Bataan survivor inducted into ALS Wall of Heroes

Airman Thomas Trower

Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, many men were being drafted into the armed forces to prepare for World War II.

At a time when most people rallied around their country, Buren Johnston enlisted in the New Mexico Army National Guard on Jan. 6, 1941.

Over 54 years later, on

Aug. 4, Mr. Johnston was inducted into the Cannon Air Force Base Airman Leadership School’s (ALS) Wall of Heroes.

ALS recognizes former servicemembers for their outstanding acts of bravery and service to our great nation.

Mr. Johnston was accompanied by eight of his close friends and family members. His wife Lucille sat beside him, where she has been for the last 54 years.

Mr. Johnston was recognized for displaying phenomenal strength and courage by enduring inhumane treatment by the Japanese while he was held as a prisoner of war.

Mr. Johnston was assigned to the 200th Coastal Artillery Battalion when he enlisted in 1941. His unit was sent to the Philippines in September of that same year.

The Monday after the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, he faced his first combat situation. After four months of fighting, the U.S. and Philippine forces on Bataan surrendered to the Japanese and Mr. Johnston was held as a POW.

“We didn’t know we were going to have anything as bad as it was,” said Mr. Johnston. He and numerous members of his battalion were forced to walk the 65-mile long “Death March” from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell in central Luzon.

Many of his fellow servicemembers did not survive the grueling trip. Those who became ill and fell behind were either shot or beheaded, he said.

The soldiers had to use teamwork and self discipline to finish together. Many of the troops that arrived at Camp O’Donnell were later loaded onto what POWs termed “Hell Ships” and sent to Japanese POW camps.

“The ride on the ‘Hell Ship’ is the part I think about the most,” Mr. Johnston said.

They were crammed so tight into the cargo bays of the ships that nobody was able to sit or lie down. They were not allowed to wear their shoes or bring spare clothes, Mr. Johnston said. They were only allowed to bring a blanket, mess kit, canteen, a spoon and the clothes on their body, he added. They were not allowed to eat with forks, he said.

Unfortunately, when one of the captives passed away during the trip, they had to be lifted over the heads of the others and thrown overboard.

When the ships arrived in Japan, the living conditions did not get any better. Mr. Johnston was fed two meals a day. These meals consisted of a soupy rice mixture and two cups of water.

Mr. Johnston worked the local coal mine outside of Fugioco, Japan everyday, he said. One day, there was an accident that created a collapse in the cave system. Mr. Johnston said the falling rocks knocked out his teeth and many people were injured during the cave-in.

The POWs received very little medical treatment for their wounds.

On Sept. 17, 1945 Mr. Johnston was released after three and a half years of captivity.

In May of 1946 he was honorably discharged and he returned home to Clovis where he began his 30-year career for the local railroad. Mr. Johnston retired in 1981 and still lives in Clovis.

The Air Force has changed a lot from when Mr. Johnston was enlisted, but he believes that they are doing alright from what he sees, he said.

“I didn’t think anything like this was going to happen,” Mr. Johnston said after the ALS presented him with the shadow box full of his awards and decorations.

“I don’t consider myself a hero. I was with the aircraft; I think the infantry troops were the heroes,” Mr. Johnston said.

Col. Jeff Harrell, 27th Fighter Wing vice commander, gave the closing remarks after the shadow box presentation.

The term “hero” is used too loosely these days, said Col. Harrell.

When a servicemember goes through tough times and hardship, they are called heroes, he said. But, a hero is actually a servicemember who goes through tough times and hardship and comes out of it with dignity and honor, he added.

Mr. Johnston overcame tremendous adversity and come out with his dignity and honor intact.

Because of those heroic traits, and in spite of the adversity, Mr. Johnston has been recognized as the hero he has always been.