Alejo Parucha fought against the Japanese Military Forces in World War II, under the United States Armed Forces in the Far East USAFFE. Captured at Bataan, he joined the Infamous Death March and was held as a Prisoner of War for 9 months, only released on December 25, 1942 as a Gift of Christmas. From there he was a Guerrilla G-2, captured by the Japanese Kempetie with Filipino collaborators two weeks after marrying Victoria. He was then imprisoned and tortured at Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya Japanese Garrison, from which he was able to escape. He then fought against the Forces of General Yamashita in Kiangan June, 1945 until Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, after which he was hospitalized due to fatigue for two weeks. After staying with his young wife and newborn daughter for two weeks, he reported to the Army for duty in 1945 and was honorably discharged on May 10, 1946. Alejo returned to his studies at Far Eastern University, took a job at the Philippine Veterans Board, and later transferred to the U.S. Veterans Administration. Many other government positions followed in an impressive career. Alejo came to Canada in 1979.
He was interviewed for this project by Crestwood students Nico Rondilla, Amanda Lee, and John Shahidi.
Videos
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- 1. Alejo Parucha - Introduction and Prewar Memories
- 2. Training; Going to Bataan
- 3. Family in the War
- 4. Conditions during the War; Filipinos and Americans
- 5. Powerful Memories; the Kidnapping
- 6. The Kidnapping and the Escape
- 7. The Bataan Death March
- 8. Personal Memories of Bataan
- 9. Combat; Going into the Line of Fire
- 10. Douglas MacArthur and Camp ODonnell
- 11. Feelings after the War
