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Capt Humphreys91936, Dies In JapCamp, April 15, ’45Survived Three Years Of Jap Prison Life After FallOf PhilippinesIt’s taps for “Humpy”. One of the most popular cadets ever to attend Western and a young officer of the finest character, Captain Howard Humphreys, Class of ’36, finally succumbed on April 15, 1945, of amoebicdysentery at Camp Fukioka, Japan. He had survived three years of thehorrors and privations of Japanese►prison camps, while his hosts of friends at Western and in Alton awaited eagerly for the bits of news that could be gleaned during the war. With the end of hostilities, they scanned the lists of liberated Americans, but Humphreys’s name was missing. And now the end of the chapter is written, for “Humpy” died a few months before the victory that would have meant his freedom.Howard Humphreys was one of many Western alumni who died during the recent war. But somehow he meant “something special” at the Academy. His father, Maj. Rogers Humphreys, was a cadet here beforehim. And “Humpy” himself was so.typical of all that one considers best in a cadet.CAPT. HUMPHREYSWho Died In JapanCourtesy Alton Evening TelegraphJ. V. Eleven WinsFirst Game FromWood River, 6 To 0• i .On October 17, the J. V. football team journeyed to Wood River and returned with their first victory of the season over the Oiler Reserves, 6An Outstanding CadetkDuring four years at Western, this blond, blue-eyed, smiling boy, radiating cheerfulness, friendliness, and energy, threw himself loyally into every activity on the campus. In his senior year, he was center and captain of the football team, a diver on the swimming team with a national reputation, and catcher and captain of the baseball team. He was a star in every sport and was noted for courage and fair play. In addition, he was a cadet captain and company commander, co-editor of the “Shrapnel”, and business manager of the yearbook, “The Recall”. The yearbook said of him that year, “It is seldom that one finds so outstanding a specimen of young manhood.After graduation, Humphreys attended the University of Iowa and spent some time with his parents in the Virgin Islands, where they owned a plantation. He then returned to Western to become a member of the commandant’s staff and military faculty. Thus his period of service eovc ered a span of nearly eight years at the Academy, and he was just as sue-icessful on the faculty as he was as a cadet.to 0.jyEntered Service EarlyAs war approached, “Humpy” was one of the first to offer his services. He held a reserve commission. Hist *friends remember that his blood pressure at that time was slightly above the standard, and several times he fasted and rested before taking physical tests at Jefferson Barracks. Hei.was determined to be accepted, and on April 25, 1941, he reported for duty at Fort Custer, Michigan. In June, 1941, he was sent to the Philippines and placed in charge of a native company.Capt. Humphreys’s letters were cheerful and full of praise for his troops. He said they were real soldiers. When the Japs captured the Philippines, the report was that “Humpy” joined guerrillas in the hills for a while, but with the fall of Mindanao, he became a prisoner of war in the spring of 1942.Few Messages - Then through the years, only a few messages sifted through from Capt. Humphreys. These words hinted at hardships, but were always optimistic and courageous. He mentioned the true friends that he had made. To a young man of his active tendencies, prison life was bound to be irksome.4The end of the war came, and still no definite news. Major Humphreys, his father, wrote last week that at last authentic but not official word had come about his son. The comrade who had attended Capt. Hum-Using the same defense that Burroughs used against the “A” eleven,«Capt. Aller’s boys stopped Wood River cold. Donn Jensen proved the key man on defense and his backing of the line was excellent. However, the whole forward wall was strong, with Yelton, Walling, and Pappas, H. playing great football.Western scored in the second period.. The cadets had the ball on the 35-vard line. On a reverse, Reichert went for a touchdown without a hand being laid upon him. His run was made possible by the fine blocking ofHubeli and Franks.The Allermen reached the Oiler 5-yard line again in the third frame but were over-anxious and failed to score.Wood. River threatened in the last quarter. On a cut-back, an Oiler man ran 60 yards to Western’s 15-yard line, where Franks tackled him from behind. Wood River lost 10 yards onjthe next four plays, and Western took over and won the game.J. V. lineup—-Walling, LE; Walker,LT; Jensen, LG; Baker, C; Yelton, RG; Bromley, RT; H. Pappas, RE; Hubeli, Q; Franks, LH; Crouch, RH; Meyer, FB.Subs—Thorp, Beffa, and Fox atend; Stephani and NangJe at tackle; Hafner, Reichert, and Dauber in the hackfield.A girdle is to keep an unfortunate situation from spreading.phreys in*his final illness wrote of hi death.Capt. Humphreys is sruvived by hi father and mother, Major and Mrs Rogers Humphreys, his grandmothei Mrs. Howard Humphreys of Bloom ington, 111., his former home, and b; two sisters, Mrs. Martha Severson o the Virgin Islands, and Mrs. Mar; Elise Harshbarger, Ft. Worth, TexasAs for Western friends, “Humpy’s passing leaves a vacant and achinj spot in many hearts. Another gol star gleams upon his class picture.R. B. BOSTERNEWSDEALERTOBACCONIST1659 Washington Phone 3-9656•o«i►O'olt;olt;*T«I*THE LA SALLE HOTEL jAND GRILL |COZY ROOMS, FINE FOODS Iii44and jDon't Forget To Try Our CHICKEN IN THE ROUGHiO'O'•o*0‘
Newspaper Details
Alton Western Military Academy Shrapnel
Alton, Illinois, US
Thu, Nov 01, 1945
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IL, 10 Mar 2022
Other Publications Near Alton, Illinois
Alton Evening Telegraph
Alton Observer
Labor World
Alton Weekly Telegraph
Alton Telegraph and Democratic review
