Inside the Plaza Cuartel Park main square next to the Palawan WWII Massacre Memorial (POW Camp 10A)

The monument is pyramid shape made of stone with 1 inscribed brass plate.

On December 14, 1944, with US Forces advancing through the Philippines, enemy prison guards commenced to kill the American POWs located a POW Camp 10A on this site.  It is estimated 139 Americans were killed; 11 escaped and with the assistance of the local population and partisans, were able to evade the enemy until US Forces arrived.  Those that perished were buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.

The marker indicates 143 victims of this event; best kept records indicate 139 victims.

 NOTES:  The sculptor listed of the Palawan Massacre Memorial, Don T Schloat, was also a POW.  He is listed on the Palawan Survivor Monument incorrectly as he was initially imprisoned at Palawan, after several escape attempts, he was transferred to the prison at Bilibid, a POW camp in Manila and was not present during the December 14, 1944 massacre. His name is listed on the Palawan Survivor Memorial incorrectly as Don T Schlot- USA

For other POW Camps Memorials and historic raids to liberate them see this website:

Cabanatuan- POW Camp

Santo Tomas Internment (POW) Camp Marker

Palawan WWII Massacre Memorial (POW Camp 10A)

Palawan Survivors Memorial (POW Camp 10A).

Palawan Prison Camp (POW Camp 10A)- Philippine Historic Marker

11th Airborne Division- Los Baños Raid Marker

Hellships Memorial

As a result of eleven men who survived the massacre to confirm the ordeal, American military leaders realized the imminent threat to other POWs and detainees. Senior commanders were determined to prevent more atrocities. With several thousand American and Allied lives at stake, the rescue of POWs and internees became a high priority. Four raids were done in short succession, freeing over 7,000 POWs and detainees in less than a month.

Major POW/Detainee Rescue Operations Luzon -Philippines / 1945:

Cabanatuan Rescue-   30 January       516 POWs

Santo Tomas Prison-  3 February       3,500 detainees/275 hostages

Bilibid Prison-             4 February       700 + POWs/ 500 internees

Los Banos Rescue-     23 February     2,147 Allied POWs

See this website for the memorials located at each of these former POW camps.

The text on the marker is in English and reads:

MEMORIAL MARKER 

FOR 

THE 143 AMERICAN POW

“A GRIM REMINDER OF

THE REALITIES OF WAR AS

THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM AND

THE BURNING TO DEATH OF 143

AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR

BY THEIR JAPANESE IMPERIAL

ARMY KEMPIE-TAI CAPTORS

INSIDE THE TUNNEL ON THIS 

SITE ON THE FATEFUL EVENING

OF DECEMBER 14, 1944"

SURVIVORS:

Rufus Smith – Huges Springs, Texas

Ernest John Cablos – Chicago

Edwin Petry – Venice, Chicago

Eugene Nielson – Utah

Elmo Deal – Uba City, California

Tommy Daniels – USA

Don T Schlot- USA

Fern Joseph Barta – Salt Lake City

Glen Weddal McDole – Dismoines, Iowa

WM J. Balchus – Maretinville, New Jersey

Alberto D. Pacheco – Denning, New Mexico