A Decorated American POW from Stafford Receives Apology after All these Years

Sen. Guglielmo and Cpl. Darrell Stark at a reception in Stafford honoring the former POW for his sacrifice to the country.

In his early 20’s he was a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II. Recently this Stafford resident was flown to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government and accepted a formal apology from that government. He was also honored at a reception at the American Embassy in Tokyo, hosted by Ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

Cpl. Darrell Stark receiving a formal apology from the Japanese during a recent trip to that country for atrocities he suffered during the Battle of Bataan during WW2. (courtesy: Congressman Joe Courtney)

He is Darrell Stark from Stafford. Too many in the community – Darrell is a hero and a true American patriot.

As a Corporal in the United States Army, Darrell Stark was taken as a prison of war on The Philippines. Eventually Stark was sent on what can only be described as a “hellship” to Japan to be a slave laborer at a copper foundry. He was then part of the of the infamous Bataan death march.
Thousands of Filipinos and hundreds of Americans died on the 60 mile march. Historians say many prisoners suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of the Japanese soldiers. And those who survived were eventually loaded onto a box train that was not ventilated and exposed to disease. Astonishingly, there were Americans who escaped the Imperial Japanese by blending in with the civilians living in the countryside.
The Japanese General in charge was arrested after the war by Allied troops and indicted for “brutal atrocities and other high crimes.” This general was sentenced to death by firing squad and executed. At least seven other generals from the Japanese Army were also indicted for mistreating prisoners of war (POW) and were executed by hanging.

Nearly 70 years later, Darrell Stark and several other POW’s from this era were hosted by the Japanese and received a Cabinet approved apology. Their trip was part of an ongoing reconciliation process that began in 2010 when the Japanese government delivered to the first American POW delegation an official apology for the damage and suffering they endured. As of May 2012 there were 60 survivors of the Bataan Death March alive in the United States.

The town of Stafford, the state of Connecticut and many family and friends recently honored Corporal Stark at Basil’s restaurant in Stafford, for his courage and patriotism. Over time Corporal Stark has earned 17 medals including the Purple Heart for wounds received in Bataan, the Liberation Medal, Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in ground combat World War II.

As a civilian Stark had a 20 year career as a corrections officer/warden for the state Department of Corrections. He was also a teacher in residence at the National Prisoner of War Museum and often lectures to students in schools about his experience. He regularly meets with combat veterans from all of our wars to discuss and help them with their posttraumatic stress. Stark has also written a book entitled, My Journey as I Remember. In 2007 he was inducted into the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.

For his true dedication to the nation we should all thank Corporal Stark and remind ourselves how lucky we truly are to have witnessed bravery such as his.