Featured Stories

WWII POW Stories

David Chapa, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, in a family video, described the death on that march and how he “kept quiet and kept moving.” A proud Texas native, David relocated to Minnesota after the war.

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

“My father was a very proud man and as I think about it he was especially proud to be from Texas, of Mexican heritage, a family man, a friend to many and of his service to country, a Veteran of WWII.  Dad loved to be surrounded by friends and family, to share stories, jokes, a cold beer and a good Mexican meal. He found peace as he grew old and expected his children to be sure to Vote on every Election Day, to work hard, laugh, be grateful and to take care of each other.”

Quote by: Mary Elizabeth Chapa, daughter

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

Without the story of a past, who are you in this
timeless present? …Without a projection of an
imagined future, who are you now?

—Josh Baran