Woodbury County

Fred J. Stevens

 

 

TWO "MISSING" MEN PRISONERS 

Wife and Sister Here Learn Whereabouts of Loved Ones 

After a long silence, with mystery surrounding their fate, two Sioux Cityans, presumed to be "missing," were reported prisoners of the Japanese in widely separated locations. 

Mrs. Gladys M. Stevens, 4901 Third street, received official notice from the navy department that her husband, Frederick J. Stevens, 47, who was on Wake Island when it fell to the Japanese December 23, 1941, had been interned by the Japs at Suwoki, a prisoner camp on the island of Honsyu, Japan. That was the first word Mrs. Stevens had concerning her husband since Wake was captured, although he had been reported missing in action. A welder and sheetmetal worker, Mr. Stevens was a member of a construction crew which left for Wake in June, 1941, employed by the Waterways Construction company of Onawa, la. 

In August, 1941, he joined the marines stationed on the island and saw active duty with them. Two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, are in the navy, Robert Louis, in Puerto Rico, and LeRoy Fred at Norfolk, Va. 

Miss Bonnie M. Hallett, 2502 Pierce street, learned that her brother John B. Hallett, 63, is a prisoner in a Japanese camp at Santo Tomas in the Philippine islands. Mr. Hallett, a veteran of the Spanish-American war and of the first world war, had been living in the vicinity of Manila for 10 years. Miss Hallett said that the message bore her brother's signature but was on a printed form. It was her first direct word from him since 1918. 

Source: The Sioux City Journal, December 15, 1943


FRED STEVENS JAP PRISONER
Wake Civilian Worker First Heard From Since Attack


Fred J. Stevens, 48, 4901 Third street, is a Japanese prisoner in Sukuoka, an interment camp on Honshu island, according to a message from him received by his wife Tuesday.

This is the first news that Mrs. Stevens has had from her husband since before Pearl Harbor. He was a civilian employed in construction work on Wake island and was captured by the Japs when that island was invaded. He was employed by the Onawa Waterworks Construction Company which had a contract for work on the island.

The card bearing Mr. Stevens message was received here Tuesday and was dated in July 1944. Mr. Stevens reached Wake island in June, 1941. About a year ago the wife was informed by the War Department that her husband had been on Wake island at the time the Japs seized it, and no further word had been received until the postcard message reached her.

There are six children in the family, two of whom are in the Navy.

Source: The Sioux City Journal, Wednesday, January 24, 1945