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Flags of Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Our Bataan Prisoners of War

Laureta Huit

On Display, Curated by Laureta Huit


Avery Cox displays a portion of the Japanese flag, and the American flag he Guarded in captivity
Avery Cox displays a portion of the Japanese flag, and the American flag he Guarded in captivity

This year 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of our Bataan Prisoners of War. This exhibition reflects on their final year of internment. We honor their freedom by commemorating significant events throughout the year.  We are highlighting the rescues, raids, escapes, and narratives that ultimately secured their freedom through various programming and events throughout the year.  

 

The 200th Coast Artillery was inducted into federal service in January 1941, initially for one year of training. Composed primarily of New Mexicans, they trained rigorously at Fort Bliss, Texas, before being deployed to the Philippines in September 1941. Stationed at Fort Stotsenberg, they defended against Japanese air attacks despite insufficient resources and no prior live-fire practice.

 

When Japan launched its attack on December 8, 1941, the 200th engaged enemy aircraft, becoming the first U.S. unit to fire in defense of the Pacific. Their efforts helped cover the Allied retreat to Bataan, where they endured starvation, disease, and relentless combat for months. After the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, the men faced the horrors of the Bataan Death March and years of captivity in harsh POW camps, of the 1,800 men in the 200th, fewer than half survived the war.

 

Their bravery earned them four Presidential Unit Citations and the Philippine Presidential Citation. General MacArthur praised their resilience, noting their role in delaying Japan's advance and safeguarding the Pacific.  "First to fire, and last to lay down their arms" stands as their enduring legacy.

 

The Bataan Death March was a brutal forced march of approximately 60,000–80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war by Japanese forces in April 1942 during World War II. After the surrender of Bataan in the Philippines, prisoners were forced to march over 65 miles in sweltering heat with little food, water, or medical care. Thousands perished from exhaustion, starvation, beatings, and executions along the way. The march became a symbol of wartime atrocity and resilience, and it stands as one of the darkest chapters in the Pacific theater of World War II.


While a great majority of these prisoners were held in various Japanese Prisoner of War camps across the Philippines, Manchuria, and Japan, a few notable rescue and escape operations took place during the war. These instances of rescue, liberation, or escape represent the bravery of both American and Filipino forces, as well as local citizens who risked their lives to help the POWs. The stories from these rescues, particularly the Raid on Cabanatuan, are celebrated as acts of heroism.

 

Below are the significant instances Bataan P.O.W.s were rescued, liberated, or managed to escape:

 

Escape Attempts from the Bataan Death March (April 1942) 

 

After the surrender of Bataan, about 75,000 Filipino and American troops were forced on a brutal 65-mile death march to the Japanese POW camp at Camp O'Donnell. Some prisoners managed to escape during the march, often with the help of sympathetic locals. However, these escapes were rare due to the high risk and harsh punishments inflicted by the Japanese on those who attempted to flee.

 

Escape from Cabanatuan POW Camp (1942-1943) 

 

Cabanatuan, one of the main POW camps, held thousands of Bataan survivors. There were several escape attempts from Cabanatuan. For instance, in 1943, a few individuals managed to escape with the assistance of Filipino guerillas who provided them with shelter and guidance through the dense jungle. These escapes, however, were extremely difficult due to the camp's isolation and the Japanese guards.

 

Raid and Rescue on Cabanatuan (January 30, 1945) 

 

One of the most famous rescue operations occurred on January 30, 1945, when the 6th Ranger Battalion, along with Filipino guerillas, conducted a successful raid on Cabanatuan to liberate over 500 American POWs. The raid involved extensive planning, with a mix of stealth and speed, allowing Rangers to surprise the Japanese guards and evacuate the prisoners safely. This mission, known as "The Great Raid," remains one of the largest and most successful POW rescue missions in history.

 

 

Liberation of Santo Tomas Internment Camp (February 3, 1945)

 

Though not primarily a military POW camp, Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila housed several military personnel among them civilian internees. U.S. forces liberated the camp on February 3, 1945, and freed over 3,700 prisoners, including survivors from Bataan.

 

Liberation of Bilibid Prison (February 4, 1945)

 

Bilibid Prison in Manila held many survivors of the Bataan Death March, as well as civilian internees. The prison was liberated by American forces as they advanced toward Manila. Though Bilibid was not a POW camp in the traditional sense, the American prisoners there were saved from possible execution by advancing Japanese forces.

