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Post by EXO on May 19, 2022 12:18:49 GMT 8
Chris Pierce joined us recently, and was asking:
I referred the matter to Bob Hudson, my first 'go-to" source for matters POW.
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Post by EXO on May 19, 2022 12:26:14 GMT 8
I have now received a copy of the correspondence which Bob Hudson of Filipino American Memorial Endowment sent to Chris Pierce. Bob had found Wolfe's name on the 60th CAC Roster and in sending Chris a copy, he writes: Hi Chris,
After a few hours of searching through my records, I have discovered little on Carl. I know he was in Harbor Defense with 60th Coast Artillery Corps. At the American Battle Monuments Commission site, www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/wolfe%3Dcarl , If you click on the link you will find that he is on the Wall of the missing. There is even a photo of the etching of his name on the wall with 37,000 other names click on it and print it.. You can print a memorial certificate from that site. I cannot find out how he died but I know he died on Corregidor. I found an April 30,1942 roster with his name on it thus I believe that he died in the time period between April 30 and the surrender on May 6, 1942. His date of Death is listed as March 2, 1945 but that is a default date for most MIA/Non recoverable personnel.
Wish I could be more helpful.
Robert
Robert L. Hudson Vice President FAME (Filipino American Memorial Endowment) bataanson.blogspot.com www.west-point.org/family/japanese-pow/BLR.htm
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Post by chadhill on May 19, 2022 23:35:52 GMT 8
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Post by ciganiste on Jun 22, 2022 1:10:13 GMT 8
I started putting together this website to gather all of the information that I find about my Great Grandfather: sites.google.com/view/carl-s-wolfe/homeFrom stories my Great Grandmother used to tell me and Records / Documents that I have been finding. He was taken prisoner after the May 6th surrender and stayed on Corregidor (for some reason or another) most likely the work detail Paul mentioned. The Japanese allowed him to write two post cards and a letter, delivered by the Red Cross to his wife which he mentions that he saw "Daisy Mae the other day" . My Great Grandmother always believed that he was buried alive in a tunnel during the 1945 recapture. But in dmether's Tailside Cemeteries post he states that Carl Wolfe was found in a Fox Hole near Bottomside near the Air Field. *Possibly killed during recapture (friendly or enemy???) A few of my questions are: Which Battery might he had been assigned to? Where would his remains be if they were found? How many other soldiers remained behind on Corregidor after the surrender?
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Post by EXO on Jun 22, 2022 6:33:29 GMT 8
Ciganiste, We have a couple of Rosters in our reference section which might give you some leads. As someone who has researched a bit about the retaking of Corregidor in 1945, I have encountered no stories yet about Americans being found on Corregidor, either alive or dead. This is not to discount the possibility, nay, probability that the Japanese executed any members of a work party that may have been on the island as of 16 Feb. Along those lines, I was told by a paratrooper that he heard women's voices in the darkness around Battery James, and that they were attempting to evacuate the island. The daylight brought no evidence of their existence.
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Post by chadhill on Jun 22, 2022 12:55:18 GMT 8
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Post by JohnEakin on Jun 23, 2022 3:49:10 GMT 8
Not to steal Chad's thunder, but rather than send all this to him to post I'll just cut out the middleman. After I told Chad that I didn't have Wolfe's IDPF, I ran a global search - which takes a while - and found an X file, Manila_Mausoleum_RP_X-1665, which is believed to be Sgt Wolfe. Throughout this file he is variously referred to as either a master sergeant or a lieutenant colonel. However, the only SN listed for him is an enlisted number so I suspect that he was a MSG. A few highlights from the file: Remains recovered from isolated grave on Corregidor, P.I. Found with Lt Col insignia and pocket compass with markings on the back Eng. Dept. USA 1917 Major's insignia and eye glasses, horn-rimmed, dark brown color were also found with the remains. The initial identification was by means of dog tag bearing: CARL S WOLFE, USA on one side and 6116805 on the other side. The remains were recovered by the 8122nd Special Search Team on 6 Nov 47 and were buried in Manila American Cemetery plot L, row 12, grave 75 on 26 Apr 1950. The ID recommendation was disapproved for: Lt/Col Insignia (Wolfe was a M/SGT) Pair of eyeglasses (Wolfe did not wear glasses) Dental comparison is negative and contradictory Discrepancy of 41/4 inches in height Engineer Department compass (Wolfe was a member of the Coast Artillery) The only point of favorable comparison is the recovery of Wolf's I.D. Tag. Records of the Adjutant General's Office indicates that M/Sgt Wolfe was a prisoner on Corregidor Island, P.I. and was declared dead 30 Nov 1944. A letter from Carl B. Lindow, former POW, stated that one of the other prisoners was "M/Sgt Carl S. Wolfe (Corregidor Nov 30, 1944) and he was suffering from beri bari, malnutrition, dysentery." Wolfe was assigned to Hq Btry 59th C.A. I would strongly suggest the OP contact the Army Casualty office and ask them to provide Wolfe's IDPF. Also ask them to determine who is the primary NOK and help them find as many family members as possible to obtain family reference samples (DNA) from. Contact information for Army Casualty is at: www.hrc.army.mil/content/The%20Past%20Conflict%20Repatriations%20Branch%20is%20an%20organization%20under%20the%20Army%20Casualty%20and%20Mortuary%20Affairs%20Operations%20Division%20(CMAOD)I can't send complete files to other than family members, but if Chris will message me with his email address I'll be glad to send it along.
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Post by chadhill on Jun 24, 2022 8:58:19 GMT 8
Nice job, John. Thanks for all the digging that you did, and for providing those details from X-1665. You're the man-
I hope Chris orders MSGT Wolfe's IDPF. I have a hunch that this is another one of those Corregidor mysteries that may possibly be solved, or at least partly so.
Best, Chad
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Post by ciganiste on Nov 23, 2022 22:56:19 GMT 8
Wow John!!! All of this news is amazing, my jaw is on the floor.
I have order my Great Grandfather's IDPF and they will be sending out DNA test to me and Carl's daughter (my Great Aunt)
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Post by ciganiste on Nov 23, 2022 22:57:58 GMT 8
Per Paul's request (to record here on the forum) here is my email reply to Paul and Bob (Back on May 19, 2022) Bob & Paul, I started putting together this website to gather all of the information that I find about my Great Grandfather: sites.google.com/view/carl-s-wolfe/homeFrom stories my Great Grandmother used to tell me and Records / Documents that I have been finding. He was taken prisoner after the May 6th surrender and stayed on Corregidor (for some reason or another) most likely the work detail Paul mentioned. The Japanese allowed him to write two post cards and a letter, delivered by the Red Cross to his wife which he mentions that he saw "Daisy Mae the other day" . My Great Grandmother always believed that he was buried alive in a tunnel during the 1945 recapture. But in dmether's Tailside Cemeteries post he states that Carl Wolfe was found in a Fox Hole near Bottomside near the Air Field. *Possibly killed during recapture (friendly or enemy???) A few of my questions are: Which Battery might he had been assigned to?
Where would his remains be if they were found? How many other soldiers remained behind on Corregidor after the surrender?
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