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- 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.