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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 12, 2012 14:28:57 GMT 8
Has anyone in their pursuit of records and information ever run across a roster of those surrendered on Corregidor?
On Bataan, it was pretty much impossible given the expanse, terrain and units scattered all over the peninsula but I was hoping there might exist a record of pow's on Corregidor who were surrendered.
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Post by wwalker on Sept 13, 2012 3:08:49 GMT 8
Hey Bob,
I'm not sure whether there is a list of those that surrendered on the fortified islands, but if there is it would be great to see a copy of.
WW
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Post by JohnEakin on Sept 13, 2012 3:25:24 GMT 8
Bob - I've seen a number of unit rosters on this website and other places, but nothing listing all the Corregidor POWs. It would be quite a job to sort out those who survived to captivity.
Since the Corregidor POWs arrived at Cabanatuan before those who went through Camp O'Donnell, there might be a Cabanatuan roster that would indirectly indicate Corregidor personnnel.
The only other source I can think of might be the NARA POW database and that would entail selecting the Corregidor units. I'm afraid, though, that there were enough Corregidor troops on Bataan and Bataan troops who escaped to Corregidor that it would be pretty inconclusive.
Good luck finding something.
John
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 13, 2012 3:51:32 GMT 8
It occurred to me that the command on Corregidor had some idea that eventually they would have to capitulate especially after the fall of Bataan and a complete list of service men and civilians would have been drawn up. Certainly there are rosters of the dead and dispositions of units after the war but I have found no complete list of the 12,000 or so surrendered. It seems there was more care given to listing the dead than the living.
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Post by JohnEakin on Sept 13, 2012 4:41:04 GMT 8
I'm always amazed at the amount and type of paperwork generated by the military and under the conditions which they do it. Sometimes it seems the typewriters were more important than rifles.
I've found Cabanatuan records of sentencing men to a term in the guardhouse (how bad would a POW camp guardhouse be?) Even while POWs they maintained records similar to morning reports. I guess old habits die hard.
Just the other day I found a letter chastising a young lieutenant for failing to do the proper paperwork when the Manila hospital was evacuated with 3 hours notice. All the senior people had already departed and he was the last man out so he was expected to file the report. On top of that, the poor guy was on Bataan at the time. If the Japs didn't get him, the brass was going to.
But bottom line in response to your question, the unit rosters and morning reports were current nearly until the fall of Corregidor, but they are by unit and it would take some work to consolidate them. A lot of those records were in the films John H sent the other day, but they were no where near complete.
The NARA POW database includes 25,469 prisoners of the Japanese in May 1942, so the records were compiled, but it will take some work to select those from Corregidor.
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Post by wwalker on Sept 13, 2012 4:54:12 GMT 8
Hey Bob,
One more thing just occurred to me. I have heard that when the last submarine left Corregidor before the surrender there was a complete list of all personnel sent with it. I think the date on that was May 02, but I'm not 100% on that at the moment (I'm away from my library). I do not know where this list is, or if it still exists. The significance of such a list would be that it should include all the guys that evacuated from Bataan to Corregidor. However, it would not be an accurate list of those that actually were alive at the surrender. During the time period between May 02-06 there were many KIA.
WW
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Post by okla on Sept 13, 2012 5:51:15 GMT 8
Hey John....Seriously, would you be at all surprised to learn that there were Morning Reports/Duty Rosters/etc prepared for the day of 6 May 1942, or for the following day, for that matter, whilst the Japanese guards watched? I wouldn't be astonished one bit. As was said, old habits/routines die hard. Cheers. Postscript...I also would not be taken aback to learn that these mundane chores were completed on 6 May 1942 and then Certificates of Destruction prepared and all immediately burned with the Officer of the Day witnessing and then signing the CDs just prior to General Wainwright returning from Bataan with the Surrender Party. Not to make light of the general situation on that dismal day, but it would have been no more ridiculous than the case of the 2nd Lieutenant that you quoted. Strange indeed.
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 13, 2012 7:33:36 GMT 8
John, I know at the end, the numbers of men changed from hour to hour as men were killed. There will never be an accurate number for a database but if a roster was found dated after the 1st of May, it would be fairly accurate +/- 200. With the number of artillery shells and bombs dropped on Corregidor in the last days, I would hazard to guess that many of those dead and buried were forcefully disinterred. I have a friend who lives near the Archives in Maryland. She owes me a favor and I may call it in for this project. If you should discover anything in the meantime, let me know.
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Post by JohnEakin on Sept 13, 2012 7:40:26 GMT 8
Since we're talking documents, let me hijack this thread a bit and share a list of NARA documents I found last week. This particular version came from AmExPOW, but I found the same thing in an old ADBC Quan. This list is various files which were copied to microfilm by NARA and contains files a former POW would have needed for filing VA claims and the like. Lots of rosters and morning reports. Each reel of film may be requested either on microfilm or on DVD. The cost is $125 and some of these reels may actually be 2 or even 3 reels - each at a cost of $125 each. Be aware, too, that some of these are very poor copies. bit.ly/Sg3Z43Don't try to order from the information given on these sheets. Send an email to Eric.Vanslander at nara.gov and tell him what reels you want to order. (I already asked and he's not aware of any alternate sources of these files.) A friend sent me reels number 68, 75, and 83 and I'll be glad to share them with anyone who has a need. But be aware that most are pretty dry stuff so be careful what you ask for. Most of these are rosters of medical units from Bataan and Corregidor and some files from Cabanatuan. I'm looking for reels 61 (2 reels) and 65 (3 reels).
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Post by Bob Hudson on Sept 13, 2012 7:52:57 GMT 8
Is it possible that a list of the command structure and officers on Corregidor exists and perhaps the names of the air Officers still there?
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