The Lost Battalion of Texas

This site is dedicated to the memory of the “Lost Battalion,” the American soldiers captured on Java in 1942 by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II; specifically, the Second Battalion, 131st Field Artillery Regiment (36th Division of the Texas National Guard). As prisoners of war, they, and survivors of the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30), suffered 42 months of slave labor, much of the time building the 258-mile Burma-Thailand “Death” Railway connecting Burma and Thailand. They were worked and starved to death, cruelly beaten, denied medical care and contact with their kin, all while living in the most abject conditions of disease-ridden manual labor camps.

Nearly a year passed after their capture before the U.S. government learned the fate of the soldiers of the 131st Field Artillery/2nd Battalion.  In the interim, it was assumed the unit was entirely lost (most of the men designated as MIA – Missing in Action) when Japanese military forces invaded the island of Java – hence the moniker, “the Texas Lost Battalion.”

The surreal and astonishing story of the men of the 131st and USS Houston (CA-30) must not be allowed to fade. As brothers in captivity, their camaraderie in chains created a unique and life-long bond. The grueling conditions of their imprisonment forever seared them as eyewitnesses to some of the most unimaginable atrocities committed in twentieth-century warfare. Of the 902 soldiers of the 131st and the survivors of USS Houston (CA-30) captured on Java, 668 of them were transported via “hellships” to Burma to build the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. 77 crewmen of USS Houston (CA-30) and 86 soldiers of the 131st perished as POWS. Most of the men of both units who died in captivity perished while working on the “death railway.”

After the war, the survivors of both units formed the “Lost Battalion Association,” which exists to this day.

As of August 2023, there remains one living survivor of the 131st FA/2nd BN, Rufus Choate of E Battery.

This site, WE PLAY THE GAME, the motto of the 131st Field Artillery/2nd Battalion, is presented to encourage others to join us as we seek to memorialize the individuals of this special association.

This website is established and maintained by children and family members of the Lost Battalion (aka, “Next Generation”). As we age and add more time since the era of these momentous events, we believe it’s critically important to capture as much of the stories of the men of the 131st Field Artillery/2nd Battalion.

If you wish to submit photos, biographical information, or other documents we would be happy to accept your digital (scanned) contributions to augment our efforts to honor all the men of the unit. If you cannot provide digital content, we would be happy to cover the cost of digitizing and shipping of photos/documents and return all content immediately following our digitizing process. For more info or to submit content, please contact us via email at: lostbattalionoftx@gmail.com.

November 25, 1940

2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery mobilized

February, 1941

Unit assigned to Camp Bowie, Brownwood, TX

August – September 1941

‘Louisiana Maneuvers’ war games

November 21, 1941

Sail on the USAT Republic en route to PLUM assignment

December 5, 1941

USAT Republic refuels at Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941

Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, US declares war. USAT Republic diverted to Australia.

January 11, 1942

Unit arrives at Soerabaja Java onboard the Dutch freighter MS Bloemfontein

March 8, 1942

Dutch capitulate Javanese colony, U.S. Army unit taken prisoner; move to several camps before collection at Bicycle Camp in Batavia (May 1942).

October – November 1942

Men transported by hellships to Changi prison in Singapore, then Burma (Thanbyuzyat via Moulmein) and Thailand (via Malaysia) to begin work on the Thai-Burma Railway

March – October 1943

Japanese “Speedo” period when the majority of railway building was conducted coincides with the relentless monsoon season.

October – April 1943

Railway completed. American POWS were transported to POW labor camps in Thailand, or Singapore, or Japan.

August 1945

Lost Battalion and USS Houston survivors liberated after US drops nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki