As a teenager, helping our mother prepare the altar at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, I was so moved by the inscription on a set of flower vases that read “ To The Glory of God, In Loving Memory of 1st Lieutenant Carl F. Rhodes of Bataan March of Death, Cabanatuan, Who Died From Starvation January 28, 1945”.
I wondered about this man memorialized at church. I knew that his mother was Frances E. Rhodes for whom the library was named. Mrs. Rhodes was also the head of the local Red Cross during WWII.
His father, Alfred E. Rhodes was the head chemist at the Mill. When Mr and Mrs. Rhodes emigrated from England, Mr. Rhodes worked for the Hind & Harrison Plush Company which , in 1943 became The Clark Mills Company.
Lt. Rhodes was somewhat of a mystery to me, but then , in 2018, Walt Ellis, a member of the Society, brought in a journal or diary of sorts, that he found in the attic of his house. This is one of the most interesting finds imaginable for a historical society.
This journal, which had “Alfred E. Rhodes” name imprinted on the front was apparently given to Winifred Puls ( later Snyder) by her boss, Mr. Rhodes. She was the secretary of the dye department of which he was the head. She kept this, daily, for the entire year of 1945!! ( Minus just a few empty pages). It was a journal of life at the mill, updates on war news, family schedule, local news (births, deaths, etc.) A yearlong glance at the life of Clark Mills.
In reading through, I realized that it was also a first hand account of the heartbreaking journey that Alfred, his family and his co-worker took to find out what had become of their beloved son in a Japanese prison camp.
Carl Rhodes was a 1938 graduate of Cornell University where he received his degree in engineering. He was also a member of the R.O.T.C. while at Cornell. Upon graduation, he was employed by Revere Copper and Brass, Inc. until called to service in Feb.1941. He entered the US Army and served with the 252nd Signal Construction Company( Philippine Scouts) in the Philippines. He was taken prisoner following the Japanese invasion and was a prisoner during the Bataan Death March in April 1942. He was declared missing in action, but his parents were later notified that he was a Japanese POW. They later received several letters from him saying that he was in Philippine Prison Camp #1 in Cabanatuan. The journey begins:
Winifred (Winnie) refers to Mr. Rhodes as “AER”in her journal entries. She refers to herself as “WP”.
Jan. 17, 1945: “AER received from Carl saying ‘I’m optimistic . Love to Billy, Keith, Mother, Dad and all my friends.’ Letter dated July 14, 1944. Carl is in Phillipine Prison Camp #1 at Cabanatuan”.
The journal notes that “US forces under MacArthur about 33 miles from Cabanatuan.”
Jan.18, 1945: “AER all aglow. Just told us the news of Carl recorded(as prisoner) dated Jan. 17, 1945. Says last word before this 2 printed cards at Christmas 1943 which were dated 9 months previous(approx April 1943).”
Jan. 30, 1945: “MacArthur announces ranger squad recaptured our prisoners of war in Cabanatuan in Camps #1 and #3.”
Feb.1, 1945: ”Radio announced capture of Prison Camps #1 & #3 in Cabanatuan. Carl Rhodes was last known to be in #1.”
Feb. 9, 1945: “Tonight’s paper contained picture of US prisoners captured(escued) at Cabanatuan. Man in foreground resembles Carl Rhodes.” Feb. 13, 1945: “AER attended meeting of Parents of Prisoners of War at Utica. Came home disgusted.”
Feb. 19, 1945: “AER rec’d word this noon from the Philippines asst of the Red Cross that he could write to Carl direct instead of as a POW.”
Mar. 6, 1945: “ AER sent registered letter to Washington Adjutant General of US Forces requesting him to send a telegram to Carl and to send Carl’s answer to AER.”
Apr. 2, 1945: “AER very upset- we think it’s concern of Carl’s whereabouts.” Apr. 4, 1945: “AER says he is fine now after his nervous upset Sun. & Mon.” Apr. 18, 1945: “WP brought newspaper clipping & picture of 1st Lt. Frank H. Burgess, a prisoner for 34 months at Cabanatuan P.C. after serving on Bataan and
Corregidor who is now at Rhoads Gen. Hosp in Utica.AER pleased & will try to contact Lt. Burgess to learn if he has any info on Carl. AER left at 4:15pm to go to Rhoads Hosp.”
