After we had stolen 75 of these chickens the Japanese
 
noted their losses. Thereafter we had to work with infinitely
 
more guile, for we knew that, if caught, we would be punished with
 
a severity ranging from a mere flogging to death by torture.
 
     Some of these chickens we ate at the noon meal we cooked
 
for ourselves while working in the coffee plantation, dividing
 
them with the older officers in our work party. Others we traded
 
for quinine, sulfa drugs and any other article which we considered 
 
might be useful on our trip through the jungle and onward to
 
Australia.
 
Commander McCoy:
-----------------------
 
     In early March, our plans were given an entirely new
 
twist. At that time Mellnik and I were approached by Captain
 
A. C. Shofner, United States Marine Corps. Shofner reported that
 
he and five other Army and Marine Corps officers were planning an
 
escape. They would like me to take charge, if I so desired.
 
     Captain Shofner' s party was headed by himself and
 
Captain W. E. Dyess, the famous Bataan ace. (Both Officers have
 
since been promoted.) In addition, there were two other Marine
 
Corps officers, First Lieutenants Jack Hawkins and Michael
 
Dobervich; and two other Army officers, Second Lieutenants Samuel
 
Grashio, who had flown with Dyess oh Bataan, and L. A. Boelens.
 
     Our two groups now merged, and we added to our party
 
two Filipino convicts who were serving time for murder,
 
Beningno de la Cruz and Victorio Jumprung.
 
               - 70 -