Hero of the Week 17

Welcome back viewers!

This week's hero is...

Margaret Utinsky

Margaret Utinsky was born on August 26, 1900. In the 1920s Margaret met and married an American soldier named, John "Jack" Utinsky while she was traveling in the Philippines in 1934. For a few years, the two lived peacefully in the nation's capital (Manila). That all changed when the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor and invaded the Philippines in December of 1941. By the beginning of January they had captured Manila. Although Margaret was ordered to return to the United States with many other American women, she refused and remained in the Philippines. Meanwhile, American and Filipino forces were defeated on the Bataan peninsula. The last American bastion was on the island of Corregidor. The garrison surrendered on May 6 after a two day battle. With that, the Japanese were in complete control of the Philippines.

During this time, Margaret was in hiding. She created a fake identity (Rena Utinsky from Lithuania) and joined the Filipino Red Cross. Eventually she decided to make her way to Bataan to look for her husband, Jack. When Margaret arrived in Bataan she was horrified by state of the American and Filipino POWs who were being treated with the utmost cruelty by their captors. Many of them had been killed on the infamous Bataan Death March and were suffering from starvation and abuse by the Japanese guards. Those that survived the march were either transported to Japan or held in prisoner of  war camps in the Philippines in deplorable conditions. Seeing this made Margaret resolve to help the prisoners in any way she could.

She began by organizing a small resistance network that smuggled food and medical supplies to POWs being held at the Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan prison camps. She eventually learned that her husband, Jack Utinsky had died in one of the camps of malnutrition. Although she was distraught at losing her husband Margaret resolved in further to help the POWs who were being held by the Japanese. She smuggled more food and medicine to the prisoners and even took letters from their families. She also smuggled supplies to the American and Filipino resistance and provided them with intelligence of Japanese movements. Her code name was, "Miss U".

Eventually the Japanese became suspicious of Margaret's activities and arrested her. They took her to the Fort Santiago prison and brutally interrogated her. She was beaten on daily basis and hung with her arms tied behind her back. She was also sexually assaulted and forced to watch other prisoners being tortured and executed. Despite all the punishment she endured, Margaret never revealed anything to her captors. After 32 days of captivity, Margaret was released after she agreed to not act against the Japanese government and sign a document that said she had been treated, "well" by her captors. During her captivity she had lost at least 45 pounds, gangrene had infected one of legs (luckily it was treated), and her hair had turned white.

After her release, Margaret went into hiding but continued to aid the resistance in any way she could. She did this until the American forces returned to the Philippines. Margaret then provided critical information about the whereabouts of POW camps and how many prisoners were being held there. Her information would play a critical role in the rescue of POWs from the Cabanatuan prison camp. After the end of World War II, Margaret Utinsky returned to the United States. In 1946, she received the Medal of Freedom for her heroism. She died on August 30, 1970 in Gardena, California. 

Margaret Utinsky was a brave and moral women who put her life on the line to save soldiers in need. She endured terrible treatment and never broke. I believe that she is definitely someone to held in high regard.

Further Information:

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Margaret%20Utinsky

http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/html/utinsky_margaret_bio.html

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=2633