World War II Chronicles

A Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee ISSUE XXV, Summer, 2004 China-Burma-India The Forgotten Theater

By Becky Appledorn

With the 60th anniversary of D-Day in the forefront Flying Tigers and men such as Joseph Stilwell, Claire of people’s minds it is important to remember Chennault, and Orde Wingate led the Allied mission another front in World War II. Sometimes referred to success, but were rarely mentioned in the papers to as the “forgotten back home. theater” of the war, the China-Burma- Beginning of India (CBI) Theater American Involve- played an integral part ment in the War in the victory of the Allies in the Pacific. In 1941, President Even before Pearl Roosevelt issued a Harbor, when the secret executive order United States entered to organize a volun- the war, President teer group charged Roosevelt knew the with helping the success of the Allies Chinese to defend depended greatly on their capital from the whether or not China air. The volunteer could remain in the war and continue to fight the group was called the American Volunteer Group Japanese. The primary American goal in CBI was to (AVG) and consisted of 74 pilots and 20 planes. keep the Chinese actively involved in the Allied war The AVG fought as civilians; the Chinese govern- effort, thereby tying down Japanese forces that ment paid them $500 for each Japanese aircraft they would otherwise be deployed against Allied forces in shot down. The commander of the division was the Pacific. The Japanese quickly tried to destroy all Texas native Claire C. Chennault, Air Advisor to of China’s army and blockade its ports and rivers. China. The AVG’s, later known as the Flying After ten long years of fighting, the Japanese gained Tigers, were responsible for shooting down the first a major advantage because the Chinese lacked Japanese aircraft, and became immediate heroes in modern military equipment and strategies. CBI was the United States. Even though the Flying Tigers important to the overall war effort due to early plans fought for only six months, they were responsible for to base air and naval forces in China for an eventual shooting down 286 enemy planes. After the U.S. assault on Japan. Units like Merrill’s Marauders, the 1 The Forgotten Front Continued on Page 6 Merrill’s Marauders Heroes of the Burma Jungle By Scott Wentland

Stopping every hour along the sweltering trails of be closely coordinated with the Chinese 22nd and 38th Burma to burn the leeches off their legs with the Divisions to engage the veteran Japanese 18th Divi- ends of cigarettes, these men fight through extreme sion in Burma, around the strategically important exhaustion to complete their mission. The unit hears Burma Road to China. From February through the enemy within spitting distance as they march August 1944 the Marauders fought five major battles quietly, single file through the narrow paths of the (Walawbum, Shaduzup, Inkangahtawng, Nhpum Ga, jungle, up and down steeply inclined hills. Forgetting and Myitkyina) and 30 minor engagements. they were in a remote corner of the world, they have one thing on Many volunteers were eager to their minds: victory. fight the Japanese. Former Medi- cal Officer with Merrill’s Maraud- Known as “Merrill’s Marauders,” ers and author of Spearhead, the 5307th Composite Unit James E.T. Hopkins, M.D. re- (Provisional) fought under some membered that Merrill’s Maraud- of the most grueling conditions ers “looked upon the enemy as a ever endured in warfare during murderous subhuman species.” their 1,000 mile march through Bitter resentment resided in the the punishing terrain of China, hearts of many American soldiers Burma, and India. Often over- fighting the Japanese because of shadowed by the more high- the events at Pearl Harbor. profile units of European and Moreover, the Chinese and Pacific Theaters, the 5307th Burmese suffered deeply under Composite Unit was called to Brigadier General Frank Merrill. the tortuous Japanese military carry out a long range penetration occupation. Their suffering mission aimed towards disrupting Japanese communi- translated into an equally resentful outlook on the cation and supply lines in the China-Burma-India Japanese at that time. Hopkins said, “The men were (CBI) Theater. While President Roosevelt and Prime fighting for their country and their comrades.” Minister Churchill declared Germany the “first th priority,” the Japanese were not to go unchecked, and Their foes were not limited to the Japanese 18 th Merrill’s Marauders were among the most notable Division or other axis forces. The men of the 5307 forces to give the Japanese hell before the focus was faced terrifying terrain laced with some of the most shifted to the Pacific. deadly creatures earth has to offer. Merrill’s Maraud- ers fought disease with as much tenacity as they At the Quebec Conference in 1943 President fought the Japanese, ranging from amoebic dysentery, Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and other Allied typhus fever, to malaria, and even psychoneurosis. leaders decided that the Japanese military must be Few if any Marauders escaped the CBI Theater met with force in Southeast Asia. As a result, some without falling prey to some form of tropical disease. 3,000 rugged soldiers were assembled as the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), and given the code Sgt. David Richardson, former YANK Staff Corre- name: GALAHAD. Later the unit would be called spondent and the only reporter to march with the “Merrill’s Marauders” after its commander, Brigadier Marauders for their duration in CBI, remembered General Frank D. Merrill. Merrill’s Marauders were to 2 “you could go to bed at night, and you look at the guy next to you and he might be dead the next morning.”

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 2 The Japanese became a mere battle in the war of from fighting the Japanese, disease, malnutrition, and survival; conquering disease proved to be the tough- the terrain for months, Merrill’s Marauders were est hurdle. granted reinforcements of Kachin and Chinese troops, giving Brig. Gen. Merrill command of some Merrill’s Marauders embodied the notion of ‘doing 7,000 troops for the Myitkyina operation. The timing more with less.’ The size of the unit was numerically of the assault during that May was essential due to small relative to their missions and enemy. The the approaching monsoon season. The inclines of the average weight loss per man was approximately hills in and around Myitkyina were so steep that some thirty-five pounds, attributed to both mules carrying supplies slipped and disease and malnutrition. James E.T. plunged to their deaths. Hopkins remem- Hopkins, M.D. recalled that medical bers, “the steep slopes, the heat, the lack supplies were both limited in type and of water, the jungle, [and the] mud and quantity. Furthermore, the Marauders rain were beyond belief.” The combina- were poorly equipped due to monsoon tion of the hills and the increasingly conditions that made air re-supply heavy rains would make offensive challenging and unreliable. Oftentimes missions nearly impossible in the coming limited supplies and malnutrition bred months. more disease within the unit. After several days of joint attacks on Unlike Special Forces now, Merrill’s Myitkyina by Merrill’s Marauders and Marauders were not hand-picked. At their allies, Colonel Osborne led both reunions, some Marauders joke that Sgt. David Richardson, his 1st Battalion of the 5307th and the they would not have survived some of former YANK correspondent Chinese 150th Regiment to victory as the Special Forces training of today. they secured the air strip on May 17th. When facing such conditions David Richardson said, Immediately after securing the air strip, supplies and “They knew they weren’t hand picked. They volun- reinforcements were flown in to establish a base for teered, so they picked themselves. When you knew the allies capable of repelling Japanese counter you volunteered, you couldn’t complain.” Merrill’s attacks. General Stillwell ordered the Marauders not Marauders were not trained as elite forces are trained to take the city of Myitkyina itself until further today; they were mere volunteers answering their notice. One Marauder remembers the sound of President’s call. These men personified toughness, Japanese supply and transport trucks arriving by the and toughness supercedes any amount of training. dozens as the Allies would be asleep in their foxholes. Merrill’s Marauders’ missions largely revolved around Because of their close proximity, they could literally outflanking the Japanese behind enemy lines. The hear their enemy arrive, who would fight them the strategy envisioned by Supreme Allied Commander following day. The nights of anticipation were brutal. of South East Asia Command, General Joseph The days preceding the capture of the Myitkyina air th Stillwell, involved the 5307 Composite Unit flank- strip were not easy for the defending Marauders and ing the Japanese so as to trap the enemy between Allied forces. The last weeks of May saw several American-trained Chinese forces and the Marauders. counterattacks by Japanese forces. Merrill’s Maraud- Many thought General Stillwell was overly ambitious, ers became increasingly malnourished and ill as the but the Marauders’ success demonstrated pronounced days ensued, creating harsh conditions under which American capability. they fought. Grant Hirabayashi recalls, “The unit The shining achievement of the 5307th Composite strength was cut in half due to tactical operation, Unit was the capture of Myitkyina. Proving to be the exhaustion and disease by Myitkyina’s end”. At that Marauders’ most difficult mission, Myitkyina stood as point the Marauders had fought in five major battles the principle Japanese base for defense of Burma and some thirty minor engagements. Reinforcements th from the north, and was central to Japanese military were brought in as a large percentage of the 5307 operations in the CBI Theater. Physically exhausted 3 Merrill’s Marauders Continued on Page 14

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 3 General Claire Chennault Leader of the Flying Tigers By Aleea Slappy

