“Who was in which lifeboat?” A mission by Peter Versteeg to find out which of the three remaining lifeboats his father traveled in — as one of 116 survivors of the sunken “Poelau Bras” — and who were in the other two lifeboats? www.poelau-bras.nl (To translate this website from Dutch to English: Go to Google…
By Ralph Ockerse When The Indo Project posted on social media, “TIP wants to know: Tell us about your Omas and Opas! What did they mean to you? What did you learn about Indo culture from them?” , many Indos responded including Ralph Ockerse responded with this riveting story about his grandparents. An Opportunity Missed!…
Read TIP’s Indo Profile about war camp survivor and musician Hannie Blaauw. Hannie Blaauw is my very special friend. I met him about twenty years ago when I moved to Arizona. Born and raised on Java, he is eleven years older than I, so he was a teenager during the years of Japanese oppression. He…
[Featured Photo: From Left to right: sister, mother, Oscar and father. Oscar in tub in Malang] By Oscar Micola Von Furstenrecht Born 1929-December-03 in Malang, Indonesia (Java) At a very young age, growing up in Malang, I was admitted into a military hospital with Bacilary Tifus. After a difficult time, I slipped into a…
On Saturday, August 10, 2019, The Indo Project board member, Eric Morgan, was honored to lay a wreath on behalf of The Indo Project at the annual commemoration ceremonies ‘Herdenking Ceremony,’ which was held at the National Cemetery of Los Angeles. Approximately fifty people came together out of respect for the fallen forces and civilians…
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 of camps were internment camps during the Bersiap period 1945-1947, a tumultuous time that followed the end…
Note: Unfortunately this exhibit is no longer being shown but links within this article will take you to various resources. The Indies Commemoration Center has made its remarkable museum exhibit entitled, “The Story of the Netherlands East Indies” available online. The actual exhibit, which has been a huge success, is currently located at the Bronbeek Estate…
By Jan A. Krancher, PhD. Jan. 8, 2013 Have you ever been conned? I am sure you have, at least once in your lifetime, as I have, and I won’t tell you how often. But here I am not referring to being “conned” but rather being “coined.” It is the practice that brings about long…
By Jason A. Dixon, grandson Name: Richard E. Coert Born: October 5, 1922, Dutch East Indies Died: October 17, 2003, California, USA POW: Burma-Siam Railway Richard E. Coert was born in 1922 in what is now Indonesia, where he grew up. He dreamed of becoming a pilot in the Dutch air…
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 Marine Officer and His Ensuing Saga of Courage and Survival”. Among several of his experiences, he also…