Hell Ships Memorial Project Book of Honor

Chuck participated in the trip to the Philippines in January 15-24, 2006 to dedicate the Hell Ships Memorial.

To all members of the Japanese-pow Listserv;
    Sadly I must report that former POW Charles C. "Chuck" Towne passed away on January 30, 2006. Those of you that were on the Hellships Memorial Tour to the Philippines had the opportunity to visit with Chuck and see some of the places where he valiantly cared for wounded during the shelling and bombardment of Corregidor. Chuck was an inspiration to all of us as we toured the battle sites and POW Camp sites in the Philippines.
    Chuck Towne was NCO in Charge of Surgery at Station Hospital, Ft. Mills (Corregidor). He was held in POW Camps at Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan #3, Clark Field, Cabanatuan #1, Moji and Inchon. He survived the Oryoku Maru, Enoura Maru and Brazil Maru series of Hellships.
    The funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. on February 6, 2006 at the Mountain View Cemetery, Tacoma, WA. Chuck's son, Ken Towne, may contacted at 1670 S 46th St, Tacoma, WA, Tel # 253-475-5740 for additional details.
    Best regards to all,
        John B. Lewis

I had the honor to sit next to Chuck on the banca (boat) at the Wreath Laying Ceremony - right above the Oryoku Maru remains - 200 yards from the shore at Subic Bay, Philippines.

My own father, John J Neiger, Jr. remained with those Oryoku Maru remains - to this day.

He was confused as to exact direction where he swam to shore so many years ago, since the surrounding area had changed so much over the years. He related to me that he had assisted others poorer swimmers as they all swam to shore. He indicated that they had to swim as a group, since if they strayed away in the water while swimming, they were shot by the Japanese guards, who were in small boats.

Chuck was an inspiration - it was an honor to be in his presence at such a solemn moment.

The first time I met Chuck was after the whole tour group finally arrived at the Manila Hotel on January 17, 2006. He was easy to spot with that impressive beard plus the fact that he struggled to walk and keep up the pace�which he did manage to do for the whole trip. He was quite an inspiration to us �younger� folk who were also struggling to keep up the pace!

When we were visiting the Cabanatuan Memorial it was quite hot and it was quite a walk all the way to the end of the memorial�but Chuck did it. Unfortunately, getting back to the bus wasn�t quite as easy. Some of us other stragglers were encouraging him along. He was getting thirsty so I ran ahead to the bus and grabbed a bottle of water from my personal stash since the cooler of water bottles had already been emptied due to the heat and everyone�s thirst�.then ran back to Chuck to give him the bottle. It may not have been refreshingly cool�but it WAS wet!

At the Corregidor Inn, Chuck was sitting in the lobby just outside the small gift shop where I was looking for souvenirs. I selected two tank tops and Chuck gave an approving nod at my selections. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he asked if I would model them for him! He made me laugh! I told him I�d be wearing them during the trip. On the two days I wore the two tank tops, he made a point to compliment me and tell me what a great choice I had made.

So when warm weather hits Virginia in a few months and I wear those tank tops again, I will always remember that twinkle in his eye and how he made it a point to notice when I was wearing them.

Though I new him a scant two weeks, I will remember him forever. Be thou at rest, faithful servant.

I probably knew Chuck better than most of those on the tour as he was here in Taiwan with us last year in January for our commemoration ceremony of the bombing of the Enoura Maru. We got to be great friends and we had kept in touch throughout the past year, and I was thrilled to hear that he was going to be on the Hellships Memorial Tour. It was great seeing him again and from the first day I kind of "took him under my wing" to help him, as I knew it wouldn't be easy for him.

I spent quite a bit of time with Chuck on the tour - I rode next to him a lot of the time on the bus helping him on and off at the various stops we made, and taking photos for him - and of him - on many occasions. I guess I was sort of his caretaker for much of the trip - being with him as he walked and sharing the moments with him as he relived them. All through the trip we had many good times, talking and laughing and sharing things together.

At one point while we were on Corregidor, we arranged for him to visit the hospital where he worked as a medic when he first arrived there and before they had to move into the Malinta Tunnel because of the Japanese bombing. It wasn't planned to be a part of the tour, but I felt that with him having come all that way, we had to get him up there to see it again. We spent some time there in the early morning and he even wandered through the corridors for a bit, reliving old memories which he shared with those of us who were there with him. It was an unforgettable experience for us all.

Everyone on the tour enjoyed Chuck's presence. He contributed so much in the way of factual information and personal experience which was a real help to those family members whose fathers didn't come home. His sense of humor and his indomitable spirit was an inspiration to us all.

