Storytelling

WWII POW Stories

Watch for more stories and videos of David’s interview from WWII, the Bataan Death March and his POW experience of survival.

David Chapa, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, in a family video, described the will to survive and watching others succumb to death on that march.  David said he “kept quiet and kept moving,” a proud Texas native, David relocated to Minnesota after the war where he met his wife and together they raised their family of five children.

Corporal David Nunez Chapa

Corporal David Nunez Chapa * 11/2/1916 – 9/16/2008 * Sandia, Texas – Little Canada, MN
WWII 1941 – 1945 * Philippine Division 200th Coast Artillery * 1st Battalion “A Battery http://www.bcmfofnm.org/

Learning to Listen from the Heart

In honor of Corporal David Nunez Chapa, US Army, WWII 1941 – 1945  *  11/2/1916 – 9/16/2008

Born in Sandia, Texas November 2, 1916, Corporal David Nunez Chapa, 200th Coast Artillery 1st Battalion A Battery was a patriot who was proud to serve his country. He had a big heart and a generous spirit.  He served with others from the New Mexico area and was shipped to the Philippine Islands and Clark Air Force base on September 8, 1941.  Clark Air Force Base was attacked the day after Pearl Harbor and David’s unit was responsible for covering the retreat of the Northern Luzon Force into Bataan.  As the war situation began to deteriorate David’s regiment was surrendered to the Japanese Army where he survived the atrocities of the 65-mile “Bataan Death March” only to be held prisoner for over 3 years and 8 months.  David was never bitter but believed he survived because he was “a good work horse,” he said the Japanese kept him alive so he could work and he learned about hard work from his father while growing up on a farm in Texas.  After the war and his rescue from the concentration camp David went home to Texas but later decided to start a new life and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where he found work, met and married his wife Mary and raised his 5 children and 5 grandchildren.

As I reflect on my father David’s changing medical needs over the last few years of his life I realized how well he did with balancing his independence and his limitations due to chronic and complex health conditions.  I learned many life lessons from Dad but I especially remember the importance of “listening” to the client, I hear his voice in my ear every time I want to make decisions and assumptions based on my own knowledge and experiences.  My father was right about 98% of the time, he knew his body and how it responded or not to various medications or treatments and he had to remind me and his physician that sometimes what we thought would work, did not work for him.  He was a good sport though, he would try things for us only to prove to us he was right and not suffering from any forms of dementia, the joke was usually on us.  I realize how important the many gifts my father left behind would be for me personally and how they make a difference in the life of my client.

After my father died last fall I thought about how much I used my nursing skills to manage his medical care over several years, I did the same when my mother was dying from cancer and subsequently other friends and family members would request my help.  When my sister died this spring unexpectedly I organized the work that needed to be done, coordinating with family and friends to close out all her personal affairs.  Having navigated through end of life activities for my father, mother and a younger sister I learned through very different experiences and it became clear that being a daughter, sister and friend with a health, healing and end of  life background could be helpful to others.  Perhaps this is the real gift my father left me, the gift of care and concern for others who may not have family readily available to help them during difficult times.  Some choices are obvious and other decisions come to us unlooked for but life is an interesting journey and I consider myself a strong independent woman; a survivor and leader with gifts to share, I learned from my Dad.

David Nunez Chapa died suddenly on September 16, 2008 at the Veterans Hospital in Minneapolis but his sense of humor, love of family and generous spirit will live on as I demonstrate the life lessons of listening with my heart.

Rest in Peace Dad, your memory lives on in the lives I touch every day.

Mary Elizabeth

“My father was a very proud man and he was especially proud to be a Texan, of Mexican heritage, a family man and a  friend to many.  He was proud of his service to country during WWII and expected us to take advantage of our right to Vote on Election Day.  Dad loved to be surrounded by family and friends, to share stories, jokes, a cold beer and a good Mexican meal.  He found peace from his war experience as he grew old and he loved his grandchildren; his wish for all of us was to work hard, laugh, be grateful and to take care of each other.”  Quote by Mary Elizabeth Chapa, daughter.