He was a leather faced Texan- a great American in China. Claire Chennault learned to fly in the army aviator, known for his unorthodox ideas about fighter after WWI. He was born Sept. 1893 in Commerce, tactics and a cantankerous Texas but he spent most of relationship with his superi- his childhood in Louisiana. ors in the US Air Force. He Chennault graduated from was also a leader - a wise and college at Louisiana Normal humble man that led by School and became a inspiration. He was the man teacher. Upon the entry of that led the 1st American the United States into World Volunteer Group (AVG) in War I, Chennault enlisted in China to victory. Although the Army. He was commis- they only lasted six months sioned as first lieutenant in in China, in that short time, the Infantry Reserve follow- the AVG shot down 286 ing Officers Training Camp enemy planes under the at Fort Benjamin Harrison in leadership of that one Indiana. man- General Claire Lee A Chinese soldier stands guard in front of a line of Chennault. American P-40 fighters, painted with the shark- Chennault’s theories on toothed emblem of the Flying Tigers. military aviation, while In the early days of July advanced, were unlike any 1937 on the Marco Polo previously used, earning him Bridge, eight miles west of Beijing, Japanese troops the nickname “Radical Chennault.” In the 1930’s he were performing a nighttime marching drill. During the was given the position of U.S. Army Air Corps Chief drill shots rang out, allegedly fired by a small band of of Pursuit Training. Although Chennault was very Chinese insurgents. As a result, the Japanese troops active, he suffered from health problems. Often ill threatened to forcefully enter the town of Wanping with bronchitis, his flight surgeons ordered that he be and begin an invasion of China. They had already grounded and no longer fly. In Feb. 1937 the Army conquered Manchuria and planned to use it as a suggested that Chennault retire with his rank of launching base for their troops. captain. Two months later, on April 30th, Chennault retired from the US Army Air Corps. The following Months earlier, in April 1937, before Japan entered day he left from Louisiana to San Francisco and was into war with China, Claire Chennault retired from the soon en route to China. US Army. Madame Chiang Kai-shek asked Chennault if he would accept a three-month contract to survey The Chinese, prior to Chennault’s arrival, were able to the Chinese Air Force at a salary of $1,000 per month offer little organized resistance against Japan. While plus expenses. China provided Chennault with air and speaking at a gathering of China’s leaders, Chiang Kai- motor transportation; an interpreter and permission to shek complained that the only way for China to main- test fly any of the planes in the Chinese Air Force. tain peace was to allow the Japanese troops to come on Chinese soil whenever they wanted and to allow “Even before China, he was a great aviator,” said the Japanese to shoot at the Chinese without the Chennault’s widow, Anna Chennault, who met General 4 Chinese shooting back. Chennault at the age of 20 while working as a reporter

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 4 Within five months over one million Chinese lived Chennault’s proposed strike on July 23, 1941 and under the control of Japan. By the end of 1937, all of officially signed off on the attack. the major Chinese cities were under Japanese control. In November 1937, Shanghai, China’s most important Though the plan for the AVG received approval from port fell. A month later in December the president, there were still ob- 1937, Chiang Kai-shek’s capital of stacles to overcome. To ensure that Nanjing was captured. the operation would be a success, there were two companies set up. The China was in desperate need of help. first company was the China Defense Within three years of the outbreak of Supply. The China Defense Supply war, Japan had stationed approxi- Company was set up to manage the mately one million troops to maintain American aid going to China. The control of the seized Eastern China other company was the Central Territory. In the summer of 1938 Aircraft Manufacturing Company Claire Chennault went to the capital (CAMCO). The purpose of the of Yunnan Province in Western China General Claire Chennault CAMCO was to recruit and pay the at the request of Madame Chiang to personnel of the AVG. CAMCO create a new Chinese Air Force from an American recruiters went to Army and Navy stations to enlist mold. volunteers to work for CAMCO in China for one year; afterwards they would be allowed to join the military While in China in self-imposed exile, Chennault laid without a loss of rank. the foundation for the American Air Force. He con- vinced the leader of China, Generalissimo Chiang The US government knew it needed to take action to Kai-shek, that American B-17 bombers would force help China and protect the Burma Road. America the Japanese out of China. Chennault documented the granted one hundred Curtis P-40 Warhawk planes to tactics that would strengthen the American fighters China. Though these planes lacked the speed and such as interception, avoiding dog fighting, making a range of other planes during that time, they were diving pass and diving away when in better than the planes Chennault trouble. received from the Chinese govern- ment. The Japanese planes were more In October of 1940, Claire Chennault maneuverable than the Warhawks, had proposed a strike by American forces more speed in a dive and superior in China against the Japanese. He firepower. proposed that the strikes would be paid through a private corporation “The media in China had great admira- funded by the United States tion for Chennault,” says Anna government. Chennault con- The famed Flying Tigers insignia made Chennault. “There was a lot of vinced President Roosevelt to into a banner and presented to the Ameri- publicity for what he had done. send United States aircraft and can forces by the Chinese government. Although the US wasn’t in the volunteer pilots to help China (Courtesy of the US Air Force Museum) war the AVG still bravely several months before the U.S. helped China.” was at war. Although the US government made efforts to keep the By December of 1940, President Roosevelt approved operations a secret, they were leaked and reported on a secret order to from the American Volunteer Group in the June 23, 1941 issue of Time Magazine. The (AVG). The AVG was a group of American pilots and magazine filed a report when the 100 P- 40’s reached support crews from the Navy, Army, and the Marine Burma; it also noted that American pilots would fly Corps. The job of the AVG was to protect the Burma the patrols over the Burma Road. The first group of Road from Japanese attack. Roosevelt approved 5 Flying Tigers Continued on Page 16

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 5 The Forgotten Front Continued from Page 1 joined the war, the Flying Tigers became part of the ing their attack on Japan. Several months later the 10th Air Force, and continued to defend China from Air Transport Command (ATC) took over and flew the Japanese. the Hump through 1945, when the Burma Road finally reopened. The severe Japan takes Burma weather during monsoon season made this the most In 1942, the Chinese Nation- dangerous air route in all of alists were busy fighting off the operations of the Allied Communism within their Air Force. The planes suf- country. When the Chinese fered through heavy attacks 55th division in the east broke from Japanese fighters in their up, the Japanese Army quickly attempts to fly over the trained its sights north, snuck Himalayas. There were in behind the retreating Allies, several occurrences of the and closed off the Burma planes dropping cargo to Road. This strategic move cut make it over the steep moun- off the land route by which tains. Twice planes were Poorly equipped Chinese soldiers attempt the Allies could deliver aid to forced to drop bales of to repell a charge of 50,000 Japanese the Chinese Nationalist Chinese paper money into the along the Salween River near Burma. leader, Chiang Kai-shek. sky over Chinese villages. Before Burma could be Those crews that survived recaptured, several initiatives had to be undertaken. the crashes in the jungles of north Burma faced Chennault’s air force had to stay and protect the little chance for survival in a region full of snakes, Chinese capital and ground troops. Soldiers needed tigers, disease and the Japanese. The longest Hump to be airlifted out of China and operation lasted 93 days. Over into India to be trained with one million tons of supplies U.S. troops to advance into and 1.3 million troops were Burma. Most importantly, brought over the Hump. Along supplies and troops needed to with flying supplies to China, get into China—and a land the ATC supplied ground route was now out of the forces fighting in Burma. The question. ATC saved a large British force along the Indian border near The Hump Imphal by flying in more than 10,000 reinforcements and With Japanese troops occupy- more than 20,000 tons of ing Burma, an air route across General Joseph Stilwell with Generalis- supplies after the force had the country from India to simo and Madame Chiang Kai-shek in been encircled during a Japa- China proved very dangerous. mid-1942. nese offensive. Using gliders Allied forces had to find a way and C-47’s, they transported to get across the country safely. 9,000 British “Chindit” raiders To avoid Japanese anti-aircraft fire from Burma the under Major General Orde Wingate. In the north, only route possible was over the Himalayan Moun- Merrill’s Marauders fought through the Burma tains, dubbed the “Hump,” with altitudes of over jungle and were sustained mainly by airdrops by the 20,000 feet above the jungles of Burma and snowy Hump flyers. By war’s end nearly 600 aircraft and mountain peaks of China. The organization of the 1,000 men were lost flying over the Hump, but the Hump operation began in 1942 with the 10th Air impact of the flyers was immense. Force taking responsibility for getting gasoline to the 6 Dolittle Raiders, who were to land in China follow-

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 6 General Joseph Stilwell Merrill’s Marauders, suffered severely from heart problems. It was discovered later that Merrill had “Vinegar” Joe Stilwell, as he was nicknamed for a two heart attacks during his time in Burma. The blunt and often harsh personality, was regarded by group undertook a hard trek across rivers and steep many as the best field mountain passes, fighting commander in the U.S. off heat and disease; not Army when he was dis- to mention the Japanese. patched to China in 1942. It took eight days to get A Chinese linguist, he had out of Burma, but the war direct contact with Chiang was far from over for Kai-shek. Stilwell was Stilwell, who had used this given the task of oversee- time to plot his next move ing the implementation of against the Japanese. the Lend-Lease program between the U.S. and Stilwell’s plan was to train China. The Lend-Lease Chinese troops in India to was a $280 million dollar fight off the Japanese in U.S. promise to China to Burma. This plan was train and equip all 30 opposed by General Claire divisions of the Chinese Chennault, who wanted to Army to help fight the Lt. General Joseph Stilwell confers with use U.S. air power, Chiang Japanese. Chiang Kai-shek the leader of the GALAHAD offensive, Kai-shek, who wanted direct quickly gave Stilwell the Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill. control of the Chinese Army control of the Chinese in Burma, and the British, military, a power never who wanted all the men and before held by a foreigner. Stilwell soon became the supplies sent to Europe. By 1943 Stilwell was able Supreme Allied Commander of the Southeast Asia to start his GALAHAD offensive, an attempt to Command, in charge of all U.S., Chinese, and British reform the Chinese army. Stilwell’s plan proved forces. In the beginning of 1942 Burma was still successful and in 1944 the general commanded all controlled by the Allies. Unfortunately, Stilwell’s his troops, under Brigadier General Frank Merrill, to troops were soon defeated and forced to retreat out fight the Japanese in north Burma with the goal of of Burma. capturing Myitkyina. This would remove the threat of enemy fighter planes attacking Allied forces In 1942, following defeat and an eight-day trek flying the Hump. through the Burmese jungles, General Stilwell told a group of reporters that his Allied troops received a Now called Merrill’s Marauders, the GALAHAD “hell of a beating.” To top off the ego shattering offensive quickly struck Japanese outposts all along defeat by the Japanese, Stilwell’s troops—a combi- the Burma front. After four days of relentless nation of Chinese, British and Indian soldiers— attacks, the Japanese finally retreated. Merrill’s were ordered out of Burma. General Stilwell Marauders were not done yet; they slogged through refused a cargo plane sent to transport him to safety over 700 miles of Burmese jungle and pushed the in India, choosing instead to lead his troops out of Japanese 18th division out of Myitkyina. The Burma. Stilwell headed north with 100 people remaining Marauders, after receiving medical treat- following behind. The ragged group was made up ment for a variety of diseases, were sent back to of American, British and Chinese officers; as well as Burma with the Texas National Guard to join the civilians, doctors, and two female nurses. After two Mars Task Force. days of walking, many of the Americans began to suffer from heat stroke. General Frank Merrill, who Now that the Allies had cleared northern Burma, 7 would later come to fame as the commander of Stilwell could begin leading construction of the

