Forbidden Diary: True WWII Prison Survival Story
[NEW: To see the faces behind the characters' voices, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast]
Audio-drama based on a WWII diary written by Natalie Crouter during her internment in a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines.
Three weeks after the first bombings of the Philippines on December 8, 1941, Natalie, her family, and 500 civilians were marched at gunpoint to a deserted U.S. military post (Season One: 1941). Thus began their survival story of body and mind from 1942 to 1945. Under the watchful eyes of Japanese guards, the prisoners set up their own society while constantly scrounging for food—often aided by heroic Filipinos. Japanese commandants and homesick soldiers filtered in and out of camp as guerrillas on the outside fought to take back the Philippines. The camp commandants were civilians plucked from town, a remarkable Japanese officer who saves the internees' lives, and a vicious, demoted lieutenant. Natalie’s diary is a fascinating, real-life view of wartime captivity and a gripping tale of courage, tenacity, and hope.
The original art, entitled "The Double Fence," was drawn by Fern Harrington Miles in 1942. To read about Fern and other prison artists interned with Natalie Crouter, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-artist-credits.
Forbidden Diary: True WWII Prison Survival Story
1943 - Episode 20 Epilogue: Interview with MacArthur Memorial Archivist
Archivist and historian Jim Zobel tells riveting stories about what was going on outside of Camp Holmes during the last half of 1943. Jim talks about MacArthur’s covert operations to rescue civilians, keep Filipinos on the side of the Americans, and destroy the Japanese occupation economy. Zobel offers insights into why the guards at Camp Holmes thought Japan was losing the War as early as 1943 and which rumors circulating around Camp were actually true.
SEASON FOUR, PART 1 is coming this July with these new episodes:
Episode 21: Heroic Medicine
Episode 22: Back to the Bad Old Days
Episode 23: Internment-itus
Episode 24: No Good Deed
Episode 25: Consequences
Episode 26: Going Underground
Episode 27: The Wise Prince
You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen-1943.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.