San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area - Spoken Edition

Amado Ante was five days into the Bataan Death March when it finally came time to die. He was ravaged by malaria, starved to his bones, his feet swelled up so badly he could no longer walk. Japanese soldiers were bayoneting or beheading everyone who fell behind.“My friends pushed me into a ditch and I went into the bushes to escape,” Ante, now 99, recalled Friday. “There was always fear, always fear. But I had to live. I had to fight.

J. Michael Myatt helped reconnect the Bay Area to the uniformed services amid the turbulence of the Vietnam War. J. Michael Myatt helped reconnect the Bay Area to the uniformed services amid the turbulence of the Vietnam War. J. Michael Myatt, in the Marines Memorial Club’s library, helped transform the institution from a social club into a living memorial for service members. J.

Whether a home is shaking or burning, man’s best friend (dogs) and man’s best friend’s occasional enemy (cats) need tender loving care and common sense from their caretakers. Here are tips for pet survival in a disaster:Tagging All pets should be identified with tags and, preferably, microchips. Behavior: Expect the unexpected In an emergency, dogs tend to bolt and cats tend to hide, as a general rule.

Steve Mariotti of San Rafael looks for some medical marijuana for his back pain at Mercy Wellness in Cotati. Steve Mariotti of San Rafael looks for some medical marijuana for his back pain at Mercy Wellness in Cotati. Steve Mariotti of San Rafael gets help from budtender Alex Caddell as he shops for medical marijuana for back pain at Mercy Wellness in Cotati.

James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo of Metallica — the band will perform at Thursday’s Band Together benefit concert for Wine Country fire victims. James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo of Metallica — the band will perform at Thursday’s Band Together benefit concert for Wine Country fire victims. Dave Matthews will be in the lineup for the Band Together benefit at AT&T Park for victims of the Wine Country fires.

Capt. Chris Simmons of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office discusses conditions at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Capt. Chris Simmons of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office discusses conditions at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. A box for grievances hangs on a wall at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

Construction between Third and Terry Francois streets near Mission Rock reveals a new city in the making. Construction between Third and Terry Francois streets near Mission Rock reveals a new city in the making. The corner of Market, Post and Montgomery streets, as seen through the Wells Fargo entrance, provides a glimpse of the old city. The former heart of San Francisco doesn’t have the bustle of bygone days.

Summer Tompkins Walker, who is contesting the will, wed Brooks Walker in 1997. Summer Tompkins Walker, who is contesting the will, wed Brooks Walker in 1997. Douglas Tompkins co-founded apparel firms Esprit and North Face with then-wife Susie. They divorced in 1988, and he remarried, as did she. Tompkins left his daughters out of his will. Douglas Tompkins co-founded apparel firms Esprit and North Face with then-wife Susie. They divorced in 1988, and he remarried, as did she.

Baer holds an Alamo School pencil given to him by his former teacher. Baer holds an Alamo School pencil given to him by his former teacher. Baer takes a pretend swing of the bat in the backyard of his childhood home in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. Baer takes a pretend swing of the bat in the backyard of his childhood home in the Sea Cliff neighborhood. Baer stands in the room of his childhood home in the Sea Cliff neighborhood.

Susi and Fred Hulac view damaged family photos that were recovered all around Santa Rosa after their home was destroyed. Finders returned the photos with the help of social media. Susi and Fred Hulac view damaged family photos that were recovered all around Santa Rosa after their home was destroyed. Finders returned the photos with the help of social media. Fred Hulac and Susi Hulac hold their 1984 wedding photo, singed around the edges on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Petaluma, Calif.

A driver stops in a restricted parking area, above, as pas sen gers board a Megabus on the 300 block of Townsend Street, where many signs, below, appear contradictory at first. A driver stops in a restricted parking area, above, as pas sen gers board a Megabus on the 300 block of Townsend Street, where many signs, below, appear contradictory at first.

We may never know what happened to many people listed as missing in the Wine Country fires, which devastated Santa Rosa. We may never know what happened to many people listed as missing in the Wine Country fires, which devastated Santa Rosa. 42 people are known to have died in the Northern California wildfires, and many are still missing. 42 people are known to have died in the Northern California wildfires, and many are still missing. All that is left now are ashes and ruins.

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2016 file photo, people try to catch fish... Despite a personal push from Gov. Jerry Brown, the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Board of Directors gave a resounding “no” the other day to helping to pay for his plan for two 35-mile tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to help deliver water to the Central Valley and Southern California. The district was being asked to kick in $620 million to the project.

The Coffey Park neighborhood was devastated by the Tubbs Fire, but the neighborhood off Gold Leaf Lane, across the “line of sorrow,” has much less damage. The Coffey Park neighborhood was devastated by the Tubbs Fire, but the neighborhood off Gold Leaf Lane, across the “line of sorrow,” has much less damage. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit travels between a neighborhood that on one side is destroyed and the other intact.

A grove of trees near Trinity Road glows as it burns near a... The sight may be a bit disturbing, given the tragic wildfires in the North Bay. Nevertheless, organizers are going ahead with the fifth annual Napa Valley Coffin Races charitable event next weekend. The races, scheduled for Saturday in downtown Napa, feature coffins on wheels being pushed along a 230-foot course by teams of racers, some of them wearing Halloween costumes.