...knew him as a sweet man
Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on World War II soldier Alton Swann of Gloversville fought in the Philippines and was a Japanese POW for three years.
New this Friday, February 18, 2022
Historian Peter Betz explains how he was able to help a Perth NY family acquire a gravestone at no cost for a deceased family member, Howard Forgette, who was a US Army veteran. Betz also discusses a program on Fulton County immigrants taking place at the museum in Gloversville. And he has the story of a bear who did groundhog weather forecasting work in Sacandaga Park.
Nothing to report, just Bob on "the bridge"
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson’s Amsterdam roots
Harrison Sr. was a plasterer, although racial discrimination kept him out of the union.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022-From the Archives-Friday, June 25, 2021-Episode 376-New York City correspondent Jim Kaplan considers the impact of black separatist leader Marcus Garvey on African independence.
Thursday, February 17, 2022-From the Archives of the Daily Gazette—Dixie Veal, a prominent Amsterdam porter
When the Warner Hotel was built at East Main and Walnut Streets in Amsterdam in 1881, Lewis became the proprietor and Veal began a 20-year career as porter there.
Focus on History is a feature of The Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorder, each Saturday
This Saturday, February 19, 2022 Bobsled coasting events in hilly Amsterdam.
Triumph after three years as a Japanese POW
Michael Swann’s mother told him, “Don’t ever talk to your father about the war.” Many years later after their father had passed Michael and his brothers learned some of the reasons.
Michael’s father, Alton R. Swann, was born in Schenectady in 1916, son of Ora and Helen Swann. At eight years old he moved to Gloversville with his mother and four siblings after Ora Swann died.
Alton was on the debate team, edited the school newspaper and excelled in track at Gloversville High. After high school he graduated from Gloversville Business School in 1937. He was hired as an accountant at Schenectady General Electric.
He was drafted by the Army in May 1941. He was assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines with the 803rd Engineer Battalion.
Within hours of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese bombing attack on December 8 resulted in destruction of Clark Field. Swann was reassigned to the battle for Bataan which the Americans lost to the Japanese. He fought at Aglaloma where his 803rd battalion was decimated.
Swann was put on board a transport ship which took survivors to the American island fortress of Corregidor. Swann told his eldest son that his superiors were impressed he was able to maintain his composure when Japanese planes strafed their ship.
Corregidor surrendered to the Japanese in May 1942. Taken prisoner, Swann survived a death march on Bataan where hundreds were killed or died while marching to internment camps.
He was held at Camp 10C in the Philippines until September 1944 when transported to Japan aboard a “hell” ship, the Noto Maru. Hundreds of prisoners were forced to stand upright in the hold in tropical heat. U.S. submarines mistakenly sank many such overcrowded ships carrying American prisoners.
In Japan he was imprisoned at a POW camp and used as slave labor, shoveling manganese ore into furnaces. Tooth decay and gum diseases developed as well as malaria, beriberi, and dysentery. Treatment by prison guards was brutal.
Liberated in September 1945 after the Japanese surrender, he was put aboard a hospital ship, the Monitor, where he wrote his fiancé, Glendean Brooks in Gloversville, asking if she was still waiting for him. She was.
He spent time in Manila before returning to San Francisco aboard the transport Bolivar. All his teeth were pulled, and he was fitted with dentures.
For his part in the Philippines campaign, Sergeant Swann received the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal and various campaign ribbons.
In his first letter home he said memories of loved ones “brought him through experiences better left undescribed.” Alton’s mother received a telegram saying her son was on his way home. He arrived in November.
Alton married Glendean at the parsonage of Gloversville’s Methodist Church Thanksgiving afternoon, 1945.
Their son Michael Swann was born nine months later. As a child he never was really aware of it but his mother told him his father suffered from what we would call PTSD. He had a lifelong issue with sleeplessness and nightmares of the war.
Alton went back to work at Schenectady GE. The couple had two more sons, David and Thomas. In 1953 Alton was transferred to a GE plant in Connecticut and lived many years in Monroe, Connecticut.
Alton’s son Michael made frequent business trips to Japan. He was “humbled by a visit to the site of the Nomachi POW camp near Toyama.” The factory where his father slaved still stands.
Glendean Swann died in 1992. Alton Swann died in 2002 at age 86. Burial with full military honors took place at Pine Hill Cemetery in Southbury, Connecticut.
The Historians Radio Schedule
Monday, February 14, 2022
Public Radio Albany WMHT89.1FM RISE
The Great Backyard Bird Count
https://www.birdcount.org/
Webinar this Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Join our experts as we brush up on bird ID, unlock the mystery of bird songs, and practice counting birds no matter how large the flock or busy the feeder. This webinar is designed for birders of all ages and experience—you’ll leave confident and ready to be part of the GBBC!
Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, February 14, 2022
Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -10. West wind 9 to 16 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -6. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -6. West wind 6 to 14 mph.
Mohawk Valley News, Monday, February 14, 2022
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