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 7 Ledo Road and a fuel pipeline Lieutenant Colonel Bill from India to China could begin. Wellington flew with the group After the road was complete, and helped support the British by Chiang Kai-shek convinced evacuating many of their President Roosevelt to recall wounded. Wellington remembers Stilwell, due to a clashing of that despite the Chindits being ideals between the two men, in deep in the Burmese jungle they 1945. Stilwell departed China suffered far more casualties from and became Commanding Japanese combat than disease, General of the Army Ground unlike the other fronts moving Forces in the U.S. through Burma at this time. Wellington recalls the many different nationalities of passen- General Orde Wingate gers he picked up, including British, Indian, Ghurka, In 1943 Major General and Australian. Exempli- Wingate of the British Major General Orde Wingate, the charismatic and fying the risks involved Army was sent to form often controversial leader of the Chindits. with flying planes over the “Wingate Raiders,” Wingate would be killed in February of 1944 Burma, Wellington’s better known as the when his U.S. Army transport plane crashed in aircraft was frequently “Chindits,” to lead the India. As the remains of those on the plane were fired at by pockets of British front in northern unidentifiable, and most were American, it was Japanese resistance. The Burma. They used gue- decided to bury the all of the men, including the Japanese were also able to rilla tactics against the British Wingate, at Arlington National Cemetery. infiltrate the 1st Air Com- Japanese who up until mando Groups encamp- 1942 had not seen this ment and damage their type of warfare. Now they had to planes. fight an enemy they could not see. The Chindits were especially suc- The Ledo Road cessful in causing damage to Japa- nese supply lines. The Chindits sent In December of 1942, the Allies information back to the British decided to build a new supply road Royal Air Force to assist their from Ledo, Assam, India, to bypass operations. Because the Chindits the previously cut off Burma Road. were silently moving through the The British had begun to build what jungle at night, and traveling deep in was then-called the Burma Road in the Burmese jungle it was difficult the 1920’s, and the Chinese often for them to receive supplies. The used a mule path that snaked U.S. put together a unit to help through the mountains. The Allies supply the British, who were making decided to use both these existing great strides in weakening the “roads” to form a passageway into Japanese front and developing China. Many thought this task new fighting tactics. The U.S. unit A U.S. convoy slowly ascends the was impossible due to the tough started as the 5318th Provisional famous twenty-one curves at Annan, terrain and harsh climate in the Unit (Air), and eventually became China, along the Burma Road. areas through which the road was the 1st Air Commando Group. to be built. The builders faced Along with getting supplies to jungles, gorges, rivers, swamps, Wingate’s Chindits, the 1st Air Commando Group 8 evacuated wounded soldiers from areas of combat. The Forgotten Front Continued on Page 15

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 8 Speak Out By Hunter Scott World War II Veterans Committee National Youth Representative

I recently read an article by Ben Stein entitled “E- kids who sees her husband for the first time in a year Online Final”—his last article for the E-Online web because he has been serving in Iraq. The truth is, site. “On a small scale, Morton’s, while better than widespread appreciation for our military and veterans ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to,” he is growing faster than ever. Regardless of political wrote. After a few sentences on celebrities he has views, Americans realize that we are at war and that spotted there recently, he continued. “A bigger change our troops need our support. Finally, the true heroes has happened. I no longer think Hollywood stars are are being recognized for their service to the greatest terribly important…A real nation in the world—the star is the soldier of the 4th United States of America. Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole Still, each day there are on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. fewer and fewer remaining He could have been met by veterans of the Greatest a bomb or a hail of AK-47 Generation, and the time is bullets. Instead, he faced an coming when soon there abject Saddam Hussein and will be none. It is impor- the gratitude of all the tant, now, that we do what decent people of the world. we can to preserve the A real star is the U.S. Soldier stories of America’s true who was sent to disarm a heroes. Many stories bomb next to a road north remain to be told, and it is of Baghdad. He ap- up to the “Latest Generation” proached it, and the bomb Hunter Scott (left) with Chairman of the to carry on the legacy of went off and killed him. A Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers those who have come before. real star, the kind who haunts prior to the Committee’s Seventh Annual my memory at night and day, Edward J. Herlihy Awards Banquet in May. A particular story of interest is the U.S. Soldier in Baghdad to me that not many people who saw a little girl playing my age are aware of is the with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near story of the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater. where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside During WWII, the Allies’ goal in this particular field and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a of action was to help the Chinese fight the Japanese, family desolate in California and a little girl alive in who had taken over many ports and airstrips, to Baghdad.” disrupt the supply routes. Oftentimes battling the heavy wind and rain from the monsoons, American Ben Stein is right. A big change is happening. The troops would press on to win back the Chinese ports. “American Icon” is now shifting away from the movie Stories from the CBI Theater, and other theaters of stars and pop singers to the true heroes—our military operation, are an important part of our history and and veterans. Sure there is still some excitement there is a growing desire to learn about and tell these when the occasional celebrity wanders through stories before time runs out. Morton’s, but few things give many Americans more pride than watching the crew of the USS LaSalle Another story that has been preserved recently is the return from the Mediterranean after six months story of the USS Indianapolis. Following a series of deployed, or the excitement of a young wife with two 9 Speak Out Continued on Page 17

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 9 Join the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor 60th Anniversary Tour March 7-14, 2005

At 0900 on February 19, 1945, thousands of United States Marines stormed the volcanic sand beaches of the tiny island of Iwo Jima. Within minutes, the island would be engulfed in one of the bloodiest battles in history. Over 28,500 Marines and Naval Personnel were awarded Purple Hearts for the battle, with over 20% of those killed. Of the original Japanese garrison of over 21,000 men, only 216 would be taken pris- oner. The rest would die in battle, or were buried alive in the tunnels and caves that wound underneath the island.

Throughout the years, the legend of the heroes of Iwo Jima has grown, aided by the most famous image of the war, Joe Rosenthal’s photo of the flag raising atop Mt. Suribachi. In the decades since Iwo Jima was re- turned to the Japanese, it has become a tightly secured military installation with no tourist infrastructure. Base Price for Main Tour This is your one opportu- to Guam and Iwo Jima: nity to see one of the $3,495 Per Person/ world’s most hallowed and Double Occupancy Single Supplement Additional preserved war sites. $695 Land-Only Tour $2595 Coordinated by Military Historical Tours of Alexan- dria, Virginia, the 60th Anniversary Tour of Iwo Jima will take place March 7-14, 2005. This is your one Optional Pre-Tour Visits and only opportunity to honor the brave men who sac- rificed everything in this devastating assault on the Japa- to Saipan and Tinian and nese empire at the site where it all happened. Join tour Post-Tour Visits to hosts and veterans of Iwo Jima Lt. Gen. Larry Snowden and Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes, USMC, for what will truly Peleliu and Hawaii be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Available 10 Main Tour Highlights Include:

-- Welcoming reception on Guam -- Memorial Service and Wreath Laying at the Joint Me- morial overlooking the landing beaches on Iwo Jima -- Full day of Guam battlefield tours and visit to Andersen Air Force Base -- Visits to the Iwo Jima Landing Beaches, Memorial Sites, Green Beach, the base and top of Mt. Suribachi, Hospi- -- Governor’s Breakfast and Iwo Jima Anniversary Ban- tal Cave, General Kuribayashi’s Headquarters, and more quet with invited national and local dignitaries -- Farewell dinner at John Gerber’s Ranch and Museum, hosted by the Guam Chapter of the Third Marine Divi- sion

-- Free time for individual touring, shopping, and leisure

-- Special events sponsored by the World War II Veterans Committee

SPACE IS LIMITED...REGISTER TODAY!!!

