Benigno G. Tabora
Encyclopedia
Benigno G. Tabora was an American
veteran
of both World War II
and the Korean War
. Tabora was one of the last of an increasingly dwindling group of veterans who survived the Bataan Death March
in May 1942 after the Japanese captured the Philippines during World War II
. He spent eight months as a prisoner of war
in a Japanese internment camp. Tabora served in the military intelligence
during his 31 years in the Army.
on November 20, 1915, to parents Benigno and Felipe (deGuzman) Tabora. He joined the United States Army
when he was 21 years old and served as a Philippine Scout
. He quickly rose up the ranks to become a unit commander
in the 81st Infantry Brigade
.
in April 1942, in which hundreds of other prisoners died. For the following eight months, Tabora was held as a POW at the Camp O'Donnell
internment camp at the end of the Bataan Death March. Tabora was starved and tortured by the Japanese soldiers who guarded the POW camp. Tabora was stabbed with a bayonet
and beaten with rifle butt
s when nine of his men escaped the camp. Japanese soldiers also held Tabora's head in water as a form of torture.
The abuse and torture took its toll. At the worst point in the camp, Tabora weighed less than ninety pounds and lost nearly all his hair. Tabora later wrote of his experience in the camp, "I planned to escape several times but my physical condition prevented me from doing so."
Tabora's brother, as well as his commanders and many of his men from his regiment
, died as a result of the Baatan Death March and the maltreatment in the POW camp.
Tabora managed to make his way out of the camp. He was later commissioned as a United States Army officer
for fighting the Japanese behind enemy lines. Tabora was later promoted to captain by the time he left the army after the war.
. However, after the torture he experienced during World War II as a POW, he promised himself that he would never be taken prisoner again. When Tabora's unit landed in Inchon, Korea, he reportedly saved one bullet
, intending to take his own life if he was captured in combat
. Fortunately there were no U.S. casualties during the Inchon landing and Tabora was never captured.
Tabora took a position with the Cutler Hospital in Fort Devens
. He moved to Leominster, Massachusetts
, and remained a resident of the area for over forty years.
Massachusetts veterans groups tried in vain to have Tabora awarded the Purple Heart
for the injuries he sustained as a POW. However their requests were turned down. Tabora, himself, never asked for the award. He remained active in veterans organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the Disabled American Veterans
.
, on February 17, 2008. He was survived by his wife, Mae T. (Fontaine) Tabora. The couple had been married for 32 years. His first wife, Emelia Caranto, died in 1974. Tabora was also survived by four children - Cara, Merlene, Elden and Napolean - and two stepdaughters, Gail and Linda.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
of both World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Tabora was one of the last of an increasingly dwindling group of veterans who survived the Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
in May 1942 after the Japanese captured the Philippines during World War II
Japanese occupation of the Philippines
The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was the period in the history of the Philippines between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied the previously American-controlled Philippines during World War II....
. He spent eight months as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in a Japanese internment camp. Tabora served in the military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
during his 31 years in the Army.
Early life
Tabora was born in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on November 20, 1915, to parents Benigno and Felipe (deGuzman) Tabora. He joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
when he was 21 years old and served as a Philippine Scout
Philippine Scouts
The Philippine Scouts was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until the end of World War II. Made up of native Filipinos assigned to the United States Army Philippine Department, these troops were generally enlisted and under the command of American officers, however, a...
. He quickly rose up the ranks to become a unit commander
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
in the 81st Infantry Brigade
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team (United States)
The 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team is a modular brigade of the United States Army National Guard based in Washington and California and is subordinate to the 40th Infantry Division.-Current Composition:...
.
World War II
Tabora and thousands of other American servicemen were captured by the Japanese following the outbreak World War II and the occupation of the Philippines. Tabora survived the infamous Bataan Death MarchBataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
in April 1942, in which hundreds of other prisoners died. For the following eight months, Tabora was held as a POW at the Camp O'Donnell
Camp O'Donnell
Camp O'Donnell was a facility of the United States Air Force in Capas, Tarlac, The Philippines. Before the facility was transferred to the Air Force, it was first a Philippine Constabulary post then a United States Army facility....
internment camp at the end of the Bataan Death March. Tabora was starved and tortured by the Japanese soldiers who guarded the POW camp. Tabora was stabbed with a bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
and beaten with rifle butt
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
s when nine of his men escaped the camp. Japanese soldiers also held Tabora's head in water as a form of torture.
The abuse and torture took its toll. At the worst point in the camp, Tabora weighed less than ninety pounds and lost nearly all his hair. Tabora later wrote of his experience in the camp, "I planned to escape several times but my physical condition prevented me from doing so."
Tabora's brother, as well as his commanders and many of his men from his regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
, died as a result of the Baatan Death March and the maltreatment in the POW camp.
Tabora managed to make his way out of the camp. He was later commissioned as a United States Army officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
for fighting the Japanese behind enemy lines. Tabora was later promoted to captain by the time he left the army after the war.
Korean War
Tabora re-enlisted in the Army at the start of the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. However, after the torture he experienced during World War II as a POW, he promised himself that he would never be taken prisoner again. When Tabora's unit landed in Inchon, Korea, he reportedly saved one bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
, intending to take his own life if he was captured in combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
. Fortunately there were no U.S. casualties during the Inchon landing and Tabora was never captured.
Late life
Tabora remained in the Army following the Korean War. He retired from active duty in 1968 with the rank of Sergeant Major. Tabora spent a total of 31 years in the Army.Tabora took a position with the Cutler Hospital in Fort Devens
Fort Devens
Fort Devens is an active United States military installation in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens. The nearby Devens Reserve Forces Training Area is...
. He moved to Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
, and remained a resident of the area for over forty years.
Massachusetts veterans groups tried in vain to have Tabora awarded the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
for the injuries he sustained as a POW. However their requests were turned down. Tabora, himself, never asked for the award. He remained active in veterans organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
and the Disabled American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...
.
Death
Benigno Tabora died of an illness at the Life Care Center of Acton in Acton, MassachusettsActon, Massachusetts
Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,924 at the 2010 census...
, on February 17, 2008. He was survived by his wife, Mae T. (Fontaine) Tabora. The couple had been married for 32 years. His first wife, Emelia Caranto, died in 1974. Tabora was also survived by four children - Cara, Merlene, Elden and Napolean - and two stepdaughters, Gail and Linda.