Howard Firth Is A Prisoner
Son of Sioux City Couple Held by Japs in the Philippines
Howard Firth, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Firth, 408 S. Rustin Street, is a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands; the navy department has notified his wife at San Diego.
It was the first word received of the sailor, a chief machinist’s mate, since he was reported missing last May 16.
“The navy department,” the message to Mrs. Firth said, “is in receipt of a cablegram from the International Red Cross office in Tokyo stating that your husband, Howard Firth, chief machinist’s mate, is being held as a prisoner in the Philippine Island.”
Mr. Firth enlisted in the navy after leaving Sioux City about 11 years ago. He was a master machinist on the United States ship Sea Lion when it was scuttled by American forces at Corregidor to keep it from falling into Japanese hands. His parents said they believed he was with the forces on Bataan and with the survivors who surrendered with Gen. Wainwright when Corregidor fell.
Mrs. Firth was the former Sarah Porter of Sioux City. Her parents also are in California.
Mr. and Mrs. Firth are parents of a son, 2 years old in June, whom the father has not seen.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 20, 1943
Howard Risdale Firth was born Oct. 15, 1913 to George A. and Maud B. Willey Firth. He died Aug. 9, 1942 and has a cenotaph in Graceland Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA and is buried in Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.
Chief Petty Officer Firth served with the U.S. Navy aboard the submarine USS Sealion (SS-195) and became a Japanese POW and died as a POW at Cabanatuan Prison Camp #3 in the Philippine Islands. He was awarded the POW Medal and Purple Heart.
Sources: ancestry.com; abmc.gov; oneternalpatrol website