To request additional information on joining the World War II Veterans Committee to Guam and Iwo Jima (with optional add-ons), please send this form to: Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima C/O Military Historical Tours 4600 Duke St. Suite 420 Alexandria, VA 22304-2517

703-212-0695; E-Mail- [email protected] Please be sure to mention that you wish to join the World War II Veterans Committee contingent

Tour information can be viewed at: www.miltours.com

Yes! I would like information on the 60th Anniversary Tour to Iwo Jima and Guam. Please send a tour brochure, full itinerary, and registration form to:

Name:______

Address:______

City, State, Zip:______11 Telephone, Fax:______Questioning the Questioners Interrogation Tactics of World War II By Jordan Michael Smith

Intelligence-gathering is by its very nature secretive. It military commander with clear and accurate informa- involves putting together pieces of a puzzle that tion can-and indeed has-influenced the outcome of don’t always fit. In fact, it quite often involves put- decisive battles. ting together pieces of a puzzle that are not meant to fit. Sometimes the information is naive, other times There are three classifications that methods used in deliberately misleading; sometimes the information is interrogation fall into: psychological, physical and insufficient, other times so mental coercion, and torture. Psychological interroga- abundant it becomes tion is completely legal contradictory. Perhaps under international law and most frustratingly of all, is widely accepted and the intelligence officer practiced in the interna- never knows what the story tional community. It refers is supposed to look like. to attempts to gather He has only his instinct information by simply and training to predict just talking to the prisoner. what it is exactly that the Now, the interrogator may enemy is planning. outsmart and deceive the prisoner-as we will see But if intelligence is the later-but there is never any meal, then interrogation is physical contact involved the after-meal drink. It is a and the prisoner is never in world of shady characters any pain. with hazy experiences. The An American soldier guards three captured Ger- information gathered from mans prior to interrogation during the Battle of In the Atlantic Monthly last a captured enemy is always the Bulge. year, journalist Mark suspect: how does the Bowden listed the methods interrogator know when involved in mental and the prisoner is telling the truth? How does the interro- physical coercion, a category that is informally re- gator know when the enemy is truly devoid of infor- ferred to as ‘”torture-lite.”’ “These include sleep mation? When he is spitting out half-truths? Even if deprivation, exposure to heat or cold, the use of he is sincere and forthright about his knowledge, is he drugs to cause confusion, rough treatment (slapping, correct? Is his information accurate? Interrogation is shoving or shaking), forcing a prisoner to stand for incurably untrustworthy-but it is still vital. days at a time or to sit in uncomfortable positions, and playing on fears of himself and his family,” he There is an added degree of difficulty for the interro- wrote. The distinction between torture and mental/ gator operating in wartime. He is forced to work with physical coercion, Bowden felt, was that “although an additional sense of urgency he is unburdened with excruciating for the victim, these tactics generally in a peaceful environment. He must supply his supe- leave no permanent marks and do no physical harm.” rior with the necessary information in a timely man- The Geneva Conventions, he added, make no such ner. His effectiveness can often quite literally mean distinction. Both the 1929 Conventions and their the difference between life and death for his fellow expanded 1949 counterpart explicitly prohibit any soldiers-and he knows it. Quickly providing his 12 type of interrogation more intense than the psycho- logical approach outlined above.

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 12 The final category, torture, is distinguished as being 4) INCREASED FEAR UP APPROACH: This intentional. Indeed, the notion of intent is the defin- approach is most effective on a younger and more ing characteristic of torture. When the interrogator is inexperienced source. Sources with something to hide, deliberately inflicting pain on the subject, he is engag- such as the commission of a war crime, are particu- ing in torture. Human beings have been torturing each larly easy to break with this technique. There are two other for as long as history reaches back to. Our distinct variations of this approach: the fear up methods have advanced, of (harsh) and the fear up (mild). In course, and technology’s ad- the former, the interrogator vances have been utilized to behaves in a heavy, overpower- maximize the pain a prisoner ing manner with a loud and experiences. The odd thing threatening voice. The interroga- about this is that, speaking tor may even feel the need to pragmatically, any coercion throw objects across the room to which created such fear that the heighten the source’s implanted prisoner would need to lie to feelings of fear. The latter is avoid the pain would be better suited to the strong, counter-productive to the confident type of interrogator as interests of the unit seeking there is generally no need to raise information. Torture will not the voice or resort to vandalism. necessarily reveal what the It is a more correct form of prisoner knows. What it will blackmail when the circum- reveal is that human beings will stances indicate that the source say anything to relieve them- does indeed have something to selves of excruciating pain. fear. The U.S. Army field 5) DECREASED FEAR manual describes seven- Countless German POW’s march through ruined DOWN APPROACH: teen different psycho- streets following the Allied capture of Aachen. This approach is used logical approach tech- American interrogators would put to use a variety of primarily on a source who niques and variations. methods to gather important information on German is already in a state of fear There are fourteen main tactics and strategy. due to the horrible cir- approaches and four sub- cumstances of his cap- approaches. ture. This technique is really nothing more than calming the source and 1) DIRECT APPROACH: The direct approach is convincing him that he will be properly and humanely simply the interrogator asking his subject straightfor- treated, and that for him the war is mercifully over ward questions. and he need not get into combat again. 2) INCENTIVE APPROACH: This is a method of 6) PRIDE AND EGO APPROACH: This approach rewarding the source for his cooperation by satisfying uses flattery or abuse to coax a prisoner into talking. It his needs. For instance, a properly-answered question is effective with a source who has displayed weak- would be rewarded with a cigarette. nesses or feelings of inferiority which can be effec- 3) EMOTIONAL APPROACH: The emotional tively exploited by the interrogator. There are two approach overrides the source’s rationale for resisting sub-techniques in this approach: the pride and ego up by using his emotions against him. The main emotions approach and the pride and ego down approach. The of any source at the time of capture might be either former approach is used on stupid sources, or those love or fear. The interrogator would direct inflamma- with low self-esteem. The subject is delighted at being tory questions at the subject in the hope of arousing praised, and keeps supplying information as attention anger in him, making him more likely to reveal impor- 13 is lavished on him. The latter approach is effective tant information. The Questioners Continued on Page 18

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 13 Merrill’s Marauders Continued from Page 3 fought beyond physical exhaustion. Some 200 of the was as good as any American soldier, though their original 3,000 Marauders survived the CBI jungles, limited training proved otherwise. Richardson said the with approximately two-thirds of total casualties lost Chinese “were terribly officered. They had many more to disease alone. Hopkins remembered, “Even now casualties, but the Marauders admired them in a way. many years after the battle for Myitkyina, I find it They were dogged.” Absent a Chinese alliance and hard to believe how horrible the conditions were. assistance, the American war effort against the There were many failures and problems but they were Japanese would have been far more difficult. At the not the fault of the American and Chinese soldiers or time, some thought China was to be a future jumping officers.” The conditions were ‘danger- ground for invasion of Japan. Hopkins ous and hazardous,’ and the men knew it noted, “Without the Chinese involve- going in, but the extent to which they ment in the war effort, the course of knew of the conditions was probably history could have been changed in a vastly understated. dramatic fashion.” Though the Chinese troops themselves were by no means Strategically, the capture of Myitkyina elite, China remained invaluable to the was the Marauders’ most important Allies. victory. Hopkins noted, “If Myitkyina and its airfield had not been captured, After a string of broken promises by then the two oil lines from Calcutta to Stillwell, over-ambitious mission objec- Myitkyina would have been completed tives, and unbridled exposure to disease, to allow Japanese planes to land and Merrill’s Marauders had plenty of refuel.” Capturing the all-weather airport reasons to break. Richardson said, “With resulted in dramatic increases of supplies by air to all the things that happened to them, another outfit China from the south. Myitkyina would give its would have broke. They never broke. They never occupier access to the Irrawaddy River as well. Some broke under stress and they stayed together to finish 13,686 tons of supplies were flown into Yunnan in the job.” Merrill’s Marauders had an unrelenting May 1944. With the capture of Myitkyina, supplies to mindset, with the saying ‘All we can do is fight; all we the area rose to 39,000 tons by November. It became can do is our best.’ David Richardson understood, a major supply base and crucial to the reopening of “Wanting to come out alive meant that you wanted the Burma Road on January 27, 1945. not only to live on but prevail. You wanted to be proud of what you’re doing. You wanted to win.” Merrill’s Marauders were not only of tangible impor- Pride in themselves and their country will not be tance, but symbolically crucial for Chinese involve- forgotten. ment. The Chinese forces suffered substantial defeats in Burma in 1942, and were reluctant to fight in the Merrill’s Marauders had character. Colonel Logan theater until they saw significant involvement by their Weston, the highly decorated ‘Fightin’ Preacher,’ western allies. While the United States provided joined the Army during his third year of theological nearly half of all air support in the CBI Theater, the school at Transylvania Bible School in Freeport, 5307th Composite Unit was the only American ground Pennsylvania, and volunteered to fight with the force operating on the mainland of Asia when their Marauders. As Richardson notes, Weston would say mission began. They were the first American ground to his fellow Marauders: “I’m sorry I had to kill those force in Asia in some forty years. Seeing American Japs, fellas, but today it was a case of either my forces take on the experienced Japanese forces on getting them or their getting me.” Weston and the equal terms in the jungle convinced the Chinese that men he officered fought brilliantly. There were several they were not alone. other great personalities of the Marauders, too nu- The Allies believed China’s sheer numbers were merous to name in a brief article, who are described extremely valuable to the overall war effort in Asia. in more detail in the various books written about the Richardson remarked, “The main strategic point of Marauders, including Spearhead by Dr. James E.T. 14 this operation was to keep the Chinese in the war.” Hopkins, The Marauders by Charlton Ogburn Jr., General Stillwell maintained that the Chinese soldier GALAHAD by Charles Newton Hunter, The Fightin’

