SEMAS, SIMAS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at 07:36:44 :

San Rafael Independent
Thursday, June 12, 1947
Page 7

SR Boy In P.I. Two Weeks Before Japs, Died In Camp

Identity of Pfc. Andrew C. Semas of San Rafael, buried in the Philippine Islands during the Japanese occupation as an “unknown,” has been established, the War Department disclosed today.

Semas, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Simas, 806 E street, died in a Japanese prison camp after being captured on Luzon, He was 22 at the time of his death.

A graduate of San Rafael Grammar and High schools and Marin Junior College, young Semas was attending a business college in San Francisco when he joined the Army in preference to being drafted.

He went overseas in October, 1941, arriving in the Philippines the day before Thanksgiving – only two weeks before the Japanese struck at Hawaii and the Philippines. His parents received only one letter from him before the first word of his “missing in action” status.

Later word came that he had died of wounds received in battle, followed by the information that his death occurred in a Japanese prison camp.

His mother explained today that he adopted the name “Semas” during his schooling here in order that his classmates would pronounce the family name correctly. He was so listed on Army records, although the family spells its name Simas.

Semas was one of 353 American soldiers whose identities have been determined. He was buried originally in the Camp O’Donnell prisoner of war cemetery, and later reburied in the U. S. Armed Forces Cemetery No. 2 at Manila.

Mrs. Simas said that she has received official work of the identification. She added that a family friend, recently in the Philippines, had visited his grave.