27 May 1971
Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Louis Anthony Furtado was honored in a Memorial Day tribute in the US Congress. Heroics In World War II Not Confined To Those In Uniform Hon. Spark M. Matsunaga of Hawaii in the House of Representatives, Thursday, May 27, 1971.

LOUIS FURTADO OBITUARY (1909-2002)

Louis Furtado was a hero. There were so many unsung heroes in WWIl and Louis Furtado was one of Hawai’i’s own. His 3 years of internment on Guam as a Japanese prisoner of war left a lasting impact on his life as well as all who knew him.

0n July 24, 1941, Furtado was sent to Guam as a federal civil servant tor the Navy Dept. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, (Dec 8 Guam time) he was instructed to destroy all files and data in the Supply and Accounts Building where he was chief accounting clerk.

On Dec 9th, Navy Capt. McMillan then Gov. of Guam asked Furtado if he would be interested in active service. Furtado replied affirmatively and was given the military mission to lead six members of the Insular Navy Force to drain the petroleum from the fuel tanks on Cabras lsle. But it was too late; the enemy was of such numerical strength advancing upon them with bayonets fixed and drawn swords, they were forced to withdraw into the hills. Returning through the jungle for 10 days he got all his men safely home. On Dec 10, 1941, Furtado was one of the many Americans who were captured by the Japanese, because he was from Hawai’i he was signaled out, separated from the other Americans and placed in a Guamanian jail. He was asked to reveal whatever he knew about the military establishment at Pearl Harbor. When he refused to answer he was kicked in the groin, slapped in the face and head, smashed repeatedly across his spine with rifle butts. These jailings, interrogations and beatings continued periodically throughout his 3 years on Guam.

In 1942 he joined a secret group who had access to a radio, which brought news about the U. S. War efforts. The radio had to be moved frequent, so Furtado set up the radio in randomly selected abandoned shacks. He began writing and secretly distributing a short mimeograph paper to trusted subscribers, until they no longer had radio access. He would also lead the children around their villages singing 'God Bless America' like the 'pipe piper’ of Guam. In 1944 his name was posted with instructions to report to the Japanese labor force to build an airfield in Dededo. In his resolve to not participate, he planned to mutilate his hand but was advised to have scalding water poured on his arm, but the water inadvertently went on his head, neck, shoulder and arm. He required hospitalization for 10 days for second and third degree burns. Shortly after his escape from the hospital he was informed that he and Father Duenas were to be interrogated again, and were also marked for execution. After this warning he escaped to the jungle, where he remained until August 1944, three weeks after American forces landed on Guam. He remained on Guam for another month, providing needed information to the US military authorities. Furtado retuned to Hawai’i on Oct 5, 1944 and was reunited with his wife Virginia and their 4 children He was in a featured article in the Honolulu Advertiser, Oct 7, 1944 pages 1 and 12. Following the war years, he worked as a supply officer in Micronesia for the US Department of Interior, which exercised governmental responsibilities for the United Nations Trust Territories in the Pacific.

At 73 years of age, Furtado became a St. Francis Hospice Volunteer. His fifteen years of volunteer service was a deeply rewarding experience for him. He was loved and appreciated by the St Francis Hospice staff and fellow volunteers. He was compassionate, patient and loving and many times he would remain with the dying all through the night. He was proud to be a Hospice volunteer and passionately loved his work.