Former American prisoners of war held in Japan during World War II are touring places they were held nearly 70 years ago, and recounting their memories. (Oct. 16)
SHOTLIST:
AP TELEVISION – AP CLIENTS ONLY
Tokyo – 16 October 2014
1. Wide of group of former prisoners of war with statue in the background
2. Pan down of Heiwajima Kannon, a statue of the Goddess of Mercy at the site of former POW Omori camp
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Sanchez, 96, former prisoner of war in Japan: (see transcript below)
4. Pan left of American former prisoners of war in front of the Heiwajima Kannon, a statue of the Goddess of Mercy, put at the site of former POW (Prisoner of War) Omori camp
AP IMAGES – AP CLIENTS ONLY
Yokohama, Japan – 1 August 1945
5. American soldiers at Ofuna prison camp, 16 miles from Yokohama
AP TELEVISION – AP CLIENTS ONLY
Tokyo – 16 October 2014
6. Wide of former POW Oral C. Nichols
7. C/u of Nichols
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Oral C. Nichols, 93, former prisoner of war in Japan: (see transcript below)
9. C/u of Sanchez
10. Wide of plaza
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Schwartz, 99, former prisoner of war in Japan: (see transcript below)
12. Pan up from Schwartz to statue
13. c/u of statue
14. Wide of plaza
VOICE-OVER SCRIPT:
FORMER AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR RETURN TO JAPAN — THE PLACE WHERE THEY WERE HELD CAPTIVE DURING WORLD WAR TWO…
A STATUE OF THE GODDESS OF MERCY NOW STANDS IN THE PLACE WHERE A P-O-W CAMP ONCE STOOD…
SOUNDBITE (English) William Sanchez, 96, former prisoner of war in Japan:
“I was in Camp Omori, right here. All this land you see was reclaimed by us, the American prisoners of war and the British prisoners of war. And I am amazed at how well they have used the land.”
FOR SOME OF THESE MEN, IT’S THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE RETURNED TO JAPAN SINCE THE END OF THE WAR…
(still photo POW camp)
JAPANESE SOLDIERS HELD OVER 30-THOUSAND ALLIED FORCES AS P-O-W’S IN DOZENS OF CAMPS SPREAD ACROSS JAPAN, CHINA AND OTHER PARTS OF ASIA.
93-YEAR-OLD ORAL NICHOLS WAS CAPTURED ON WAKE ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC…AND WAS FORCED TO WORK IN AN IRON MINE.
SOUNDBITE (English) Oral C. Nichols, 93, former prisoner of war in Japan:
“But also I was young and had set myself a goal to live, I was going to live regardless.”
VISITING AT THE INVITATION OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT… THE MEN — IN THEIR NINETIES — REFLECT ON HOW COUNTRIES ONCE AT WAR WITH EACH OTHER NOW LIVE AS FRIENDS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Schwartz, 99, former prisoner of war in Japan:
“I didn’t have good memories. But this program, I think, is very wonderful. It is bringing more friendship… it helps to make balance better between the two countries when you do meet like this. And I am glad I did.”
THE PLACE THEY VISITED IN TOKYO NOW CALLED PEACE ISLAND.
PADMANANDA RAMA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
