The Heroic Story of World War II POW and Death March Survivor, Arthur Shreve

The Greatest Generation Live Podcast

US Army Colonel Arthur Lee Shreve survived the Bataan Death March and years as a POW of the Japanese at Cabanatuan prison camp in the Philippines, aboard a Japanese “Hell Ship” and hard labor at Camp Fukuoka, Japan. Arthur’s granddaughter, Heather Shreve, shares his story and book, The Colonel’s Way: The Secret Diaries of a P.O.W., Philippines 1941-1945.

After his father’s untimely demise in 1913, Arthur Shreve assumed the responsibility of supporting his family. He dropped out of high school just weeks before graduation and enlisted in the Maryland National Guard in 1917. Driven by a desire to fly, he transferred to the Signal Corps and Aviation Section, eventually graduating from flight school in 1918.

Shreve’s first assignment was with the Second Aero Squadron in France, where he flew combat missions during World War I. Despite the perilous nature of aerial warfare, he survived and returned to Baltimore in 1919.

In 1920, Shreve rejoined the US Army as a second lieutenant. His first assignment was in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he met his future wife. He also gained valuable knowledge about Japanese war tactics and culture, which would prove invaluable in the years to come.

Over the next two decades, Shreve served in various capacities, including as a member of the US-German Army Jumping and Polo Team, an instructor at the University of Oklahoma, and a graduate of the Command and General Staff School. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1940 but was recalled to service in 1941.

Assigned to the South Luzon Force in the Philippines, Shreve arrived in November 1941. He recognized the vulnerability of the island to Japanese attack and advocated for strengthening its defenses. However, his warnings were not heeded.

On December 24, 1941, Shreve witnessed the arrival of Japanese forces at Antipolo, confirming his fears. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Philippines, but was eventually captured and forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March.

Upon arriving at Cabanatuan prison camp in June 1942, Shreve continued his humanitarian efforts. He meticulously documented the camp’s conditions, including the alarming death rate, and established an underground network to smuggle in food and supplies.

Shreve’s ingenuity extended to creating a crystal radio receiver from an Army canteen, allowing him to eavesdrop on Japanese communications. This intelligence was relayed to Filipino operatives in Manila, providing valuable information to the Allied forces.

In 1944, he was among the 12,000 POWs transported on the Japanese ship Arai Maru. Overcrowding and inhumane conditions led to the deaths of 100 men from suffocation.

During a bombing attack, Shreve was shot in the back but survived. He witnessed the Japanese pushing POWs overboard and abandoning ship. Shreve jumped into the water and swam to shore, then returned to rescue four others.

Shreve and his fellow POWs were held in a tennis court for five days with minimal food and water. They were then transported to Manila and forced onto train cars with 190 men per car. The only ventilation came from bullet holes in the roof.

On the Anora Maru, another Japanese transport ship, Shreve witnessed the deaths of two fellow officers when a torpedo hit the vessel. He helped Colonel North to safety but was unable to save Babcock, who had a severe chest wound.

On the Brazil Maru, Shreve and his companions faced freezing temperatures and illness.

Shreve was eventually imprisoned in Camp Fukuoka, Japan, where he performed hard labor. He collected the belongings of his deceased comrades in a Red Cross box.

In September 1945, Shreve was rescued and evacuated to Korea. Of the original 12,000 POWs, only 270 survived the ordeal.

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