Serendipity Talk: USS Houston POW Experience

John K. Schwarz, USS Houston POW Experience
Monday, March 22
3:30-4:45 PM
Online

John K. Schwarz tells the compelling story of the USS Houston (CA-30), a US Navy heavy cruiser that fought valiantly during the early days of World War II in the Pacific. On March 1, 1942, the ship was sunk during the fierce Battle of Sunda Strait, claiming the lives of nearly 700 crew members, including its captain, Albert Rooks. Those who survived faced nearly four years of brutal captivity as prisoners of war, many forced into slave labor building the infamous Burma–Thailand Death Railway. Schwarz recounts this often-overlooked chapter of World War II, highlighting the extraordinary bravery, sacrifice, and endurance of the ship’s crew. Their story is chronicled in James Hornfischer’s book Ship of Ghosts and reflects the courage and resilience of America’s Greatest Generation.

John K. Schwarz has served as Executive Director of the USS Houston (CA-30) Survivors’ Association and Next Generations since 2010. The son of USS Houston survivor Otto C. Schwarz, John grew up immersed in the ship’s history and now carries on his father’s legacy by sharing the story of its crew and their experiences as prisoners of war. He has delivered 55 presentations to more than 2,500 attendees at libraries, lifelong learning institutes, and schools. A retired US Postal Service manager and certified elementary school teacher, John has been recognized as a national speaker by the United States Navy Memorial.

No registration is required. The Zoom link will be e-mailed to all those subscribed to the OLLI newsletter the morning of the talk. If you do not receive the newsletter and would like to attend, please join the email list at https://www.olli-dc.org/join_email_list.