NICOMA PARK More than 200 servicemen, military veterans and townspeople joined Thursday evening at a memorial service with full military honors to remember a former prisoner of war.
Nelson P. Fonseca, 69, was almost buried as a pauper, but Nicoma Park police chief Hugh Gilbert and other residents worked to bring a full U.S. Army honor guard to the former POW's funeral .
One friend, who asked not to be identified, said the memorial service was a
"fitting tribute.''
"He was very special to all of us. If not for Chief Gilbert and the community coming together, he would not have had a proper burial,'' the friend said.
The 30-minute service at Bill Eisenhour's Northeast Funeral Home chapel was followed by a 21-gun salute and the traditional trumpet version of
"taps.'' Soldiers from Fort Sill in Lawton provided the honor guard.
The U.S. flag that draped Fonseca's casket was given to Gilbert, who accepted it on behalf of the city.
Fonseca will be buried today at 10 a.m. in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson.
Fonseca was born on April 8, 1920. He died of natural causes on Jan. 25.
Even though Fonseca, who suffered through the Bataan Death March, lived a pauper's life, he was remembered Thursday as a man who bravely defended his country.
"He was willing to give up his personal way of life so we could remain free,'' said James Ralph Holtzclaw, state chaplain for American Ex-Prisoners of War.
"I was proud of Nelson P. Fonseca because he was willing to give up so much.''
Fonseca was held captive by the Japanese from April 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. He also served in the military during the Korean War and reportedly was held as a POW during that conflict.
Gilbert said Fonseca distrusted the U.S. government and refused to accept additional veterans benefits to which he was entitled.
Jon Duncan, minister of music at the Nicoma Park First Baptist Church, recalled Fonseca as friendly.
"He always ended a conversation with a smile and a "thanks for listening,' '' Duncan said.
Author: Tim Farley
A former prisoner of war, whose distrust of the government almost placed him in a pauper's grave, will receive full military honors at his funeral Thursday.
Nelson P. Fonseca , 69, a survivor of the Bataan Death March that killed at least 6,000 American soldiers, died last Thursday in his Nicoma Park trailer home, police chief Hugh Gilbert said.
"I didn't want the man to be a ward to science. I wanted to give him a decent military funeral. He deserves more than a plot and a headstone,'' Gilbert said Tuesday.
The state medical examiner said the Army war veteran died of natural causes.
Officials were unable to locate any family members but services are scheduled at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Bill Eisenhour Funeral Homes chapel at 8805 NE 23. Fonseca will be buried at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
Gilbert and Eisenhour funeral home director Vince Fredrick were instrumental in obtaining a U.S. Army honor guard.
Fonseca 's experiences as a POW in Japan and again in Korea caused him problems as a civilian, Gilbert said.
Fonseca was held captive by the Japanese from April 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. It was not known how long Fonseca was a POW during the Korean conflict.
Gilbert said Fonseca often told him he was afraid to ask for the additional veterans benefits to which he was entitled.
"He was scared that if he bucked the system, they would take away what he already was getting,'' the police chief said.
"
He said he became very paranoid while in the prison camp.''
Others who knew Fonseca said he also feared the possibility of being placed in a nursing home.
"He had lived alone ever since I've known him,'' Gilbert said.
"
His experiences as a POW probably contributed to his fears.''
Near Christmas, Gilbert said Fonseca talked of committing suicide because of financial problems.
"But then, some song came on the radio and he decided not to,'' the police chief said.
Fonseca also was afraid to take medicine because he thought the pharmacist was trying to kill him, Gilbert said.
"He also had his initials on everything he owned, including pencils and Band-Aids. A lot of that stemmed from his days in the Army,'' Gilbert said.
The former POW was "taken in'' by Nicoma Park residents who offered different kinds of help.
"He ate at the snack bar quite a bit and charged his meals. He bought his medicines at the pharmacy and charged it. A lot of people knew him and cared about him.
"I met him once and liked the guy,'' Gilbert said.
"
He had good stories about the war and his time as a POW.''
Before he moved into the one-bedroom trailer, Fonseca had lived in a rat-infested, one-room shack that he rented for $200 a month, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.