In late 1944, rumors of Allied victories and advancements circulated throughout POW camps, improving POW attitudes dramatically. The rumors gave hope and improved morale. Ex-POW, Tony Bilek declared, “Rumor or not, the possibility that we might be free by Christmas fanned a little flame of hope that refused to die. But, given what I had already been through, six months sounded like a long wait. One way or another, though, I'd make it.” Soon afterwards, news reached POWs that the “Japanese High Command had issued orders to all Camp Commandants that in the event of Allied invasion of Japanese-occupied territory, all prisoners of war were to be exterminated in whatever way was most convenient in local circumstances.” [1] This news had come from the underground network, friendly guards and insight. In a few camps, these orders were carried out as was the case at Palawan Island in the Philippines where one hundred fifty POWs were brutally executed. A few prisoners at Palawan Island managed to escape during the executions and get back to advancing American troops. After interviewing the escaped POWs and hearing their horrifying ordeal, the Americans launched rescue operations on POW camps in the Philippines in January 1945. Cabanatuan was the first POW camp rescued. It was in this dramatic raid at Cabanatuan that Everett Keyes along with five hundred other remaining POWs became free at last.[2]  In other POW camps, the Japanese made preparations for the mass executions. POWs in Burma were ordered to dig large tank traps around the perimeter of the camp. Ex-POW, Fred Seiker remembered questioning the orders, “Tank traps in the middle of virgin jungle? ... Then someone offered the thought that these tank traps looked remarkably like mass graves.[3] In some places friendly guards offered an apology as they warned POWs of the impending executions. Ex-POW, Tom Wright, confirmed, “They (Japanese) told us that they were sorry, but they were going to have to shoot us.”[4] Why the majority of POW commandants did not carry out the execution orders was not clear. Most POWs woke up one morning relieved to find the Japanese gone from camp. Seiker remembered, “We looked at each other in total disbelief … no Japs … I cannot begin to tell you how this news was received by us. Some sank to their knees and prayed. Others just stood there, tears streaming down their haggard faces. A few were running around, wildly gesticulating and screaming.”[5]