Soldiers Prisoners on Philippines Isles
WASHINGTON (AP)—Seven Iowans today were listed by the War Department as held by the Japanese as prisoners of war in the Philippines Islands.
They were:
Pvt. John Czako, Mrs. Rose Hansen, sister, Route 3, Iowa Falls;
Pvt. Frank Devivo, Mrs. Mary A. Devivo, mother, 2301 8th ave., Council Bluffs;
Pvt. John F. Diaz, Baldo Diaz, father, Fort Madison;
Pvt. Ray L. Foster, Mrs. Louise Foster, Buffalo;
Pfc. Pierre B. Joice, Mrs. Margaret Joice, mother, West Des Moines;
Pfc. Mathias M. Ruba, Mrs. Lena Ruba, mother, Route 1, LeMars.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, March 12, 1943
Prisoner Boxes Arrive in Japan
Basil O’Connor’s announcement that the American Red Cross supplies for prisoners have arrived a Kobe, Japan, from Nakhodka, a soviet port 100 miles east of Vladivostok, comes as good news to relatives of 12 of the men who are prisoners of the Japanese from this area.
Of the 12 prisoners of war in this area, eight are from Council Bluffs. They are: Capt. Albert Neir Brown, Pvt. Earl E. Briggs, Don W. Butler, Pvt. Frank H. Devivo, Pfc. Frank Ruba, Sgt. Alan A. Sydow, Cpl. Edward E. Tripp, and Pfc. George L. Wood.
The southwestern Iowans include Sgt. Orville James Cain of Carson, Sgt. Charles F. Caster of Underwood, Clyde R. Miller of Macedonia, and Morse I. Rowe of Oakland.
The cargo reported to have reached its destination contains food, medicines, clothing, and some recreational supplies is valued at $1,500,000.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpariel, November 26, 1944
Devivo Released From Jap Prison
Pvt. Frank H. Devivo, a Japanese prisoner since the fall of Corregidor, May 7, 1942, has been released and is on his way home, according to a telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Devivo, Friday, and letter from Pvt. Devivo Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Devivo live at 2310 Eighth avenue.
In the letter written Sept. 20 to his parents, Pvt. Devivo said: “I am on my way home right now. Do not worry about me. I am well, though I was sick two weeks ago.”
He is on a hospital ship and expects to reach the United States in October.
Enlisting in the Army in September, 1940, Pvt. Devivo was sent to the Philippines immediately following his basic training and was stationed there when he was captured.
“I have been in Japan the last 8 months,” he wrote. “I received your cards and letters last year before leaving for Japan. Last winter was very cold there.”
Pvt. Devivo attended the Holy Family school.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, September 30, 1945
LIBERATED
Pvt. Frank H. Devivo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Devivo, 2301 Eighth avenue, has been liberated from a prison camp in Japan and is sailing to the United States in a hospital ship.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, October 2, 1945 (photo included)
Devivo-Ellis Wedding
Feb. 16 Announced
Miss Doris Ellis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Ellis, was married to Sgt. Frank H. Devivo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nickolas Devivo on Feb. 16. The ceremony was in St. Benedict’s church at Kansas City, Kan.
For the double ring ceremony the bride wore a lime green suit and black accessories. Sgt. and Mrs. Devivo have returned to Council Bluffs from a wedding trip to San Antonio, Tex.
Mrs. Devivo is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson high school and has been working in Omaha. Sgt. Devivo attended Holy Family school and entered the Army in 1940. He was a prisoner of the Japanese for 39 months.
On Saturday Sgt. Devivo left for San Antonio where he will report for discharge at Fort Sam Houston.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, March 3, 1946
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Frank Harold DeVivo
29 Aug 1921
01 Dec 2012
[partial text from his obituary]
"When he was 18, he joined the US Army and was sent to the Philippines Islands after basic training. He was due to come back to the states, when on December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Frank was on the island of Corregidor, where they held out for 6 months without any additional rations or ammunition and finally were forced to surrender to the Japanese, May 8, 1942. Among his many awards and medals are the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, American Defense Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Philippines Defense Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Asiatic Pacific Theater with two Bronze Stars."
Burial:
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Pottawattamie County
