Press Clippings
    Memphis Press-Scimitar 1942  

    “Silence Shields the Fate Of the
    Baby of Bataan”  

    At 12, he was making his first “pay day”
    and proudly bearing home a gift to his
    mother–a set of cups and saucers.
    At 15, he was doing his best to keep the
    Stars and Stripes flying on Bataan.
    At 16–Silence has enveloped the “Baby
    of Bataan”.
    As far as Memphis is concerned, Joseph
    Q. Johnson was “the baby” on Bataan–
    at least he was the youngest boy to see
    service on Bataan as far as can be
    learned.
    As “babies” go he’s pretty tough. He’s
    had more than a year’s service having
    enlisted in January 1941, “fibbing” about
    his age. He was sent to the Philippines
    shortly afterward–in April.  
    Memphis Press-Scimitar 1946  

    “Japs Beat Him So Badly His Grave Was Dug,
    But Memphian Back To Tell It”

    In Yokohama today Lt. Isao Fukuhara is the next
    Japanese to stand trial on charges of a series of
    atrocities at Kyushu prison camp he commanded.
    Listed as one of Fukuhara’s victims by the War
    Crimes Commission is Pvt. Joseph Q. Johnson of
    Memphis.
    Pvt. Johnson, who is in Memphis on furlough after
    treatment at Kennedy General Hospital for
    malnutrition and an injured leg, today told the
    Press-Scimitar what happened.
    Often known as the “Baby of Bataan” because he
    was serving with the American Army on Bataan
    when he was only 15 years old after “fibbing”
    about his age to join the Army.
    Taken prisoner by the Japanese in May 1942
    after swimming from Bataan to Corregidor,
    Johnson was a Japanese prisoner for 44 months.
On March 14, 2010 Mr. Johnson was interviewed by Dave Seibert of the Phoenix newspaper "Arizona Republic", the
largest newspaper in the state. This interview reveals some little known facts about the war against the Japanese in the
Phillipines as well as information about Joe's life before joining the Army, and as a Japanese P.O.W. Paste the link below
into your browser to view the newspaper's taped video of the interview.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid44929925001?bctid=71703655001