He is leaving many friends to mourn him - some who are unknown I'm sure. But be assured that Chuck was a hero - even though he didn't like to be called one - and that he has left his mark on this world and made it a better place because of his presence here. Now the old soldier is with his former mates again and may he rest in peace at last.

I had the privilege of sitting next to Chuck on the flight back to the U.S. Our conversation was not so much about his POW experience, although he asked me if I read books that described the Oryoku Maru voyage. When I answered �Yes� to most of the books he mentioned, he seemed to be very pleased. Other than that, we talked about everyday-life topics such as the plants he was growing or my two American-born children.

I knew from conversations I had had with him in the previous nine days in the Philippines that he did not have ill feelings toward Japanese people, including myself. Still, the hugs he gave me during the flight with his arm around my shoulder meant a great deal to me. I still remember his smooth cheek that touched mine�.

While on Bataan's Mt. Samat, Steve Kwiecinski and I and another fellow traveler helped Chuck walk down the steps while everyone patiently waited for him. I can't help but to admire his tenacity...showing other people "I can do it."

On the night of Jan. 22 in Subic, I arranged to have Chuck interviewed by a friend Peter Parsons for a documentary, together with the other former POWs Richard Francies, Malcolm Amos, and Everett Reames. That night he told me that his passport and some money were missing. He was feeling so bad I tried to boost his morale. I asked him to relax, and told him I will go to his room to help him search. Suddenly his eyes became lively, and we walked together. I checked his luggage and found it, strategically placed in the pouch. Then he was relieved and went back to the interview room.

When I bid him goodbye when he departed for home I told him..."remember me when you hold your passport."

Chuck had a cat. Chuck liked to pretend that the cat meant nothing to him but Chuck loved the cat. The cat wandered up to his door awhile back, starving and skinny. The cat now weighs over 20 pounds. At lunch one day, we asked Chuck the name of his cat. Chuck said, "Cat"!

To both Lee and me, Chuck was the personification of strength, honor and valor all rolled up in a small body. He never asked for help, always had a smile and kind word, stood as tall as his bent frame would allow and grieved for his comrades by himself. We are proud and humbled to have known him if even for such a short time. It does not take long to identify the type of character a man such as Chuck possesses. We shall remember him for as long as we live.

Chuck met me so warmly though he was full of dignity. I soon felt very relaxed and told him, "You can be a wonderful Santa Claus with your beautiful beard and white hair."

When we visited Bilibid, I saw him sitting in a wheel chair, surrounded by several Filipino young men who carried out some parasols to make shades for Chuck. We were listening to Duane near the prison cells, but I noticed Chuck was trying to draw my attention. He said, "Tell them I was in here once. I am not sure if they've got me right." I told the boys in their teens or 20's that this gentleman was held here as a POW by the Japanese Army, and he is a true hero. They seemed to realize how long a way Chuck came back to the spot, and looked impressed.

Later I saw them pushing and carrying Chuck's wheel chair as we walked further into the hospital ward across some lumps of concrete remains. Usually Chuck walked with sticks in both hands and didn't seem happy to receive assistance, making us feel his strong determination to carry on. It makes me feel sad, though I truly admire him. I saw him sitting in the front seat of the bus to Manila Airport. I gave him a little hug, and said how nice it's been meeting him, and I was looking forward to seeing him in Phoenix. Chuck was just staring at me in my eyes.

I was so shocked to learn of Chuck�s death when I returned home from the Japanese extension of the Hellships Memorial Tour. While I didn't know Chuck before and did not spend a great deal of time with him on the tour, he always seemed to be cheerful and independent. He would not accept a helping hand and I admired his "spunk". I sat very close to Chuck on the banca for the wreath laying over the Oryoku Maru in Subic Bay, and I was honored to be in the presence of one who survived. He was an inspiration to us all.

Chuck Towne was such a hero!!!

Don and I were in awe of him, and we will always respect his tenacity and strength. He was a very proud man. Several times I offered to help him carry his brief case, but he always refused my help. He wanted to do it himself. One day he had a small suitcase and his briefcase. Again, I offered to help. Again, he refused. A little later I saw him with a bungee cord around the back of his neck and his brief case hooked onto the bungee cord.

Another memory that I have of him was when we went into the battery area where he helped so many wounded people. He walked into the cave area across large rocks just using his walking sticks to help him with his balance. I know those memories haunted him and the other POW's all along the trip.

One other thought that I have--My father was on the Oryoku Maru. He survived that bombing. I have learned just two days ago that my father was a very poor swimmer. I wonder if Chuck might have saved my father. I'd like to think so. My father died later on the Enoura Maru.

