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SALT LAKE CITY -- A World War II veteran who survived years of brutal treatment as prisoner of war has passed away. Harold Poole was also able to forgive his captors and live a life full of service and humility.
"I prayed an awful lot. I really, really prayed sincerely for help," he told us in 2000 when KSL interviewed him about his experiences during WWII. "It all happened so quick, you don't have any time to worry about anything, you do what you have to do."
Poole was stationed in Manila with the U.S. Army Air Corp when Japanese bombers hit their air field a day after Pearl Harbor. After holding out for four months with little food and ammo, the U.S. command ordered them to surrender.
They were forced to march 65 miles to trains that took them to prison and slave labor camps. It's known as the Baatan Death March.
All in all, Poole spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war. Decades later Poole and other POWs sued the Japanese companies that forced them to work under brutal conditions. It went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"I want people to get this out in the open. I want people to know about it," he told us.
The court ultimately rejected the case. That was a heartbreaker to Poole, no doubt, but his family says he'd forgiven his captors shortly after the war.
His son-in-law Paul Warner said, "He didn't want bitterness, he didn't want hate, he didn't want anger coming from his soul. He wanted to move on."
And move on he did -- marrying, having kids and grandkids. He loved to hunt, fish and work with his hands -- he built floats for the East Millcreek Fourth of July Parade.
Poole's daughter, Linda Warner, said, "He was the type of man that never set out to impress anyone, but as a result, impressed everyone."
Poole died Monday, at the age of 91, at the VA Hospital, surrounded by photos of his late wife.
His son, Stan Poole, said, "We will never quit teaching our kids and our grandkids about him. Tremendous man, my hero."
He's another member of the greatest generation gone but far from forgotten.
Poole was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the war. However, he wore it only once when he testified about the war before Congress in 2000. His family says he was too humble to wear it again.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
