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Show Vernal Express Wednesday, November 1 51 2, 2003 Community Calender November 12 HEAT appointments may now be 8 or made. Vernal woman recalls jungle survival By Maureen Spencer Express Writer Billowing clouds of oily smoke, American warships afire and sinking into the tropical blue waters of Pearl Harbor, sailors running for their lives from a hailstorm of bombs and strafing from Japanese aircraft--thes- e are the memories most Americans have of the first week of December, 1941. But unless memories had a personal tie, details of the following week fade. Time has not dimmed the memories of one Vernal woman. It is not Pearl Harbor and Dec. 7, 1941, emblazoned in Elena Halls mind, but the destruction of American air power in the Philippines Dec. 7, 1941. Elena was a native Filipino when the skies rained Japanese invasion bombs and paratroopers. The simultaneous attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies and Southeast Asia had been finely tuned by the aggressive Japanese war machine. Subjugation of Malaya and Hong Kong were to follow quickly along with Borneo, Celebes, Sumatra and Java. Japanese pilots delivered an effective assault on aircraft and facilities in Manila and by the close of Dec. 7, half of the heavy bomber force and one third of the fighter strength of the U.S. Far East Air Force had been destroyed and most of the remaining aircraft were heavily damaged. By Dec. 9, all remaining United States Army heavy bombers had been withdrawn to the south, leaving the Japanese in complete control of the air over the Philippines. From her home in Bacolod City, Negross, Occidental, Elena knew little about the Japanese. She was bom in the spring of 1939. Bacolod City , is known as the because of its city of sifffteS sweet main export of sugar. Her father was an intelligent and wise man and worked in a sugar laborathree-year-o- ld Bacolod City, Philippines, was far from paradise during World War II. 90-min- three-year-o- ld tory. He also understood much about surviving in a jungle, and this ability would become invaluable. At first, the family remained in Bacolod City, not knowing where else to turn, trying to avoid the mili- tary. In the first air raid at night, she recalls her father shoved the family into a wooden box for safety. In the morning, they realized that they had sought shelter in a cemetery burial box that had an old casket in it. When one of their small children died of a head injury they observed the death with their house lights on. Shortly, Japanese militia confronted the family with their error during a brown-ou- t. My father explained to the Army A gifted seamstress, Elena makes all of her own clothing, including her colorful native Philippine dresses, man about the childs death, hoping that he 'would show that he had a heart, Elena recalls. The family was relieved when the Some of the decorations in the Hall home reflect Elenas Filipino itage, such as this large, intricately decorated egg. officer permitted the family to keep a very small light with no reflection. The child could not be buried in a cemetery, but was buried outside of the home, instead. Once, during an air raid, a Japanese soldier ran into their foxhole crying, I dont like war! He told their father that he loved his family, and shared candy and bubble gum to show the children he wasnt going to hurt them. But the family continued hearing horror stories of war atrocities elsewhere. Her mother became concerned over extremely reports that soldiers would throw babies into the air, impaling them on bayonets as they fell. Her father became concerned that his young, attractive wife or young daughters would her- draw attention of soldiers intent upon rape and murder. He would dress his wife in old, loose clothes to hide her youth. Due to air raids near their home, her father dug a bomb shelter for his family. The high water table on their island (one of the 220 islands in the Philippines), caused the hole to fill with a water up to his waist. We would run and climb into the bomb shelter, and have to be in the water," says Elena. The children would become chilled , and so their father made necklaces of a rubbery plant so that they could put a chunk of the plant in their mouths to keep them from chattering so hard in the cold and from fear. The shelter had two doors and dry boards with leaves, branches and dirt over it so that no one would know it was there. He also made bamboo beds so the children were not always in the water. Both parents feared for their childrens safety. Finally, her mother insisted that they escape to the mountains. We went barefooted and left at night. Her father cautioned them not to cry. They had no Japanese papers permitting them into these new areas. Discovery would mean execution. When they wanted to drink, their father would take his little flash light to find a small spring, brush off the bugs and mosquitoes and they would drink. Elena thinks back upon what her father would prepare for them to eat with a big smile on her face, and a resounding, And its GOOD! following every culinary revelation. There were grasshopper-lik- e insects that he would dry and then cook. In order to survive, her father would go into the mountain jungle and kill a snake. Their mother would find wild tea plants to boil. When the family needed seasonings, their father made night raids to a sugar cane farm. For salt, he would go to the ocean and bring back the water. Big lizards, she assures, is good to eat like chicken. A large brown frog receives a similar review. Removing the bark from a banana tree stalk, squeezing it and boiling the white center, filled young stomachs. Abandoned military parachutes were scavenged for use as blankets. It was very difficult in the mountains, she recalls. Several of their relatives and grandparents were also hiding there. Foxholes were again part of their lives. Whenever