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 14 The Forgotten Front Continued from Page 8 Preacher by Col. Logan E. Weston, and many more. and oceans of mud. British Prime Minister Winston The Nisei, Americans with Japanese ancestry, accom- Churchill thought the project mad and useless. panied the Marauders and played a crucial role in the American engineers brought in bulldozers, cranes, Marauders’ successes. Richardson said, “The Nisei power-shovels, caterpillars and steamrollers from were invaluable to us.” Because they were fluent in 12,000 miles away in the U.S. It proved to be an Japanese, they were originally intended to be inter- extremely difficult task, but the Ledo Road was preters. Grant Hirabayashi, a Nisei and former Ma- completed by Army Engineers in early 1945. In rauder, said among his duties were, “translating addition to building the 465 mile long Ledo Road, captured documents, maps, diaries; interrogating Army Engineers also upgraded about 600 miles of POWs and, under more dangerous conditions, crawl- the Burma Road. Both roads covered 1,079 miles ing within earshot of enemy position to intercept from Ledo, India to Kunming, China. The U.S. Army enemy conversations or oral commands.” Nisei spent over $148 million dollars and took two years to soldiers tapped into Japanese communication lines construct the Ledo Road. Today, the completion of and reported directly back to Merrill on the enemy’s this road is seen as a wartime and military engineering strategy. In battle, Nisei soldiers shouted out orders in miracle. Japanese and confused the enemy. Merrill’s Marauders would booby trap foxholes near the Japanese forces After the completion of the road, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nisei would shout orders to retreat to their named the passage that included both the Ledo and nearest foxholes. Sure enough, the enemy unit would Burma Roads “Stilwell Road” in honor of his former be devastated by the explosions. Chief of Staff. Though the war ended just six months later, more than 34,000 tons of supplies were The American 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) transported from Ledo into China across the Stilwell earned an awe-inspiring respect from their Chinese, Road. Burmese, Indian, and British allies as jungle fighting, front line soldiers in Asia. Domestically, the unit Like many aspects of the CBI Theater, the Ledo received little popular recognition relative to the units Road was quickly forgotten when the war ended. in Europe and the Pacific, though it was one of the Today only small parts of the road remain. To be most decorated and respected units of World War II. sure, many aspects of the CBI Theater have been The 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) itself was forgotten due to the greater amounts of manpower awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. Among its and material used on the other fronts in WWII. numerous decorations, six members of the unit were However, this theater cannot be forgotten. Chinese awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Cross, involvement in the war dominated American thought five members awarded the Legion of Merit, and 14 at all Allied Councils, beginning even before Pearl awarded the Silver Star. To date, 21 former Maraud- Harbor. The obstacles faced in Burma and the ers have been inducted in the Army Ranger Hall of military strategies used there had never been seen Fame, including Merrill himself. before. The experience on land in Burma trained our military to handle the punishing jungle terrain and As Richardson says, “we don’t pretend that our climate. The Hump flyers invented new ways to notoriety or fame matches the notoriety of those of transport soldiers and supplies that would benefit the D-Day,” but the men who served in the 5307th Com- military in years to come. The completion of the position Unit (Provisional) are as deserving of recog- Stilwell Road proved an engineering miracle. As nition and awe as any soldier in World War II. All Donovan Webster said in his book, The Burma Road. volunteered for a duty; many made the ultimate “The (CBI Theater was the) wettest, muddiest, most- sacrifice; some returned home to their families; every unknown, most-disorganized, lowest priority corner one of Merrill’s Marauders will be in America’s heart. of World War II.” It was also one of the longest campaigns of WWII, where the greatest defeat on For more information on Merrill’s Marauders, visit www.marauder.org land of the Japanese Army was seen; and where WWII heroes were made out of many men. 15 WWII

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 15 Flying Tigers Continued from Page 5 AVG pilots left San Francisco on July 10, 1941. depicted an R.A.F squadron in the Libyan Desert with Before they left, Chennault received Presidential shark nose P-40’s. Walt Disney animators in Holly- approval for a second group of bombers with pilots wood designed the Flying Tiger insignia at the request and gunners to arrive in November 1941. of the China Defense Supplies corporation. The insignia consisted of a winged tiger flying through a In August 1941, the AVG began their training in large V that stood for victory. Toungoo, Burma, 175 miles north of Rangoon. Every pilot that arrived before September 15th received six The Flying Tigers were comprised of three squadrons. hours of specialized flying and The first squadron was known 72 hours of lecture. By De- as the “Adam & Eves,” the cember 1941, when the Japa- second, the “Panda Bears” and nese bombed Pearl Harbor, the the third squadron was called AVG was already in the midst “Hells Angels.” Each time a of combat training. On Dec. member of the Flying Tigers 20, 1941, the AVG saw their accounted for a Japanese first battle when ten Japanese plane, China credited 100 bombers were spotted heading pounds sterling to the pilot’s toward Kunming, where the account. When a Japanese AVG was based. plane would crash into the Members of the “Panda Bears;” one of the ground, the pilot’s account was The first battle was three squadrons that made up the Flying enriched by 200 pounds Chennault’s opportunity to Tigers. sterling. prove that his military tactics had merit. Chennault’s military ideas had been criti- Through the middle of February 1942, the Japanese cized in the past, and if his military techniques were advances continued. During the spring of 1942, unsuccessful in this first mission, he would not get a Claire Chennault struggled to keep the AVG an second chance to prove himself. The AVG downed independent air force. At that time the AVG reported four bombers and disrupted the Japanese bombing directly to Chiang Kai-shek. There was pressure for raid on Kunming. On Christmas day, eight Japanese the Flying Tigers to join with the Chinese Army or the bombers and 48 fighters hit Rangoon. Twenty-three regular US Air Force. were knocked down by the AVG. The AVG didn’t suffer the loss of a single plane. On July 3, 1942, the AVG was disbanded and the 23rd Fighter Group took over their responsibilities. Five of In the AVG’s first 11 days of fighting they had offi- the AVG pilots joined the 23rd Fighter Group. On cially knocked 75 Japanese aircraft out of the sky. their final day in the air, the AVG knocked down five Meanwhile, the AVG had only lost two pilots and six enemy fighters over Hinyang. The official count of aircraft. By January 24, the Flying Tigers had claimed enemy planes shot down was two hundred ninety- 73 of Japan’s planes while only losing five of their seven, with more than fifteen hundred Japanese own. Airmen killed in the process. The AVG only lost twenty-one pilots. Under the leadership of General “They were doing a great job, they knew nothing Chennault, the AVG defeated the Japanese Air Force about this part of the world,” said Anna Chennault. in over fifty battles without a single defeat. “They were so young and willing, and many went to China and never returned home.” Chennault turned average military pilots into legends. The Flying Tigers and General Chennault were The AVG was known across the world as the Flying admired throughout China. One of the largest dis- Tigers. The AVG pilots copied a shark tooth design plays of affection took place on the day that on the noses of the P-40’s. The design came from an Chennault was leaving to return to the US. On August 16 illustration in the India Illustrated Weekly. The design 8, 1942, he was led through the city of Chongqing as

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 16 Speak Out Continued from Page 9 over two million people wished him a farewell. naval mistakes that lead to the sinking of the USS During this time, Chennault received China’s most Indianapolis, their Captain, Charles B. McVay III, was prestigious award, the “White Sun and Blue Sky.” made the scapegoat and court-martialed unjustly. The crew of the Indianapolis never saw the recogni- “Chennault was a leader, wise-yet very humble. He tion they deserved. For fifty years they tried to tell led by inspiration, he had the ability to show that he their story and exonerate their captain, but even in cared,” said Anna Chennault. the late 90’s few people had heard about the India- napolis or knew its role of delivering the first atomic Chennault spent a total of eight years in war against bomb to its launching point. Today, their captain’s Japan, and remained in China until August 1945. He name has been exonerated and honor has been re- died in Louisiana in 1958. stored to the final crew of the “Indy.” With thanks to many people who worked to fight for justice for the “He was a great American, he fought but he loved late cruiser, the stories of the survivors have been peace. He was a citizen of the world,” said Anna preserved and the USS Indianapolis is now one of the Chennault. “I considered him my husband, my com- best-known ships of WWII. panion, and mostly my teacher.” WWII Meeting... It is stories like that of the USS Indianapolis and the CBI Theater of Operation that need to be preserved. Anna Chennault The true heroes are finally being recognized and we must do what we can to record their stories. As Mr. Stein said, “I no longer think Hollywood stars are Anna terribly important.” The true stars are our veterans Chennault, and those who serve in the military fighting for our widow of freedom. These are the people we rejoice to see upon General their return. Claire Chennault, About a month ago I was returning from my 3/C found great MIDN cruise and I was wearing my “Summer success in the Whites” aboard the Delta Airlines flight. After I sat United States down the flight attendant came over and whispered following the that there were seats available in 1st class if I would conclusion of World War II. Madame Chennault like to move up after takeoff. Sure enough, once we (pictured above with World War II Veterans Commit- reached the proper altitude, she came back and tee interns Jordan Smith and Aleea Slappy), joined escorted me to my new seat. As I was walking China’s Central News Agency at the age of 20, where through the aisle I noticed another man in uniform she was assigned to cover the United States military. being escorted to his new seat too. I was filled with It was during this time that she met General joy, not because I was sitting in first class, but be- Chennault. cause our military is really being appreciated and treated like stars. We must celebrate and record the Following Gen. Chennault’s death in 1958, Madame stories of yesterday and embrace those of today. The Chennault moved to Washington, where she quickly men and women of the military are the stars of gained a reputation in academic and social circles, America. earning her the nickname, “The Hostess of Washing- ton.” Because of her knowledge of Far-Eastern (Hunter Scott is National Youth Representative for the World War II Veterans Committee. He was instrumental in persuading Congress to pass legislation to culture and politics, she went on to serve as an overturn the court martial of Captain Charles McVay of the USS Indianapolis. advisor for every Administration since Kennedy. Still, He is often asked to speak of his role in clearing the name of Captain McVay, her first love has always been writing, and she has and has spoken at numerous conferences throughout the summer, including at: World War II History Fair and Presentation in Logan, Utah; USS Indianapolis published over 50 books in both English and Chinese. 17 Search and Rescue Organization; American Legion Boys Nation; and numerous She still lives in Washington, DC. high schools across the country.) WWII

