I took this picture on the Creek-Muscogee Nation in 2007. An American Hero. A Bataan Death March survivor. CPL Phillip Coon and his lovely wife Helen, with the voice of an angel. His son to the left and grand son to the right. He and his family were loved by the Rolling Thunder family. They will be missed. Farewell my friend. Phillip W. Coon, born May 28, 1919, departed on his final journey last night, Monday, June 23, and is now with his beloved Helen who called him home. Now they both sit in the seat next to our Lord. Phillip is a 95 yr. old WWII veteran and a full-blood Muscogee Creek born into the Alligator Clan of the Nuyaka Tribal Town. After graduating from Haskell Institute, Lawrence, KS, in September of 1941, Phillip volunteered for overseas duty with the U.S. Army. PFC Phillip William Coon was assigned to 31st Infantry Regiment (Polar Bears) and sent immediately to the Philippines aboard the USAT Willard A. Holbrook arriving on October 23, 1941. At Fort McKinley he trained with the 4th Squad, H Company, 31st Infantry Regiment as a .30 caliber machine gunner (M1919 Browning). At the age of 23, he fought on Bataan Peninsula against the invading Japanese forces but was captured by the Japanese Army in April of 1942. Bataan Death March: In April 1942, more than 66,000 Filipinos and 11,796 Americans surrendered to the Japanese and were forced to endure a 65-mile march where thousands died en route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton execution. Many were eventually placed in transports known as hell ships and if they survived, they confronted slave labor in Japan. Forced on the infamous 65-mile Bataan Death March, Phillip was subjected to capricious cruelty and abuse, denied water, food, rest and protection from the sun. Nearly all on the March had surrendered sick and malnourished causing thousands to die before they reached their destination of Camp O’Donnell. Phillip credits his survival to God, or as he said, “We ran out of food, ammunition and men, but we didnt run out of prayer.” His first POW Camp was Camp O’Donnell where he worked burial detail. For the next two years, he was held at Cabanatuan, Camp Lipa-Batangas, Camp Murphy-Rizal, and Bilibid. On October 1, 1944, he was shipped via Hong Kong on the Hellship Hokusen Maru to Taiwan where he was held briefly at the Inrin Temporary POW Camp. From Taiwan he was sent to Moji, Japan, via the Hellship Melbourne Maru arriving January 23, 1945. He was then shipped north to Sendai and became a slave laborer mining copper for Fujita Gumi Kosaka Kozan at the Sendai-#8B Kosaka POW Camp. Phillip credits his faith in God and the faith of others with helping him to survive. After his liberation in September 1945, he returned to the U.S. and was discharged from service as a Corporal on June 24, 1946. He returned home to work as a Union Painter doing high-scaffold work. He was a commercial painter by trade. Helen, his wife of 67 years, died March 2013. In October 2013, after 70 years, Phillip received the Prisoner of War Medal, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge. Phillip had just returned from a trip from Japan where he was a guest of the Government of Japan as part of an American POW delegation intended to improve relations and a path for reconciliation with victims, promoting understanding and healing. Six members of the Muscogee Creek Nation became prisoners of Japan on the Philippines: five from Corregidor and Mr. Coon who was on Bataan. The family crisscrossed the country regularly for Veterans events where he was given much attention but Phillip always remained humble. Although he went many years not talking about his experiences during the war, he enjoyed telling his story of hope and perseverance talking to young people and veterans to overcome adversity and about the need to have a strong mind and continue on even when it’s hard. He always thanked the Lord for watching over him. The family thanks you for your prayers. Wake: Thursday, June 26 - 7:00p.@ First Baptist Church, 311 W. 5th St., Okmulgee, OK Services: Friday, June 27 - 10:00a. @ First Baptist Church, 311 W. 5th St., Okmulgee, OK Interment to follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery Reception: TBA Funeral arrangements are under direction of Smith Funeral Home, 1208 So. Main, Sapulpa, OK Condolence/cards may be sent to: Coon Family 1431 Forest Street Sapulpa, OK 74067-2292
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:38:08 +0000
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