The Secret Camera |
| Posted by Storie (storiebook) on Jun 30 2009 |
Thirty Eight percent of all Allied troops died in their Japanese prison camps. A Marine was 17 times more likely to die as a Japanese POW than on the battlefield. This is the sad reality for Japanese prisoners.
THE SECRET CAMERA is the true story of how one brave Marine struggled for survival. From his capture on Pearl Harbor Day to the bombing of Nagasaki, Terence S. Kirk spent all 1,355 days of the war as a Japanese POW.
From his capture on Pearl Harbor Day, through the bombing of Nagasaki, Corporal Terence S. Kirk spent years as slave labor for the Japanese war machine. Watching himself and his fellow marines wither from strapping young men to mere skeletons, ravaged by starvation, abuse, and disease, he decided to make a difference--by recording the atrocities they all endured. With the help of a Japanese interpreter and a handful of other brave marines, Kirk managed to build a pinhole camera from scraps of cardboard, take a handful of photos, and then hide them away until the end of the war. These are the only photos ever taken inside a Japanese POW camp. A record of courage, faith, and ingenuity, his is a story of heroism, unimaginable adversity, and the will to survive.
THESE ARE THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF A JAPANESE PRISON CAMP TAKEN INSIDE MAINLAND JAPAN AND THE ONLY PICTURES FOR WAR CRIMES TRIALS.
It is a little know fact that Kokura, Japan was the primary target for the second atomic bomb. The plane known as "Bocks Car" circled overhead searching for its target, unaware of the starving and abused prisoners below. In a simple twist of fate, the bomb is moved on to Nagasaki. Kirk and the other prisoners are spared death one last time.
With the end of the war, Kirk opts not to wait on liberation forces to arrive. He makes his way to Yokohama and friendly forces, to begin the journey from captivity to freedom.
But during the debriefing by government and military authorities, Kirk receives notice he must sign a GAG ORDER not to discuss his time as a prisoner of war. Anxious to return home, he reluctantly signs.
Kirk spent a total of 30 years in service to his country. He was a fierce and loyal patriot. But late in life, he feared that no one will know of his sacrifice or that of the other North China Marines. He decided to defy the Gag Order by publishing the pictures of his camp and his memoir.
THE SECRET CAMERA is the true story of how Terence S. Kirk fights to survive, and become a voice for 1200 starved and dying prisoners of war. We invite you to come share in his story.
Terence Sumner Kirk was born in Harrisburg, Illinois, June 10, 1916. Sadly at the age of 3, with a tragic turn of events, he and his siblings were sent to Mooseheart Orphanage to be raised. There he was educated and graduated from high school.
Kirk entered the Marine Corps in 1937. He trained in San Diego, California, and later in Honolulu, Hawaii. Coveted orders arrived in 1939 when he received orders to serve with the elite North China Marines, as a legation guard in Peking, China. The assignment offered him status and prestige until his capture on Pearl Harbor Day.
Terence S. Kirk served his country for 30 years retiring from the Marine Corps and later from the FAA as a Proficiency Development and Evaluation Officer.
A voracious learner, he graduated from Santa Rosa College in 1969. Some of his many interests included far reaching knowledge of American history, advanced study toward hydrogen powered transportation systems, ham radio operator, gardening, and chess.
He was known for his quick wit, wise-acre sense of humor, ever-present smile, and twinkle in his eye.
For more on The Secret Camera, visit their website at www.thesecretcamera.com or stop by Storiebook Cafe on Saturday, immediately following the Parade celebrating our Freedom that Terence Kirk was fighting for!
Last changed: Jun 30 2009
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