Civilian POWs Interned During Japan's Occupation of the Philippines During WW II

Sally Meadows is a retired pharmaceutical / biotechnology marketing executive who was responsible for developing, leading and implementing global commercialization strategies for biopharmaceuticals across all phases of research and development.  She served in positions of increasing seniority for 25 years including at Roche Pharmaceuticals, Scios Inc., Syntex and SRI International. Currently, Sally serves on the Los Altos City Council, and was Mayor in 2023.  She represents the City of Los Altos on regional boards including the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), the North County Library Authority, Santa Clara County Library District JPA and the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority.  Previously, Sally served on the City of Los Altos Planning Commission (2016 - 2020) and Design Review Commission (2012 - 2016).  Sally is a member of Los Altos Rotary Club and Los Altos Women’s Caucus.  She holds an MBA from San José State University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Synopsis:

This talk will explore a largely unknown facet of WWII in the Pacific, the fact that thousands of civilians, including Americans and citizens of other Allied nations, were held captive by Imperial Japan in internment camps throughout Asia.  The presentation focuses on those who were interned in the Philippines (including my grandparents and my father, who was 11 years old when first interned) and how they survived (if they did), many for over three years of captivity.  The stories include why these people were in the Philippines when the war started, how internment came about, life in camp, and their eventual liberation by General MacArthur’s forces.  

Civilian ex-Prisoners of War (CPOW, formerly known as Bay Area Civilian ex-Prisoners of War), is dedicated to supporting and telling the story of allied civilians who were captives of the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippines during WWII.  Though founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by former internees, its membership is now nation-wide and also includes members in several countries outside of the U.S.  Members include those who were former civilian and/or military prisoners, their families and friends, and researchers interested in the history of the POW and internment camps in the Philippines.  I have been a member of the Board since 2018 and Chair since 2020 (also known as Commander).  CPOW is the only civilian-focused Chapter of American ex-POWs (AXPOW), a Congressionally Chartered Veterans' Service Organization.