Thank You Chuck. May you rest in Peace . You have been a good and faithful servant.

Love, Don and Hanna Witherspoon

To all who knew Chuck.

Nancy Kragh and I were at Chuck's service on Monday and I would like to tell you that it was a fine tribute to a very deserving man. There were many people there and the memories shared were very reminiscent of the time that I had the privilege of getting to know him on the trip to the Philippines this past January.

He was a Mason and their brotherhood did a special part of the service in what I assume was a traditional ritual. The Head of Veterans Affairs in the state of Washington State spoke and also delivered a message form the Governor of Washington. Apparently when Chuck thought something was not right or could be better, he was not slow to speak to the people who could make the changes happen. He had a major influence in the state of Washington obtaining the POW license plates. The internment was with full Military Honors and then all the EX-POWs went by the casket and left a small white flower on it. It was obvious that many held him as a very close friend.

I had the pleasure of meeting Chuck's family and his "Special Lady". When he would talk about her on the trip, I always envisioned him as a King or Prince and she as the Queen of the Castle. In fact, she could have been a Queen. She was definitely special and someone that everyone would love to know. Chuck had in fact already talked to her about going to Phoenix.

It was a beautiful sunny day in Seattle. I guess Chuck had talked with God and mentioned that he didn't want anyone crying or sad, so the normal rainy day was missing. Many humorous moments were had as remarks were made about Chuck. It sounded as though he lived every day as we had seen him live on the trip. Smiling, twinkle in the eye, thoughtful, stubborn, determined, wanting to enjoy each moment to the fullest.

I had taken some pictures from the trip to give to the family and while showing then to his "Lady", a woman came by that had asked Chuck to take a picture of her brother's name on the Cabanatuan Memorial as the name had a MC in front of it and should not have been there. Chuck had asked me to take a picture of him pointing at the name and I had that picture with me. When she started talking, I knew immediately what she was talking about since I was supposed to have sent the picture to Chuck for her. I was glad to have been able to provide the woman the picture and the realization that Chuck had carried out her request. It was a very special moment to see the look of happiness as she saw the picture and knew that Chuck had not forgotten.

There were definite moments of sadness, but also moments of joy. The realization that Chuck was a church going man and that he was at peace with his Lord and in a wonderful place made his passing a celebration. I left feeling sad but happy and I know that in times of turmoil, I will be able to remember the determination of one man that had seen and been through so much during the War. And I know that Chuck will be watching over all of us as we continue to learn about our family members. Yes, and every time I see Santa Claus, I will remember a man in a maroon jacket with a Army hat with medals and a twinkle in his eye and the essence of life all around him.

Linda McDavitt

bandboat@yahoo.com

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Marcia and I did not hear of Chuck's passing until we returned home in early February. I have attached a few pictures of Chuck that I took on the trip.

I think these photos do a good job of reminding us of Chuck during the trip. He was often in deep thought, and obviously still troubled by what he experienced so long ago. We can all remember Chuck walking along so slowly with his two canes, yet always getting there eventually.

Although he had no problem going to the hospital on Corregidor, he would not go into Malinta tunnel. Chuck had some dreadful memories of servicemen being brought in who had covered by buring oil, and there was nothing he could do to save them. I remember him trying to tell this story to one of the tour guides on a Corregidor trolley, only to be constantly interrupted and finally giving up. You could see the frustration in his face and posture. I wonder how often we all just ignore someone who has something important to tell us.

I told Chuck that I was going to finish writing my book, based upon my 2002 tour to Corregidor and Bataan, with more recent experiences thrown in. I told him I would take some artistic license, so he shouldn't be surprised to find he was on the same tour. He got a chuckle out of that. Certainly I will mention him.

It's hard to believe that he is gone so soon after meeting him. It's only a matter of time when our children's children will think of the vets of WWII as we think of those who fought in the Civil War, as names in some long ago story, not quite real.

To Chuck, Everett, Dick, Malcolm, my father and your loved one, thank you for serving your country and helping to keep us free. You don't think of yourselves as heroes, but we do. God bless you!

Steve Kwiecinski

Steve_Kwiecinskis@yahoo.com

We feel very privileged to have shared Chuck's company on the Hellships Tour and Memorial Dedication Ceremony. We made sure that we sat on his bus as he added immensely to our understanding of events that happened with his many stories. He was a walking, talking page of history, as well as a memorable person.

He inspired all of us with his determination to visit all the sites, no matter how difficult the walking was. He was quite the man!

Jane & John Cambus

John.Cambus@csueastbay.edu

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