Apr. 19, 1945: “AER rushing to get thru-left @ 1:30pm. Had an appt to see Lt. Burgess @ 2pm at Rhoads. AER returned @4:15pm. Did not see Lt. Burgess, but did talk with Cpt. Burke who was with Carl 30 months tho not exactly with Carl’s group. They visited and he told AER that Carl was physically well all the time & did not get malaria so distributed malaria pills(AER had sent to fellows who needed them, by consent of the chaplain & men in charge. Carl was taken off the islands with others who were physically fit & sent to Japan. Capt. Burke told AER that Carl was not on the boat that went down as Capt Burke knew there were 14 officers & he knew all the names. At least AER has rec’d a little enlightenment as Cap’t. Burke says he has official information that all prisoners in Japan are being treated well to be used in bringing peace terms.”
Apr. 23, 1945: “WP noticed how it affected AER seeing another soldier & seeing him go in and out & realizing that Carl cannot get home or any assurity of his safety.”
May 24, 1945: “AER had official word from Lt. Col. who is in charge of all signal corps divisions of the Far East. He was with Carl @ Bataan, Mariveles(Philippines) , Cabanatuan & escaped from Cabanatuan. He says he has on good authority on which he can say Carl is in Formosa, but does not know which camp, but likely the officers camp with Wainwright. Carl is well in health & good spirits.”
May 31, 1945: “AER had 3 letters returned from Philippine Prison Camp#1 marked ’unknown’. These had been sent to Carl & are the 2nd lot to be returned. He says he will not tell Mrs. Rhodes about these.
Sadly, we can imagine the enormous stress the family was under. John Berger, who lived next to St. Mark’s has said that he would see Mrs. Rhodes go into the church daily to pray.
Aug. 31, 1945: “At 4pm, AER received message that a cable message concerning Carl had been rec’d and Mrs. Rhoads wished for AER to come home. A gov’t official met him at C.M.Co. and took him home. Jeane phoned Winifred to say the gov’t official said that Carl was dead.”
Sept. 1, 1945: “ Surrender of Japan . Announce- official V-J Day”
Sept. 13, 1945: “AER rec’d card from Carl. One written before he died.” Sept. 21, 1945: “AER got 4 photostatic copies of letter verifying the death of Carl Rhodes on Jan. 28, 1945.”
Oct. 5, 1945: “AER telling WP of plan to take 6 months leave of absence to go around the world including South Africa, to Japan to locate Carl’s grave then to England to see his brother’s and sisters.”
Oct. 9, 1945: “AER rec’d phone call from Rhoads Gen. Hosp for a man who was in camp with Carl so AER left at noon to see him.
Nov. 5, 1945: “AER went to Rhoads Hosp. to see Mr._____, retired veteran from Philippines. He said Carl was on the ship with him going to Japan, but wasn’t with him when he got to Japan so presumed he died on route.
Nov. 20, 1945: “ AER saw man @ Rhoads Hosp. today who said he talked with Carl 15 min before he died & was one of the men who buried him at sea. They were all on Jap hosp. Ship that was bombed by MacArthur’s men.” That was the last written in this journal from 1945.As you can see, this was a heartbreaking journey for Carl’s family and we thank Winnie for her foresight to record the daily life in Clark Mills. Our hearts go out to the Rhodes family.
An article from a local newspaper from February, 1946 had an article on Lt Carl. Rhodes. The last paragraph states: “ S/Sgt. Thomas C. O’Shea wrote ‘ He was my lieutenant and I worshipped him. He spoke to the men as courteously as he spoke to officers and never asked any man to do anything he would not do himself.’ S/Sgt. Anthony D. Marangiello adds: ‘We knew him when the going was tough as a soldier, a gentleman and a friend. He was never too busy, too tired or too sick to help the other guy. He always shared what little he had. We shall never forget him.”
Carl Rhodes was just 29 years old when he died. In addition to his parents, he was survived by his brothers E. Keith Rhodes and Wilfred E. Rhodes.