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 17 The Questioners Continued From Page 13 with egotistical or prideful individuals. The interroga- source or his organization. Careful arrangement of the tor attacks the source’s sense of pride, such as his material within the file may give the illusion that it intelligence or leadership, and the prisoner becomes contains more data than what is actually there. defensive and leaks information. 12) GOOD COP/BAD COP APPROACH: This 7) FUTILITY TECHNIQUE APPROACH: This approach takes advantage of the natural uncertainty approach is used to make the source believe that it is and guilt which a source has a result of being detained useless to resist and to persuade him to cooperate and questioned. Use of this technique necessitates the with the interrogator. The futility approach is most employment of two experienced interrogators who are effective when the interrogator can play on doubts convincing actors. Basically, the two interrogators will that already exist in the source’s mind. display opposing personalities and attitudes toward the source. At the time the 8) “WE KNOW ALL” source acts hopeless and APPROACH: This approach alone, the second interroga- convinces the source that the tor appears (having received interrogator already knows his cue by a hidden signal or everything. It is a very suc- by listening and observing cessful approach for sources out of view of the source), who are naïve, in a state of scolds the first interrogator shock, or in a state of fear. for his harsh behavior, and 9) “ESTABLISH YOUR orders him from the room. IDENTITY” APPROACH: He then apologizes to sooth In this technique, the interro- the source, perhaps offering gator insists that the source him coffee and a cigarette. has been identified as an He explains that the actions infamous criminal wanted by of the first interrogator were higher authorities on very largely the result of an serious charges, and he has inferior intellect and lack of finally been caught posing as human sensitivity. The A dejected German POW awaits interrogation inference is created that the someone else. In order to following his capture at Anzio. clear himself of these allega- second interrogator and the tions, the source will usually have to supply detailed source have, in common, a high degree of intelligence information on his unit to establish or substantiate his and an awareness of human sensitivity above and true identity. beyond that of the first interrogator. 10) REPETITION APPROACH: Repetition is used 13) RAPID FIRE APPROACH: The rapid fire to induce cooperation from a hostile source. In one approach is based upon the principles that everyone variation of this technique the interrogator listens likes to be heard when he speaks, and it is confusing carefully to a source’s answer to a question, and then to be interrupted in mid-sentence with an unrelated repeats both the question and answer several times. question. This technique may be used by an individual He does this with each succeeding question until the interrogator or simultaneously by two or more interro- source become so thoroughly bored with the proce- gators in questioning the same source. In employing dure that he answers questions fully and candidly to this technique the interrogator asks a series of ques- satisfy the interrogator and to gain relief from the tions in such a manner that the source does not have monotony of his method of questioning. time to answer a question completely before the next question is asked. This tends to confuse the source, 11) FILE AND DOSSEIR APPROACH: The file and he is apt to contradict himself, as he has little and dossier approach is when the interrogator pre- time to prepare his answers. The interrogator then pares a dossier containing all available information 18 confronts the source with the inconsistencies, causing obtained from records and documents concerning the further contradistinctions.

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 18 14) SILENCE APPROACH: The silence approach includes spies, armed prowlers, parole violators, may be successful when employed against either the medical personnel and chaplains, civilian internees, nervous or confident-type source. When employing insurgents, defectors, refugees, displaced persons, and this technique, the interrogator says nothing to the agents or suspected agents. source, but looks him squarely in the eye, preferably with a slight smile on his face. It is important not to There are three purposes of interrogation: obtaining look away from the source, but force him to break eye military information, converting the individual, or contact first. The source will become nervous, begin breaking his will. The former purpose is almost to shift around in his chair, cross and re-cross his legs, always the reasoning behind interrogation. The and look away. He may ask questions, but the interro- interrogation of prisoners captured by Chinese forces gator should not answer until he is ready to break the in the Korean War from 1950-1953 was unique in silence. that the gathering of intelligence was secondary to ‘reprogramming.’ The prisoner, once correctly ‘reedu- One could be forgiven for thinking that the more cated,’ was to have accepted the political, economic complex tactics outlined above are the most effective. and social dogmas of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin. Strangely, of the techniques, only the direct approach Any obstinate soldier who maintained his previous is effective by itself. In fact, the US military found the beliefs was labeled as a ‘reactionary.’ For the Chinese, direct approach effective approximately 90% of the Allied soldiers were simply misguided; once they saw time in World War II and 95 % effective in Vietnam, the absolute truth of Marxist dogma, they would Urgent Fury (Grenada), Just Cause, (Panama), and come to join the Communist struggle. Desert Storm (Iraq). The Germans in World War II estimated similar rates of success, saying about 97 or The progress toward the contemporary trained mili- 98 percent of Russian prisoners, officers, and enlisted tary interrogator (as distinguished from the torturer) is men alike spoke freely. What was the reason for the a 20th century phenomenon. It represents an evolu- success of the direct approach? The most fruitful tion of military science in general and military intelli- period for interrogators is the first few hours after a gence in particular. WWII was the first time that soldier has been captured, when he is shocked, trained interrogators appeared in the U.S. military. The disoriented, and fearful. Most armed forces do not creation within the military of permanent corps of actively train their soldiers, especially lower ranking professional interrogators is a recent development in troops, in resistance techniques; prisoners will usually military science. Usually, an amateur such as a com- answer direct questions with little or no hesitation. mander would act as the interrogator. Now, interroga- tors are chosen from individuals who have an interest in human nature and, contrary to popular belief, are The United States has the largest publicly-accessible affable, moderate in temperament, and easy to get body of literature on the art and experiences of along with. An interrogator must be able to get a interrogation in the world. In fact, according to prisoner to cooperate with him. This often involves philosopher Paul Fein, as of 1994, the U.S. was the befriending the prisoner, comforting him, or playing only country in the world to even publicly publish its the good cop to a partner’s bad persona, as will be policies on interrogation of prisoners of war. Fein’s elaborated on below. 1994 dissertation, titled We Have Ways…The Law and Morality of the Interrogation of Prisoners of War, argues that the U.S. has the most developed laws for interro- If World War II was the greatest war, as it is often gation in writing and the most extensive treatment of called, then the interrogators of World War II were legal protection afforded prisoners of war during the greatest ones. And of all the greats, the “Ritchie interrogation. Boys” stand out. The legal definition of a P.O.W. has changed consid- The Ritchie Boys were a group of German natives erably over the years. The contemporary Prisoner Of who had fled to America in the 1930’s, only to be War is defined as anyone who is captured during a war drafted following Pearl Harbor and involved in and for reasons related to the executions of war. This 19 interrogation against captured Nazi soldiers. Their

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 19 naturally extensive knowledge of the German Guy Stern was drafted in 1943 and did his basic language, culture, and people made them priceless training in Texas. His Maryland training utilized 25- weapons in the campaign against the Nazi war 30 German soldiers used as guinea pigs for ques- machine. tioning. The captured soldiers were quite willing to help with interrogation training; their The secret Army unit group took its alternative was to help with grueling name from its training camp in Camp farm work in Kansas. Maryland boasted Ritchie, Maryland. After researching comfortable quarters, little responsibility, German emigrates led him to discover and good food. Their acquiescence them, German filmmaker Christian proved valuable; Dr. Stern interviewed 7 Bauer documented the group’s exploits or 8 prisoners during the training period, in his film The Ritchie Boys. Among what so he was better prepared when de- Bauer found intriguing about the men in ployed. the unit were their lives after the war. “The war was only one chapter in The one term Dr. Stern used over their remarkable lives. Afterwards, and over in our conservation was they enjoyed careers in the sciences, A young Guy Stern “psychological warfare.” This was politics, or business,” he said. The the point, he said: to outsmart the group’s ranks included author Hans prisoner. It was a battle of minds Habe, Klaus Mann (the son of Thomas Mann), between the prisoner and the interrogator-except the writer Stefan Hyme, director Hans Burger, and prisoner was usually unaware it was going on. This David Robert Seymour, co-founded of the Magnum gives the interrogator a huge advantage, opening the photo agency. possibilities for different approaches. Dr. Guy Stern rose from Dr. Stern described three The Ritchie Boys to be- techniques-all of which are come a Distinguished among the approaches in Professor of German and the US Army field manual Slavic Studies at Wayne outlined above. He called State University in Detroit, his first approach, “over- Michigan. Even though he whelm with knowledge.” has a PhD and some post- He must be propped full of doctoral work on his re- information about the sume, “the studying I did at prisoner. This requires the camp [in Maryland] was intense training and educa- the most difficult I’ve ever tion on the part of the done,” he says. interrogator. The trainee interrogator must know Guy Stern (far left) is seen during an interroga- The World War II Veterans everything. He must re- th tion of German POW’s. Committee held its 7 member thousands of Annual World War II pieces of disparate informa- Conference recently, on tion to call upon during interrogation. He must be May 27-29, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Stern was a able to recognize the prisoner’s division by their speaker at the conference on the topic of ‘Interro- insignias, often down to the battalion. The point of gating German War Prisoners.’ Along with his very uniform recognition is to facilitate the interrogator’s unique experiences, Dr. Stern’s presentation was command of control. If an interrogator knows his made distinctive by his humor. After watching a prisoner’s division or even battalion, he can recall recording of his speech, I was amazed at just how the history of the unit the prisoner was it. The funny the man is. When I spoke to him over the 20 interrogator can call upon specific atrocities that phone, however, I was also struck by how sharp he is

