POW Notification and Condolences

Correspondence between the government and the widow of MAJ James J O'Donovan

Letter to Jim's mother, notifying her of his injury on Jan 19, 1941

Letter to Jim's Wife, letting her know he has been returned to duty.

Notice to wife of James O'Donovan, notifying her he has become a POW of the Japanese.

Notice to Mrs O'Donovan that her husband has died as a POW of the Japanese.

Official Letter from the Army providing details of the death of MAJ O'Donovan

After 10 years, the attempt to identify the remains of MAJ O'Donovan is given up.

Correspondence between MAJ O'Donovan's friends and the widow of MAJ O'Donovan

Lt Col Donald G Thompson, Then Captain, was at the forefront of all the same action as Major O'Donovan, testified against the Japanese after the war, and his writings after the war are quoted extensively by authors writing about Bataan and the fall of the Philippines.

Sergeant Abie Abraham, following the war spent 2 years leading the effort to recover the remains of fallen soldiers and prisoners of war in the Philippines. He authored 2 books which are well known in the genre of historical books covering WW2 in the Philippines. Sergeant Abraham was in Company C, 1st Battalion, which was first command for Major O'Donovan in early August 1941. They were well acquainted with each other.Abie Abraham - Obituary #1Abie Abraham - Obituary #2Abie Abraham's Website

A copy of a letter from Edwin Jenson to Capt. Frank Brown in reference to Maj J.J. O'Donovan. This letter was written to answer a request for information posted in a Ex POW Newsletter called "Chit Chat", edited by Ray O'Day. What follows is the request for information and then the answer to the request.

CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM LA SALLE MILITARY ACADEMY (LONG ISLAND, NY) TO WIDOW OF JAMES O’DONOVAN - Transcript follows after these images

July 5,1943

My Dear Mrs. O’Donovan,

This morning’s “New York Times” brought me the sad news of Jim’s demise. May I offer to you, to Jim’s mother, and to your bereaved family, my sincere and heartfelt condolences in your almost overburdening sorrow. Our prayers for the happy repose of Jim’s indomitable soul will storm the heavens in humble petition to the God he loved and served. The Christian Brothers, like myself who worked with Jim, know that they too have lost one of God’s noblemen on earth. Words can’t express either our affection for Jim or our deep sorrow of his untimely end. May the Lord of Battle strengthen you and yours in your supreme hour of what surely must be extreme anguish.

If, in the future, you hear of any news concerning Jim before he gave his all for this country’s cause on June 30th, I should appreciate hearing of it.

To you, Mrs. O’Donovan, and to all near and dear to you, I proffer my sincere condolences and my continued prayers for the one you loved so dearly,

Sincerely Brother Amedy John

A letter from Maj DJ Rees to Jim's Mother Lula after the war. Mr Rees was in the dental corps of the american forces in Bataan.

A letter from Major D.J. Rees to Lt. Col. Charles B Plumley, probably a family friend of the O'Donovans. Mr Plumley served in WW1 and Died in Cohoes. I'm assuming he was part of the National Guard in the same town as Jim O'Donovan.

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