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! LT. fITZtlUGH LOSES LIFE | AS JAP SHIP SINKSFollowing is copy of a letter,dated July 23, received by Geo.F. Fitzhugh of Tolar, father ofLt. O.L. Fitzhugh, former agriculture teacher at Kyle:Dear Mr.Fitzhugh:This is to confirm my telegram to you, which was sent regretfully, informing you of the death of your son, 2nd Lt. Orman I. Fitzhugh, 0389706. AirI •Corps, and convey such information as I can of the circumstances.I From the available informa-Ition it appears that 1619 prisoners of war were embarked 13December 1944, at Manila on a Japanese vessel, presumably for transfer to Japan. The Ship was bombed and sunk in Subic Bay, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 16 December 1944. After considerable delay there has been received from the Japanese government a confirmatory report ofthis sinking, with partial official lists of those lost and of the sur-j vivors. Nine hundred and forty-two of the prisoners of war,[ among them your son,are officially reported by the Japanese toihave lost their lives at the time. Of the survivors remaining inthe hands of the Japanese, fifty-nine are reported to have died and the others to have later been transferred to Japan. Only two of the prisoners of war aboard are known to have evaded recapture and returned to our forces.I“I regret that the known circumstances and the reports received offer no hope that your son survived this catastrophe.He will be carried on the records■ •of the War Department as killed in action 15 December 1944. However his pay will terminate and his accounts will be closed asof 23 July 1945, the evidence ofhis death having been received in the War Department on thatdate.Please know that you have my heartfelt sympathy.Sincerely yours.Edward F. Witsell Major GeneralActing '1 h e Adjutant General of the Army ”All of us are grieved at this sad news. Lester Fitzhugh was mighty fine voung man. No man, perhaps, has made more friends in Kyle in so short a stay. May God comfort his parents and other loved ones.
Newspaper Details
Kyle News
Kyle, Texas, US
Fri, Aug 10, 1945
Page 1
Full Page
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Texas A.
TX, USA 05 Aug 2022
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