 

Liberation of Other Camps by Filipino Guerillas (Hukbalahap)

 

Filipino resistance fighters conducted several smaller rescue operations throughout the Japanese occupation. These guerilla groups, including the Hunters ROTC and Hukbalahap forces, aided in the rescue of escaped POWs, guiding them to safety through the Philippine jungle and sometimes hiding them in remote villages. These efforts saved dozens of lives and provided POWs with protection from Japanese patrols.


Flags of Freedom: Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Our Bataan Prisoners of War, tells the harrowing story of survival, focusing on three flags we received and that now serve as part of our permanent collection.  We received a clandestine American Flag that was secreted away by a group of Bataan Prisoners of War when they saw surrender was imminent. They worked together relentlessly to keep the flag hidden through the entirety of the Bataan Death March and throughout their internment.

 

Through the atrocity of the Bataan Death March erupts the daring story of Oscar Avery Cox a narrative of true unending patriotism in the face of unspeakable horrors and suffering, an adherence to a moral code of values and honor above and before all else, self-sacrifice, enduring brotherhood, and pride and honor.  Oscar Avery Cox and three fellow POWs risked their lives to protect this worn American flag. 


As I read and work through so many first-hand accounts, either in journals, letters, or while working with families, the one thing that remains, I find myself continually astonished at the fact that anyone was able to survive and endure the extreme hardships and difficulties our Prisoners of War faced during the Bataan Death March. An unending nightmare of powerlessness. Tossed from one hellish atrocity into another. Facing the horrors of starvation, unending human indignities, the brutality of the Japanese, beatings, executions, and injuries all around them, enduring an attack by our own forces while being transported to Japan in unmarked merchant ships, to their ultimate destination serving as slave labor for Japanese manufacturing and other industries throughout the various prefectures in Japan.  How did they endure? They were inflicted with a type of humiliation intent on destroying any sense of human dignity, Degradation and abuse to destroy their bodies and break their minds.  It was exceptionally cruel and yet their captors were unable to break their spirit.  


Survival took determination, a mental effort and revealed in a variety of forms, greater than longing for home or accepting your circumstances, survival became an unwitting mental game.  Responsibility was the driving force in one’s daily survival, and having a purpose is the key factor throughout all my research, that gave our Prisoners of War that chance to come home. Some took on the care of others, the sick and infirmed, ensuring their comfort. Some cared for the fallen, giving last rites, and dignity to their brothers offering a proper burial on a daily and sometimes even hourly basis. THey swore an allegiance to maintain that duty and honor, this task became their purpose and focusing on these critical rites and responsibilities gave them the mental fortitude to continue for those who passed. Many of our New Mexico prisoners of war had their deeply rooted catholic faith in the darkest times, imbuing them with a metaphysical purpose and trust that they would survive. 


Oscar Avery Cox and his compatriots had their faith, trust, and maintained a responsibility to each other, one could not carry and mind the flag on his own, it was the group effort that kept them motivated and moving forward.  Focusing on the mental task of ensuring the safety of a clandestine American flag, was the sole purpose for the 4 brave men.  They worked in tandem to pass the tightly folded and concealed flag during the entire 65-mile journey of the Bataan Death March. If the flag was ever found or discovered, an unspeakable fate would befall whichever of the four had possessions of it.  As the days turned into weeks and months, the group was moved to various prison camps, at each a strategy session would erupt devising the best and prime locations to keep the flag safe and unnoticed.  Tightly folded and hidden behind loose panel, tucked under the barracks, buried many times, or on their person.  They served as lookouts for one another during its transition from one hiding spot to the next.  The mental engagement, strategy, and planning kept them observant and keenly aware of their surroundings, highly aware of who was around, and who may be watching them, they had to be exacting in their planning before moving or passing the flag, failure meant death for one or all.  


Oscar Avery Cox Clandestine American Flag carried through Bataan Death March and flown at Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17   NMMM 2024.044.001
Oscar Avery Cox Clandestine American Flag carried through Bataan Death March and flown at Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17 NMMM 2024.044.001

They went to great lengths to protect it, hiding it in one place, then another. Cox said he really didn't know how they managed it, but they did – still knowing the risk they were taking.  Once the group arrived to Fukuoka Prison Camp # 17 in Omuta, Japan they were assigned to work in a coal mine, the group decided the best course of action to protect themselves and the flag would be to choose an area the Japanese guards were least likely to go, which meant into the depths of the mine, and bury it there, its final hiding location, safer there than any other previous spot they had chosen.  Hidden in the dark depths of that coal mine they dreaded every day.    The drudgery of working in the coalmine every day went on until late August of 1945. 


