While California is still in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Herdenking 2020 is still being planned. This page will be updated with the latest information as the situation develops. Updated 4/14/2020 8:30 pm. COMMEMORATION CEREMONY HERDENKINGS… Read More

Speech: Inez Hollander, Photos: William Lee, January, 2020, San Francisco, CA, USA On January 13th, 2020, Antonie Heystek (sergeant in the Dutch East Indies Colonial Army and member of the militia in Eastern Java during WWII), received a… Read More

by Han Mouthaan FOREWORD For clarification purposes: The Dutch civilians of the former Dutch East Indies endured two types of camps during AND after WWII. The first type were the WWII Japanese concentration camps, 1942-1945. The second type… Read More

By Jan Krancher Book:  Ambushed under the Southern Cross Author:  Capt. George W. Duffy Highly decorated Capt. George W. Duffy has authored the book “Ambushed under the Southern Cross . . . The Making of an American Merchant… Read More

By Bianca Dias-Halpert USS Wichita (CA-45)  Ship’s Chief Petty Officers listen to the radio broadcast of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to the Congress requesting a declaration of War against the Axis powers, circa 8 December 1941.  Note… Read More

By Sylvia Boon Couto, daughter Name:  William Boon Born:    December 17, 1917, Java, Dutch East Indies Died:    June 10, 2011, California, USA POW:   Camp Tjimahi, West Java, Nov 20 , 1942 camp 4e Bataljon The… Read More

By Jan Krancher, California, USA Overview of the Japanese Imprisonment Experience   The Japanese High Command on Java attempted to coerce the Indo-European members of the former Royal Netherlands-Indies Army, Navy and Air Force to enlist in the… Read More

By Bianca Dias-Halpert, USA Heroes are lost in the annals of history.   Doc Hekking and the incredible bond with his fellow POW’s  is an inspirational story that awaits rediscovery in the Indo community and beyond. The boys… Read More

By Joyce Kater, New Mexico, USA LITTLE MOMENTS OF HUMANITY AT WARTIME   Although this incident happened a lifetime ago in the Second World War in South East Asia, it still lingers in my memory.  It took place in… Read More

By Robert Vanderwaall, nephew Name:  Pieter Hendrik van der Waall Born:  July 3, 1921 Dutch East Indies Died:  July 5, 1993 Zoetermeer, Netherlands POW:  Thai-Burma Railway     Pieter Hendrik van der Waall July 3, 1921 to July… Read More