The Nelson Historical Society is hosting a Lovingston resident who is presenting “Rescue at Los Baños” about the U.S.-led rescue of civilian captives of a Japanese prison camp named Los Baños in the Philippines.
Liz Wilbur, who is a member of the historical society board, said her parents and her brother lived in the Philippines during World War II.
“They were prisoners at multiple camps,” Wilbur said. “They were rescued the day they were expecting to be executed.”
More than 2,145 people were rescued in February 1945, according to Bruce Henderson’s book, “Rescue at Los Baños: The Most Daring Prison Camp Raid of World War II.”
Wilbur, who taught English and American history from 1980 until 2006 at Nelson County High School, said this will be her first time formally sharing her family’s story.
Wilbur’s presentation, which is set to include video, books and references, is a free event planned to start 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 20 at the Nelson Memorial Library, located 8521 Thomas Nelson Highway in Lovingston, according to a news release from the historical society. For more information, contact info@nelsonhistorical.org or (434) 263-8400.