September 14, 1943
The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 11
Publication:
The San Bernardino County Sun i
Location:
San Bernardino, California
Issue Date:
Tuesday, September 14, 1943
Page:
Page 11
HELD IN PHILIPPINES Lt. (J.g.) Earl Ray Brewster, Navy chaplain, who is believed to be a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines. Navy Chaplain Held Prisoner Two Cards Received From Lt. Brewster Lt. (j.g.) Earl Ray Brewster, Navy chaplain, who formerly resided in Colton, is a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines, according to word received by his wife, who resides at Coronado. She received two cards from him, each bearing the chaplain’s signature, and sent copies of the message to his brother, Asbury A Brewster of San Bernardino. The Brewster family is well known in Colton, A. A. Brewster having formerly operated a drug store here. Lieutenant Brewster, however, was educated at Long Beach, graduating from high school there, and his mother, Mrs. A. L. Brewster, makes her home in that city.
METHODIST MINISTER Lieutenant Brewster is a Methodist minister and was serving a pastorate at Santa Paula when he enlisted in the Navy as a chaplain about two years ago. He formerly was attached to the U. S. S. Holland. The officer was ill in a hospital at Manila when the Japanese attacked the Philippines and his ship had to leave him behind. The two cards from Lieutenant Brewster are contradictory. His wife wrote her brother-in-law that “there are no dates, but I am quoting them in the order which the context seems to indicate.”
HEALTH SAID POOR The first read: “I am interned at Philippine Military Prison camp No. 2. My health is poor. I am injured. I am not improving. I miss you very much. Please see that my family is notified and give my best regards to the rest of the family and Dyer.” The second card said: “I am interned at Philippine Military camp No. 2. My health is good. I am not under treatment. I am improving. Please see that my family and friends are notified. I think of and pray for you all constantly. Please give my best regards to ‘you three’.”
The officer’s family had received no word from him more than a year.
