Source: email of Mary Cathrin May; 28 Jan 2009
"[These] newspaper articles [are] about two men from the 27th Bomb Group, WWII. One is the obituary (dated 1949) of my own Uncle Emil Russ "Billy" May (Hq. Sq.), and two items about a survivor, Bernard Whitt Givens (91st Bomb Sq.). The items are compliments of William Richter, cousin of Bernard Givens."

The Dothan Eagle
September 7, 1944

"GIVENS BROADCASTS FROM NIPPON PRISON"

"Interception of an unofficial shortwave Broadcast from Japan made by Sergeant Bernard W. Givens, of Ashford Route two, was revealed this week in a telegram to his father, John J. Givens, Ashford Route two, by the Provost Marshal General. Sgt. Givens, stationed at Corregidor, in the Philippines, was captured by the Japanese on May 7th, 1942, and is now being interned in a prisoner of War camp in Tokyo. The text of the telegram follows;
"Following unofficial broadcast shortwave from Japan has been intercepted, 'Hello dad and all the family and friends I am happy to be to be able to make this broadcast and to let you know I am well and am waiting for the time I can see all of you again I have received letters from all the family and was glad to know everyone was doing fine Give all the friends and neighbors my regards I think of all of you each day. So chins up until we meet again. Love to all, Bernard W. Givens. This broadcast supplements previous official report received from International Red Cross.
Lerch, Provost Marshal General."

The Dothan Eagle
September 20, 1945

"SGT. B. W. GIVENS FREED FROM JAPS"

"Sergeant B. W. Givens, twenty-three, a prisoner of war since the fall of Corregidor was returned to military control September 7, and is being returned to the United States soon, his father, John J. Givens, of Ashford, route two, has been notified.

Sergeant Givens enlisted in the Army October 18, 1939 at the age of 17 and received his basic training at Barksdale, La. He attended radio school at Scott Field, Ill., and after serving in Savannah, Ga. for several months, was sent to California in October 1941, and on November 2, 1941, sailed for the Philippine Islands.

After Corregidor fell May 6, 1942 he was listed as missing in action until October, 1942 when his family was notified he was a prisoner of Japan. He was liberated from a camp in Tokyo.

During his internment his family received from him two letters and two cards, all several months old when delivered and in two instances more than a year old. They also received several short wave radio grams from persons who heard the short wave radio broadcasts on which Sgt. Givens gave his fathers address."

The Dothan Eagle
Dothan, Alabama
April 17, 1949

"Wiregrass Deaths"
"Emil Russ May"

"CHIPLEY (Special) - Funeral Services for Sgt. Emil Russ May, who died in Cabantuan Prison, Luzon, Phillipines, on January 6, 1943, will be held at New Hope Church near Vernon at 3 p. m. Wednesday. Sgt. May was captured during the fall of Corregidor, and was help prisoner by the Japanese army until his death. He entered the U. S. Air Force in October 1939. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. May of Chipley; five sisters and four brothers, Mrs. L. B. Coleman, St. Petersburg; Mrs. E. Y. Francis, Miami, Mrs. Mattie C. Kelly, Mims, Fla.; Lottie May Dykes, Vernon; Almeda May, Oakland, Calif.; Sam D. May, Chipley; Delbert F. and E. N. May, Vernon and H. C. May, Fayetteville, N. C.

Internment will be in the family plot at the New Hope Cemetery. Blackburn Funeral Home of Chipley is in charge of arrangements."