Avery and his fellow Prisoners of War started to notice an increase in planes, every day the number was increasing until reach up to 40 a day, they heard and saw the increase in bombing raids and something in his heart told him the tide was turning.  When plane flew over, we were told to lie face down on the ground," Avery said. "If you looked up, the guards would hit you in the head with the butt of their guns”, but he just knew the war was about to end. A few days later, near the very end of August, the Guards gathered them, told them they would not be working that day, and gave them the day off to relax, offered for them to bath, get clean clothing.  This was extremely strange behavior and flooded the camp with fear and anxiety.  Nervously they took the day off, bathing, feeling as if they were preparing from something, but they didn’t know what, their minds went to the worst possible options.  The following morning, they awoke to an eerily quiet camp, the normal sounds and routines had come to a halt. “it's going to be an ambush” “What if they placed land mines or other types of explosives around the outside of the camp” “It’s a trick, it's a TRAP” … their fears poured out of them. There was a small ridge above the camp and one fellow Prisoner of War just knew if they stepped out of the barracks, they Japanese would be waiting for them on that ridge line. Avery looked around as best he could, and did not see any Japanese Prison Guards, although strange he just knew it had to be a good sign.  Right then he and E.L. Fanning remembered the American flag, buried at the bottom of their mine, the raced out the barrack doors, nothing happened, they ran to the mine, not seeing any sign of a guard anywhere.  He and E.L. retrieved it from the bottom of the mine, returned to the center flagpole in camp, their fellow Prisoners of War looked on as they tore the Japanese flag down and hoisted the Clandestine American in its place.  “Cheers roared throughout the camp. While raising the flag, Avery said they still feared some kind of trap, that the Japanese might be watching, ready to shoot, but they raised the flag anyway. Solidifying American Victory in the minds of all his fellow POWs. This act of defiance and patriotism sparked cheers among the prisoners, marking their first taste of freedom.



Avery’s Quarter Signed by fellow POWs at Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17   NMMM2024.044.002                                                  Asao Fukuhara, Commandant's Cabin Flag Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17    NMMMM2024.044.003
Avery’s Quarter Signed by fellow POWs at Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17 NMMM2024.044.002 Asao Fukuhara, Commandant's Cabin Flag Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17 NMMMM2024.044.003

The following days After about three days, a plane flew overhead, dropping two barrels of food supplies. For these half-starved prisoners, this was a most welcome sight. A day or two later, a plane flew over, a parachute opened, and an American soldier came down right in the middle of camp. It was then that the prisoners still in the camp were told the war was over. They were given maps, showing them a location where they would be put aboard a ship for home. It was up to them to find their way to the port any way they could. Before leaving the camp, Cox took the flag down to take home with him. It had made the journey this far, he reasoned, why not the trip home?

Cox said he and a group of about 16 prisoners left the camp together, walking for several miles before coming across an old bus. They took the bus, driving several miles before coming upon an old railroad train. None of those in the group had ever actually operated a train before, but one of them who was from Portales said his Dad had

worked for the railroad. That was good enough, and he was made chief engineer. Finally, they made it to the port, where they awaited their turn to board the ship for home., By the time he left Japan, Cox, who normally weighed about 175 pounds, had for dropped to 98 pounds. While aboard ship, a trip of about 30 days, they were encouraged to eat and food was made available for them 24 hours a day. He had gained up to 126 pounds by the time the ship landed in the U.S. After about 12 days in a hospital in Seattle, Washington, Avery was finally on his way back to New Mexico. While aboard the ship, he and Fanning again agreed to share their portions of the Japanese flag. Each man's halve was torn into half again to give to fellow POWs. But the American flag went home with Avery in one piece. The flags accompanied Cox home, becoming one of his most cherished possessions. Its journey from captivity to liberation reflects the enduring spirit of those who fought to preserve freedom, even in the face of unimaginable adversity.



Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17 Entrance American Flag (Cox), Australian Flag, and Netherlands Flag  NMMM Digital Asset
Fukuoka Prison Camp Number 17 Entrance American Flag (Cox), Australian Flag, and Netherlands Flag NMMM Digital Asset


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