wed hear an airplane sound, wed dive into the foxholes because some planes could come down and hit you! Foot soldiers and both Japanese and Filipino guerrillas, became a danger. Both wanted food, and the refugees had none. There were dangerous mobs in the mountains. Father would hide us on the river rocks, up against the bank and we would sleep there. Sometimes we have to hide in the river. Elena speaks with deep respect for General Douglas MacArthur, and his return to the Philippines. She was able to tour Corregidor and holds the visit dear to her. When Americans helped liberate the Philippines in 1945, Elena remembers watching them raising flags. She says she clapped and enjoyed the GIs gifts of candy. Returning to Bacolod City, they found their home burned. Their father now had no job, so he built a bamboo home, with three stones in the middle to cook their rice. Elena would remain in Bacolod City until she was 17. Through her life she bore three sons and a daughter. Her daughter died as a young adult. She has four grandchildren. In 1986, Elena was baptized into the LDS church. Through her associations with LDS missionaries, she was urged by a Vernal Elder to write to his uncle Weldon Hall. At 60, Elena liked being alone. In Vernal, a surprised Weldon Hall began corresponding with Elena, and then went to the Philippines to visit her. An international and courtship followed, with the two being married Oct. 9, 2001, in Vernal. They now live in Maeser. Elena is an excellent seamstress and makes all of her own clothing. She enjoys frequent telephone calls with her sisters in San Diego and in one-roo- m trans-Pacif- Texas. She J3r; r v SJ t V- ?, Weldon and Elena Hall conducted an international courtship and married in Vernal Oct. 9, 2001 . COPY HUMS x f nrW I ', - - ry ft WVK- - -- rr ic says she learned several things during World War II. She learned that all wars are a survival story, and that people must learn to support only themselves. She refuses to sit still saying that it lets her remember too much. While watching TV she crochets large, delicate bedspreads and tablecloths. She creates elaborate collages of photographs of her Filipino and American families. There is one television show that catches Elenas imagination.. ..Weldon says Elena wont miss Fear Factor. I just watch and laugh, says Elena. I see they eat bug or snake. I just say, I eat that its GOOD t .t 722-321- 781-20- November 13 Ashley Valley Medical Center Preparedness Emergency for Demonstration emergency deresponse personnel, contamination shelter and equipment 10 a.m.-- 2 p.m. Rotaiy. Noon. Stockmans restaurant Sy Hutt speaker from Ashley Valley Medical Center. TOPS meets in Conference Room of Vernal City Building 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Gwen Peterson, 789 8356. Open house 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Basin Symphony Rehearsal p.m. Vernal Middle School Band Room. Jean Voyles, Ashley Valley Amateur Hockey Assn, registration, 7 p.m.. Western Park conference room. Returning and new players. Deadline Nov. 15. 781 6202. 789-286- 7. November 8-- mini-clas- s, November 15 Holly Fair at Crossroads Senior 50 200 East Center, South, Roosevelt. Saturday open 10 a.m p.m. Annual St. James Winter Games at Western Park. Starts at 7 p.m. Deadline for registration for Ashley Valley Amateur Hockey Assn. Uintah County Recreation Dept. 781 0982. Elks Hoop Shoot, Vernal Middle School; sign up 10 a.m. shoot at 10:30 a.m. Sam Godfrey 5 for information. 789-730- November 17 AARP Driver Safety program at Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8 a.m. to noon. Brenda, 789-216- 9. ' November 18 Western Museum Heritage Expansion community review, 7 p.m Western Park. 300 East 200 South. Native American dancers, singers, storytellers. Public encouraged to attend, families welcome. Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, Golden Corral, noon. New dinosaur museum consultants who design displays and interior will make a presentation. AARP Driver Safety program at Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, 8 a.m. to noon. Brenda, 789 2169. An MS support group meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Vernal City offices. 6:30-7:3- 0 p.m. Anyone with Multiple Sclerosis or those knowing people with MS are invited to attend. Vemie Uintah County Library Book Club. Dickins, A Christmas Carol. 7 p.m. 789-190- 3. November 19 Uintah County Library, Children's department observing National Childrens Book Week. A Night in Flight, 7 p.m. commemorating 100 years since first flight of the Wright brothers. Stones and activities. All welcome. November 20 Noon. Stockmans Rotary. Restaurant. Beth Sunday speaking on experiences in a service project in Peru. TOPS meets in Conference Room of Vernal City Building a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Gwen Peterson, Open House p.m. Basin Symphony rehearsal 7 p.m. Vernal Middle School Band Room. 7 Jean Voyles, 1 1 789-835- 6. 1 1:30-12:- 789-286- November 21 Community dance at Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West, m. every Friday night. Kays Band provides the music. 8-- November 22 Turkey Days at Cobble Rock Park. 10 a.m. Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, 789-135- 2. To place items of public interest on the Community Calendar, mail to the Vernal Express, P.C. Box 1000, editor (a vemal.com, or call the Verna! Express at 789-3- 5 Uncomfortable just sitting," Elena watches television as she creates exquisite crocheted table covers and bedspreads. tX, tPN!nJ m 14 Holly Fair at Crossroads Senior 200 East 50 South, Center, Roosevelt. Friday open 10 a.m.-- 8 p.m. Community dance at Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West p.m. every Friday night Kays Band provides the music. Uintah Quilting County Library, Holly H. Baker teacher. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Register at Library. WWW 1 1. |