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 20 occurred, or battles that were won or lost, to illus- organized Allied Translation and Interpreter Section trate the extent of the interrogator’s knowledge (ATIS) in Sept. ’42 to be dispensed in Japan. about the prisoner. This often shocks the prisoner, who then becomes so convinced of his Dr. Stern arrived at Utah Beach in France after interrogator’s superior knowledge that he feels it is stopping in England for some additional training. He futile to hold information back or give false infor- was interrogating his first prisoner-who did not seem mation to his master. The approach as depicted here to be acquiescing-when a mortar shell went off corresponds exactly with the “We Know All” close by. The prisoner, Dr. Stern says, immediately approach outlined above. got scared, and he knew it was his time to strike. This was an example of fear working unintention- The second approach Dr. Stern ally. Though Dr. Stern had no describes is called “Ingratia- foreknowledge about the shell tion.” It involves what he called going off, he used it to his being “buddy-buddy” with the advantage. The man, tempo- prisoner. He would assume a rarily shell-shocked, let his role and pretend to befriend the guard down and Dr. Stern was frightened man. It might seem able to pump information out superficial, but when a prisoner of him. is separated from his fellow soldiers, completely disoriented, The most wanted men for and unsure of his surroundings, interrogation were those in his future, whether he will ever charge of the whole transport: see his family again, and even Professor Guy Stern relates his experi- “the pay-off guys,” as Dr. Stern whether he will seen another ences to attendees of the recent World calls them. These men would day, the prisoner usually be- War II Veterans Committee’s Seventh have the top-level information, comes extremely lonely. The Annual Conference. such as what the routes and likable and seemingly trustworthy interrogator can means for transforming artillery exploit this loneliness by befriending the prisoner- and supplies to the SS were. perhaps giving him some cigarettes or food-and, Every soldier is full of good stories and Dr. Stern is when trusted as a friend, explaining to the prisoner no exception. One of his involves working with Sgt. why it is in his interest to talk to this captors. The Fred Howard. Ritchie Boys were especially good at this technique because their fluency in German meant that there “We had taken Russian medals from our German was no language barrier serving as an obstacle to soldiers who had taken them from their Russian communication. The Boys could ask a prisoner prisoners. And we combined them with Russian about his hometown and discuss this with him. Dr. uniforms that we had managed to piece together,” Stern tells of one story when a conversation about a Dr. Stern said. He added that every German soldier soccer player from the prisoner’s hometown facili- was terrified of the Russians. The USSR suffered tated camaraderie between him and his subject. This tremendously in World War II, and the battle at is called the “Emotional Love” approach in the US Stalingrad stands as one of the worst battles in Army Field Manual. history. Moreover, the USSR was led by the ruthless dictator Joseph Stalin, while the US and British “Fear.” That is the ominous-sounding name of the forces were led by Franklin D. Roosevelt and Win- third approach of Dr. Stern. He is quick to make ston Churchill, two very humane men who are qualifications: any G-1 operation is taboo. I have no rightly regarded by history as gentle warriors. Stalin idea what this means. Dr. Stern’s use of this tech- made no pretense about adhering to the Geneva nique will be described below. Conventions, which America had signed in July of Ritchie opened in June of 1942, and its recruits 1929. All of this combined for a ruthlessness among 21 went through an intense 8-week course. MacArthur the Russian forces, especially when dealing with

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 21 captured Nazi soldiers, that Hitler might have been abide by it.” Indeed, the Conventions came up often proud of. in our conversations, and it is clear that Dr. Stern was told to outsmart the enemy-never to use coer- Sgt. Howard was the first to approach the prisoner. cion or torture, anything that would violate the “He would say things like ‘I feel sorry for you-you Geneva Conventions. seem like a good guy, just cooperate,’ you know, to try and soften the prisoners up,” Dr. Stern recalled. “The second reason is practical-torture is ineffective “We don’t want to have to put you in Russian as a technique,” he says. A prisoner is so over- hands-that sort of thing.” whelmed with pain it is not surprising that he will say anything to relieve himself of the pain, including If the prisoner was unwilling to cooperate with Sgt. lying. False information is usually what is extracted Howard, in would walk Dr. Stern-dressed up as a under torture. Indeed, top commanders conceded to Russian commander! He laughs when he says this: “I the New York Times on May 27th that they had would come in and say, oh boy, you look like a learned “little about the insurgency” from the torture healthy specimen. I’m getting annoyed because half and coercive interrogation. of my prisoners are dying on the way to the salt mines.” It was this measure of creativity that made “Did you ever cross the line?” I asked. He responds Dr. Stern a great interrogator. immediately: “Oh sure, we got angry, we were human. We wanted to rough them up. But we never He adds: “I would bring with me a picture of Stalin- did. Ever. We never touched them. Instead, we gave signed and dedicated to me as the Russian com- them unpleasant work assignments.” mander.” It is as if Dr. Stern was assembling props for a skit-which is exactly what he was doing. “Usu- It would have violated his ethical and professional ally the men would crack. If not, I would start objective to get violent, Dr. Stern said. yelling at him and telling him I was going to get him.” Newsday reports that a central problem was that, as senior officials have testified, three different sets of The two interrogators would then simulate an interrogation policies were used. Those cited in the argument, with Sgt. Howard playing the humane Army field manuals above were only one of them-an American, and Guy Stern acting as the vicious USSR entirely new set was created for interrogators in commander. Dr. Stern was asking to be left alone Afghanistan and another for those in Iraq. Journal- with the prisoner, with only the prisoner’s imagina- ism professor Mark Danner wrote in the New York tion to conjure exactly what would be done to him. Review of Books that “some of the techniques seem Sgt. Howard would interject and protest that the clearly designed to exploit the particular sensitivities man was still a prisoner of the Americans-and so the of Arab culture to public embarrassment; particu- commander couldn’t do anything with him. Sgt. larly in sexual maters….the American military, of Howard would say to the prisoner, “Please, talk to course, is well aware of these cultural sensitivities.” me, I don’t want to do this to you,” appearing as the Dr. Stern too was well aware of German cultural sympathetic guard. This was the good cop/bad-cop sensitivities-but he never even came close to viola- routine that has been so imitated on TV dramas and tions of international law. B movies-and it worked. “Then they would talk. Always.” I can hear Dr. Stern smiling over the phone Justly awarded a Bronze Star for his important work when he tells me this-and I am smiling too. in WWII, Dr. Stern emphasizes that “this was my war.” Since he was Jewish and German, “I had a It seems impossible to discuss contemporary Ameri- dedication even more than most GI’s-this was can interrogation techniques without mentioning the personal.” Indeed, the Ritchie Boys have retained a Abu Gharib torture scandal. Dr. Stern was so dis- close circle, with members of the 5 or 6 teams mayed and confused about the scandals, for two reuniting for the film based on their lives. “I’m just reasons. “The first is that these violate Geneva 22 happy I got to contribute something,” he says. Conventions. They were a strict code and we had to WWII

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 22 World War II: Sixty Years Later Remembering Liberation 60 Years of Paris’ Freedom By Scott Wentland

August 25, 2004 marks the 60th anniversary of the Adolf Hitler, knowing the grand significance of Allied liberation of Paris, France, a critical turning Paris both strategically and symbolically, demanded point in World War II. Paris to be defended at all costs. He ordered General Dietrich von Cholitz, For four long years, the the commander of the Third Reich cast its German forces of callous shadow over the occupation, to not let horizons of the “City of the city fall into Allied Light.” Nazi Germany hands. Hitler knew had conquered Paris on Paris’ liberation was June 16, 1940. Before eminent due to the fact the United States had that the Nazis were officially joined the spread too thin across Allies in World War II, Europe and had been the fight against the undertaking extraordi- fascists, Nazi conquest narily high casualty was literally in the rates since D-Day, a backyard of Parisians. couple of months The French fell to an before. Hitler then gave enemy that took a world the order to destroy the to defeat. city. General von Cholitz had explosives Though war surrounded laid under Paris’ bridges Paris for four years, the An American officer and a French partisan crouch and many of its notable storied city was seen as behind an automobile during a street fight following landmarks, but dis- too precious to be the Allied invasion in 1944. obeyed Hitler in its carelessly destroyed, execution. General von even to the Nazis. Cholitz did not want to There was surprisingly little damage to the city’s go down in history as the man who destroyed the infrastructure. Paris’ most famous buildings and “City of Light.” landmarks were respected by the Nazis, who had shown no such respect for London and other famed The Parisians were not as lucky as the city itself. cities of Europe. Notre Dame Cathedral was left The Nazis showed little compassion for its citizens. almost untouched. Napoleon’s tomb, at Invalides The occupation brought vicious oppression. Cur- Palace, remained undamaged. Hitler had visited fews were imposed nightly, food was rationed, and there in 1910 with visions of succeeding where there was rampant persecution of the city’s Jewish Napoleon failed in his global conquest. The population. With the Nazis came anti-Semitic Luxembourg Garden area, where the Germans had propaganda and the execution of a historic evil. In made their last stand, was the area with the greatest 23 the month of July 1942 alone, the Nazis sent 13,000 damage.

