Ilion High School - Class of 1937

Ilion Sentinel - September 13, 1945

Chesebrough Freed After Long Captivity By Japanese

Article 11

Mr. and Mrs. William Chesebrough, 114 Central Avenue, received word last Sunday that their son, Cpl. John M. Chesebrough, had been returned, to military control Sept. 4, 1945, and is being returned to the United States in the near future.

Chesebrough has been a Japanese prisoner for more than three years since the fall of the Philippines, and he experienced the March of Death. He was shipped to Japan in September, 1942. Last word was received in December, 1944, when the Japanese broadcast a letter from Corporal Chesebrough which acknowledged receipt of a letter and personal package from his family.

In an interview of liberated prisoners, Chesebrough was quoted as saying:

"About August 15th" we guessed the war was about over. We immediately did everything that we could to lower Japanese morale.

"We worked as low as we could and we never stopped talking. We told the Japs, 'all right now. It won't be long and the situation will be reversed, you'll be in our shoes'".

Cpl. Chesebrough has one brother, Russell, RT 3-c, who is stationed with the Navy at San Bruno, Calif..