Forbidden Diary: True WWII Prison Survival Story
[NEW: To see the faces behind the characters' voices, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast] Audio-drama based on a WWII diary written by Natalie Crouter during her internment in a Japanese prison camp in the Philippines. Three weeks after the first bombings of the Philippines on December 8, 1941, Natalie, her family, and 500 civilians were marched at gunpoint to a deserted U.S. military post (Season One: 1941). Thus began their survival story of body and mind from 1942 to 1945. Under the watchful eyes of Japanese guards, the prisoners set up their own society while constantly scrounging for food—often aided by heroic Filipinos. Japanese commandants and homesick soldiers filtered in and out of camp as guerrillas on the outside fought to take back the Philippines. The camp commandants were civilians plucked from town, a remarkable Japanese officer who saves the internees' lives, and a vicious, demoted lieutenant. Natalie’s diary is a fascinating, real-life view of wartime captivity and a gripping tale of courage, tenacity, and hope. The original art, entitled "The Double Fence," was drawn by Fern Harrington Miles in 1942. To read about Fern and other prison artists interned with Natalie Crouter, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-artist-credits.
Episodes
Listen to the prologue if you want to hear about the background of the book, "Forbidden Diary," upon which this audio drama is based.
NEW! You can view the book upon which this audio drama is based by clicking See Picture at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen.
Includes all six episodes in Season One without the openings and recaps. Does not include epilogues.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
It’s December 1941, and the Philippines is in Japan’s crosshairs. They’ve invaded China, Korea, and French Indochina. Will the Philippines be next? If so, when? In the town of Baguio, nestled in the mountains on the Philippine Island of Luzon, Jerry and Natalie Crouter wait and watch along with everyone else, wondering what’s going to happen next.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
Jerry and Natalie see the first bombing of the Philippines from their back door, but no one downtown seems to know about it. Soon the situation becomes all too real for everyone as the Japanese continue to bomb Baguio. Jerry hears disconcerting news about Clark Field.
NEW! You can view drawings by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the description of this episode at www.storiestovoice.com/...
On December 8, how did Japan cripple America a second time after Pearl Harbor? Listen to an intimate, hour-by-hour timeline of how General Douglas MacArthur reacted.
The U.S. and Japan are at war and anything can happen. As bombings continue, the Crouters turn their radio’s dial hoping to hear news of help from the mainland. Jerry’s new air-raid shelter becomes a hub for exchanging news and rumors.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
Eighty Japanese warships have reached Lingayen Gulf only 18 miles away! Natalie and Jerry watch their last source of income go up in smoke. Carl calls in the early morning to tell the Crouters that they have two hours to decide whether to stay or leave Baguio.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
While Natalie is hopeful that the U.S. will arrive any day to rescue the Philippines, a much different scenario is playing out in Washington, DC.
The invasion phase has begun. Nida leaves Baguio while the Crouters move to Brent School and wait for the enemy to arrive. During the turmoil, Ismael and Jerry have a heart-to-heart talk, and Natalie honors a vow.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
The Imperial Japanese Army has raised the Rising Sun flag over Baguio City Hall. Soldiers are freeing Japanese civilians and capturing Americans and Allies. At Brent School, the Crouters and other civilian prisoners are forced onto the school’s tennis court to hear relocation orders from a freed Japanese civilian standing on a table with a machine gun at his side.
NEW! You can view Natalie's original diary entry and a...
From age 13 to 16, Curt Brooks and his family were interned in Manila at Santo Tomas prison. In this first of three interviews, 96-year-old Curt gives a first-hand account of living in Manila during the pre-war years of the 1930s, December 8, and the events leading up to his family’s internment.
Includes all seven episodes in Season Two without the openings and recaps. Does not include epilogues.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen-1942.
To see the Forbidden Diary cast, go to www.storiestovoice.com/fd-cast.
Natalie and her family are interned in Camp John Hay. The Imperial Army appoints a local carpenter to camp commandant. Japanese soldiers and civilians steal from the prisoners. As hunger and dysentery spread through the camp, the internees find ways to survive.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoic...
Babies are born in the Camp John Hay barracks. Nida and Ismael persevere in Baguio under Imperial Japanese rule. The prisoners put on a show ending with surprise gifts from Nakamura. Interned missionaries are taken into Baguio for interrogation by the dreaded Kempeitai.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.stor...
Jim Zobel, archivist at the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, talks about the museum’s fascinating civilian POW artifacts. The MacArthur historian and author explains why Natalie believed that America was coming to the rescue and what was really happening--why MacArthur's troops retreated to Bataan and MacArthur went to Corregidor. In this fascinating interview, Zobel also describes what life was like under Japanese occupati...
Nakamura pontificates about American women, and the women make observations about him. All but one of the imprisoned missionaries are released. The Camp John Hay internees move to Camp Holmes. A Chinese internee is tortured.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen-1942.
To see...
Nida and Ismael offer the Crouters more help. The prisoners get to know the soldiers who cycle through the camp. A secret radio is installed in the camp hospital. June addresses inequities among prisoners. Nakamura gives the prisoners parting gifts.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-li...
Jim Zobel describes how General Douglas MacArthur escaped to Australia and Japan took Corregidor. In a lively discussion the archivist explains how shortly after all of these defeats Americans and Filipinos started the fight to take back the Philippines. Hear compelling stories about the Fall of Singapore, the Doolittle Raid, Midway and Guadalcanal. Zobel ties it all together making you want to hear more.
On September 30,...
As typhoon season begins Jerry is brought in for questioning. Nida and Ismael talk about guerrilla insurgencies. Natalie gets a tour of the camp's shop, a special gift, and called to the guard house.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen-1942.
To see the Forbidden Dia...
Bullets fly around Baguio and Camp Holmes as Filipino and Igorot guerrillas attack the Japanese. Natalie worries about Jerry’s depression. Additional co-mingling restrictions increase sexual tensions.
NEW! You can view paintings and sketches drawn by people who were interned with Natalie by clicking See Pictures under the episode descriptions at www.storiestovoice.com/fd-listen-1942.
To see the Forbidden Diary c...
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