digital piano, a computer, a video
projector and a projection screen. Funds for these items exceeded $5,000.00.
Education: The Higher Education Assistance Program is ongoing. As of this writing, the Memorial Fund
has invested in excess of $50,000.00 assisting students further their education.
Fire & Emergency Services: Funds in excess of $45,000.00 were donated in various amounts to
Windber Fire Co. # 1, Scalp Level & Paint Fire Co. and Central City Fire Co.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, formerly
St. John Cantius Church, received donations in
excess of$15,000.00 in the form of items for the
betterment of the parish.
Paint Township & Paint Twp Police Dept. were
recipients of funds of $9,000.00.
The Church of the Brethren Home, where
¥veral members of the Koot Family resided
for periods of time, also benefited from the
John & Ann Koot Memorial Fund.
36
John and Ann Koot Memorial Fund Gift Recipients
37
38
The John and Ann Koot Memorial Fund
The "Koot Kart" Program
Making Life Better for Seniors
The Koot Kart Program, Making Life Better for Seniors: This program was inaugurated August 2005,
for the purpose of providing Windber Area seniors with transportation to medical facilities, therapy,
entertainment, social functions, etc. Long distance trips to destinations such as Pittsburgh, Altoona and
Greensburg are provided. The program is conducted as an expanded service of Somerset Table Land Services,
with support from the Memorial Fund for various phases of the program. Funds provided for this project
exceed $60,000.00 and are on-going.
The Karts, (2 Dodge Mini Vans) are driven by volunteer drivers. The project is partially supported
by donations from individuals, various organizations and The Memorial Fund. No one is ever denied
service due to adverse fmancial circumstances.
Robert Koot and his wife, Donna, co-ordinate the program locally with Tableland Services in Somerset, PA.
39
}l Summation
Jolin, ourfami{y liero, suffered liarrfsliips as a prisoner
ofwar: freezing winters witli very fittfe c[otliing and means
to kgep wann, near starvation, crue[pliysica[ and menta[
a6use 6y liis captors. J{e survived tlie CJ3ataan (jJeatli ?r1arcli
and clieated deatli on a num6er of occasions.
J{e came liome from tlie war, starting civi[ian rife at
tlie 60ttom of tlie Cacfder and cfim6ing to liigli career positions.
Jolin neverforgot liis roots andfami{y. J{e remained true to
tlie liard work.etliics tauglit 6y liis parents on tlie fittfe fann
in J{agevo, CJ?}l.
grandpa (Jaja) and grandma (CJ3uslia) journeyedfrom
((rrfie old Country" ofCJ?oCand to }lmerica as singfe individualS,
lioping to provide a 6etter rife for tliemse[ves witli tlie
possi6ifity of marriage andfami{y alieacf. CJ?roud{y, Jolin was one of
ten cliildren wlio 6enefittedfrom tlieir detennination and
desire.
In liis liome town of Wind6er and in liis fami{Y, may liis
memory and fegacy 6e Cong remem6erecf.
CJ3udcfy (Jolin S. P[uder)
40