<p>
As the ’38 Howitzer points out, <em>Fred Gerlich</em> is forever immortalized to his “A” Company classmates by the strains of the Colonel Bogie March—oft played at P-rade and sung with gusto by “A” Company as “Ferlich! Da, da, da—dah-dah-dah! Ferlich!”</p>
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There is no record of the origin of this custom, but it was enjoyed by all participants and provides an ironic backdrop to the story of Fred’s life and death. The Colonel Bogie March was used as the theme song of the movie Bridge on the River Kwoi. That story of grimness and brutality in a Japanese prison camp is the counterpart of Fred Gerlich’s experiences in the last portion of his life.</p>
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Frederick John Gerlich was born 9 January 1915 in Dickinson, North Dakota. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Fred J. Gerlich. His schooling progressed normally through grade school and high school in Dickinson. Even then, Fred ap-parendy had an eye on the service academies; immediately after high school he spenttwo months at a prep school in Annapolis, Maryland. Returning home, he matriculated at North Dakota State College in Fargo. He completed two years (widening his knowledge of things military by serving in the ROTC while there) and then received a senatorial appointment to West Point.</p>
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Fred was a solid, dedicated cadet—always cheerful, seemingly unflappable and steadfastly focused on the job at hand. He had no problems with either the Academic Department or the Tactical Department and graduated on 14 June 1938, just below the upper third of his class. He chose the Coast Artillery Corps.</p>
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After graduation leave came the necessary branch schooling, followed by orders to the Philippines. Fred was assigned to the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment, one of four CAC regiments—two American and two manned by Philippine Scouts—charged with harbor defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. The 59th manned the seacoast artillery on Corregidor Island at the mouth of Manila Bay.</p>
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After Pearl Harbor and months of heavy fighting, Corregidor was surrendered on 6 May 1942, and Fred was taken prisoner by the Japanese. Later, in 1942, he was moved to the Davao Penal Colony in Mindanao, where he spent two years.</p>
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In October of 1944, Fred and other prisoners were loaded aboard the Japanese ship <em>Arisan Maru </em>which set sail for Manila. The ship was torpedoed on 24 October 1944.</p>
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Along with many other prisoners, including 17 other USMA graduates, Fred died as a result of the sinking.</p>
<p>
Everything that can be said or written about the tragedies resulting from Japanese treatment of prisoners of war has already been expressed. Captain Frederick John Gerlich was one of many victims whose full story will never be known. But there is no doubt that he was a worthy member of the Long Gray Line.<br />
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