Robert served in the South Pacific. He was imprisoned in the Philippine Islands, 06 May 1942.He fought and was captured in the Battle of the Philippines, specifically the final days in Corregidor. As a result of Japanese treatment however, during the first months of imprisonment, our men died at the rate of 30 to 50 per day. The 7,000 Americans from Corregidor fared better. They were crowded into a small open area for a week prior to going by boat to Manila, and were made to wade ashore before being paraded through the streets -- in order to make a more defeated impression. After a short stay at Old Bilibid prison, they were packed into freight cars and sent to Cabanatuan. The surviving Americans from O'Donnell soon joined them there. The cruel treatment and starvation and withhold of water brought up the death rate at Cabanatuan to about 50 a day. Skilled POW were moved to Japan to perform work for the Japanese. Source: PRISONERS OF WAR in the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Prepared by MID dated 20 September 1944 Official reports indicated that he was returned to Osaka Main Camp Chikko Osaka 34-135. His official record Osaka Main Camp Chikko near Osaka, Japan where 4,123 other American POWs were held. Robert's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 6, 1942, and the last report was made on September 7, 1945. Based on these two reports, Robert was imprisoned for at least 1,220 days (3 years and ~5 months), one of the longest durations of captivity recorded. Ultimately, Robert was returned to military control, liberated or repatriated.
Obituary
Robert P. McKechnie
REDMOND - Robert P. McKechnie, a resident of Central Oregon since 1978, died March 5, 1991 at his home. He was 71. Mr. McKechnie was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Tacoma, WA. to Robert and Avilda (Wesley) McKechnie. He married Jeannette Zech in Vancouver, WA. on Aug. 31, 1973.
He served in Marine Corps during World War II. From December 1941 to May 1942, he participated in the defense of the Philippines. He was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war from May 1942 to September: 1945. He also was wounded in action. He later served in the Army from July 13, 1948, to Aug. 19, 1949.
He had worked as a barber in Lake Oswego and later in Bend, retiring in 1967. He had lived in Roseburg before moving to Redmond in 1978. His hobbies included gardening, woodcarving, fly-tying and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette of Redmond; a son, Grady McKechnie; two daughters, Barbara Ford and Raynette Dyer; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Wesley, Alfred, Herbert and Eddie; and two sisters, Dorothy and Virginia Jean Wedenoja.
Source: The Philippine Defenders. The Quan News. 1993
Obituary
Robert P. McKechnie
REDMOND - Robert P. McKechnie, a resident of Central Oregon since 1978, died March 5, 1991 at his home. He was 71. Mr. McKechnie was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Tacoma, WA. to Robert and Avilda (Wesley) McKechnie. He married Jeannette Zech in Vancouver, WA. on Aug. 31, 1973.
He served in Marine Corps during World War II. From December 1941 to May 1942, he participated in the defense of the Philippines. He was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war from May 1942 to September: 1945. He also was wounded in action. He later served in the Army from July 13, 1948, to Aug. 19, 1949.
He had worked as a barber in Lake Oswego and later in Bend, retiring in 1967. He had lived in Roseburg before moving to Redmond in 1978. His hobbies included gardening, woodcarving, fly-tying and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette of Redmond; a son, Grady McKechnie; two daughters, Barbara Ford and Raynette Dyer; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Wesley, Alfred, Herbert and Eddie; and two sisters, Dorothy and Virginia Jean Wedenoja.
Source: The Philippine Defenders. The Quan News. 1993
Robert served in the South Pacific. He was imprisoned in the Philippine Islands, 06 May 1942.He fought and was captured in the Battle of the Philippines, specifically the final days in Corregidor. As a result of Japanese treatment however, during the first months of imprisonment, our men died at the rate of 30 to 50 per day. The 7,000 Americans from Corregidor fared better. They were crowded into a small open area for a week prior to going by boat to Manila, and were made to wade ashore before being paraded through the streets -- in order to make a more defeated impression. After a short stay at Old Bilibid prison, they were packed into freight cars and sent to Cabanatuan. The surviving Americans from O'Donnell soon joined them there. The cruel treatment and starvation and withhold of water brought up the death rate at Cabanatuan to about 50 a day. Skilled POW were moved to Japan to perform work for the Japanese. Source: PRISONERS OF WAR in the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS Prepared by MID dated 20 September 1944 Official reports indicated that he was returned to Osaka Main Camp Chikko Osaka 34-135. His official record Osaka Main Camp Chikko near Osaka, Japan where 4,123 other American POWs were held. Robert's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 6, 1942, and the last report was made on September 7, 1945. Based on these two reports, Robert was imprisoned for at least 1,220 days (3 years and ~5 months), one of the longest durations of captivity recorded. Ultimately, Robert was returned to military control, liberated or repatriated.
Obituary
Robert P. McKechnie
REDMOND - Robert P. McKechnie, a resident of Central Oregon since 1978, died March 5, 1991 at his home. He was 71. Mr. McKechnie was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Tacoma, WA. to Robert and Avilda (Wesley) McKechnie. He married Jeannette Zech in Vancouver, WA. on Aug. 31, 1973.
He served in Marine Corps during World War II. From December 1941 to May 1942, he participated in the defense of the Philippines. He was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war from May 1942 to September: 1945. He also was wounded in action. He later served in the Army from July 13, 1948, to Aug. 19, 1949.
He had worked as a barber in Lake Oswego and later in Bend, retiring in 1967. He had lived in Roseburg before moving to Redmond in 1978. His hobbies included gardening, woodcarving, fly-tying and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette of Redmond; a son, Grady McKechnie; two daughters, Barbara Ford and Raynette Dyer; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Wesley, Alfred, Herbert and Eddie; and two sisters, Dorothy and Virginia Jean Wedenoja.
Source: The Philippine Defenders. The Quan News. 1993
Obituary
Robert P. McKechnie
REDMOND - Robert P. McKechnie, a resident of Central Oregon since 1978, died March 5, 1991 at his home. He was 71. Mr. McKechnie was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Tacoma, WA. to Robert and Avilda (Wesley) McKechnie. He married Jeannette Zech in Vancouver, WA. on Aug. 31, 1973.
He served in Marine Corps during World War II. From December 1941 to May 1942, he participated in the defense of the Philippines. He was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war from May 1942 to September: 1945. He also was wounded in action. He later served in the Army from July 13, 1948, to Aug. 19, 1949.
He had worked as a barber in Lake Oswego and later in Bend, retiring in 1967. He had lived in Roseburg before moving to Redmond in 1978. His hobbies included gardening, woodcarving, fly-tying and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette of Redmond; a son, Grady McKechnie; two daughters, Barbara Ford and Raynette Dyer; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Wesley, Alfred, Herbert and Eddie; and two sisters, Dorothy and Virginia Jean Wedenoja.
Source: The Philippine Defenders. The Quan News. 1993
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