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 23 Jewish Parisians to their deaths at Nazi concentra- side the American 4th Infantry Division. French Brig. tion camps. There were many among the French Gen. Jacques Leclerc commanded the French 2nd population who collaborated Armor Division as they helped with the Nazis, some more the Americans secure Paris on than others. Charles de Gaulle, August 25, 1944. after the dust settled from the war, made it a priority to The fight for Paris itself was punish those of the Nazi- little to speak of relative to designated Vichy government other major conflicts of World who ardently collaborated with War II. The preceding fighting at the Nazis. Normandy and throughout France was far more fierce than It was thought that Nazi any fighting in and around Paris’ Germany, at the height of its city limits. There was moderate power in the summer of 1940, resistance for a brief period when it had invaded France, during the night of August 24- was a permanent global force. 25, but by morning some 20,000 Hitler preached the perma- German troops either surren- nence of the Third Reich and dered or fled back toward its thousand-year reign. Germany. Snipers and stubborn Though the French govern- detachments remained fighting ment surrendered to the wrath American troops drive their tank past in various parts of the city, but of the Nazi military machine, the Arc de Triomphe following the the tanks still rolled through the there were many among the liberation of Paris. center of Paris, signifying that French population who be- new leadership has arrived. lieved the war was not over. Their fate was not sealed. While insurgents within The liberation of Paris was historically significant the mainland of France for a variety of rea- were active during the sons. Primarily, it was a years of occupation, symbolic turning point the French resistance in the war against within the mainland tyranny. The Nazis had was too sparse and captured Paris at the unorganized to make a height of their power significant impact. The in 1940. By the time of organized Free French Paris’ liberation, the forces, officially known Axis had suffered as French National exhausting defeats in Committee of Libera- Africa, Russia, and tion, were comprised Europe. Nazi Germany of troops from free was in retreat to colonial French lands Troops from the 28th Infantry Division of the United defend the Fatherland, To order, send $22.95 for around the world. States Army march down the Champs Elysees, Paris, in rather than being on each copy desired (includes the Victory Parade of August 29, 1944. Generalshipping andCharles handling) de to: the offensive and GaulleWorld refused War II Veterans the seeking conquest. Paris French Committeesurrender. His was the first Allied Free 1030French 15th troops St. NW, equippedSuite 856 with American-made capital liberated, signifying the restoration of self- Washington, DC 20005 armor assisted in Allied efforts in Africa, and ulti- 24 government to Allied countries. Current French matelyFor additional freed info,his capitalcall 202-777-7272 on August 25, 1944, along Military Attaché to the United States Major General ext. 220

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 24 Pascal Vinchon says, “for the Allies, I am not sure In one case, the love extended by the Parisians hurt. how strategic it [Liberating Paris] was, but for the Maj. Gen. Roberts remembers “one enthusiastic French it was extremely important person throwing a wine bottle into and very symbolic.” Paris had the the jeep, and hitting a guy in the infrastructure in place for the head. He got a purple heart for being reinstitution of French government, wounded in action.” Of course, the which could accordingly aid in the gesture was a welcoming one. But it remaining war effort and begin the showed the liberating troops that rebuilding process. The Free French snipers were not the only danger to forces had been essentially fighting keep an eye out for. It was said that without a government behind it. the city of Paris woke up on August Morale for the French troops thereaf- 26, the day after, with a “terrific ter transformed from uncertainty to hangover.” certainty of success. Under the leadership of Charles de Men and women lined the Gaulle, France contributed streets screaming with some 400,000 troops to the Punishment for collaboration with the emotion until their voices war effort to help the Allies Germans was not limited to government were hoarse, exclaiming, bring down what was left of officials. This girl suffered the humiliation “God bless America! You the Third Reich, ensuring of having her head shaved because of her have saved France.” Though nothing but absolute surren- personal relations with the Germans. France had its share of Nazi der. collaborators, the vast majority of the population For the Allies, Major General James Milnor Roberts felt ecstatic and relieved knowing tyrannical rule said “[The liberation of Paris] was strategic because would no longer assail Parisians. That day, the it was a communications Tricolor, American, and center among other things. Union Jack flags would be Communications in France hung on the Eiffel Tower, revolved around Paris.” then symbolizing a profound Because Paris itself was friendship among Western rarely bombed by either the nations. Axis or Allied forces during its capture, much of its Corp. Michael Tkacsik told infrastructure had been left The Associated Press on intact. It could then be used August 26, 1944 that, “I’ve as a strategic point for never been kissed by so many communications, and women before in my life. accommodate to the war Scott Wentland (right) with French Defense Attache Today made up for 2 ½ effort thereafter. to the United States, Major General Pascal Vinchon years I have spent (left) and Major General J. Milnor Roberts, who was overseas in Iceland, American troops marched with the American forces as they liberated Paris in England, and France. It through Paris receiving an August of 1944. showed me what we are ostentatious welcoming fighting for, and what by a grateful city. General Roberts, one of the liberty means to these people.” The liberation of soldiers who walked the streets of Paris the day it Paris, moreover, the liberation of Europe from a was liberated, remembers that the Parisians “greeted despotic dictator is consistent with the ideals under us very enthusiastically. They gave us bottles of which Americans fight: liberty. wine, and in some cases flowers. Some entertained WWII 25 us in their homes until we left to go east.”

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 25 In Their Own Words Books Authored by World War II Veterans

Books written about World War II are becoming more and more popular, as the public seeks to learn more of the heroics displayed by our men and women who served. While the works of authors and historians are valuable and entertaining, a great untapped source of history resides in the stories of the veterans themselves. A great number of veterans have written books on their own stories, with many being published. World War II Chronicles is proud to showcase excerpts of books written by veterans of World War II. To submit a book to be highlighted in In Their Own Words, please mail to:

World War II Chronicles Attn: Editor 1030 15th St., NW Suite 856 Washington, DC 20005

J. Francis Angier was born to fly. Raised on a Ver- As we approached the island of Helgoland, just mont farm, trained as a B-17 pilot and later as a jet north of the German coast, we turned right, accord- and helicopter pilot, his aviation career spanned ing to the briefed route that would take us along the over thirty years. His love of flying was only ex- east side of the Weser River estuary. We saw the ceeded by his love of family and country. usual flak coming up from Helgoland, letting us know the enemy was awake, but it was too far away Shot down over Germany on his 33rd combat to bother us. mission in October of 1944, he spent over seven months as a POW before being liberated. His Our penetration of enemy territory was through training, air battles capture and survival reported light defenses over a cloud are part of the story. So too are many of cover—according to weather fore- the experiences that positioned and casts—at about 2,200 feet. This cloud prepared him for his adventures. cover obscured the coastline, and when I observed the first anti-aircraft fire from the mainland, it appeared to be eight to ten miles ahead and dead level Ready or Not: with the groups flying in front of us but Into the Wild Blue considerably to the right of our flight by J. Francis Angier path. Another four bursts of heavy 1944 October 25, The Longest Mission caliber fire appeared dead ahead of our aircraft, and as I was flying to the right The aircraft assigned to us on October of and somewhat higher than the lead 25 was 42-97899. I conducted the pre- squadron led by Capt. Bill Doherty, I flight inspection with my flight engineer moved the squadron slightly to the left T/Sgt Howard Lang and the ground-crew chief as to avoid subsequent fire. well as the communications and armament people Meanwhile we were conducting an oxygen check. I until we were satisfied with the condition of the had advised the crew there was flak at our level at plane. It was in excellent shape, nearly new, so we 12 o’clock. “Check your flak suits and oxygen and took off and climbed up through 23,000 feet of fog acknowledge, please.” Just as the tail-gunner, S/Sgt. and weather to assembly altitude, where I assumed Maynard Judson acknowledged, three bursts of flak my position in the formation as leader of the high 26 appeared immediately in front of us and the fourth squadron.

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 26 burst struck between the No. 3 and No. 4 engines, Approximately two-and-one-half minutes had blowing a large hole in the leading edge of the right elapsed since we were hit by the burst of anti- wing approximately three feet by six feet and back aircraft fire. It was generally agreed that a B-17 into the wing as far as the main spar. would explode in about 40 seconds after being on fire. I lost consciousness from the concussion but A small fire with a peculiar blue-green flame started had the sensation of being ejected out the right side in the No. 4 engine. We expended our fire extin- of the cockpit and remember feeling the intense guisher on the fire with very little effect. I found I cold. had no control over the two starboard engines, with No. 4 revving to the red After falling about two miles, I came line and No. 3 shaking violently in the to my senses. My immediate concern engine supports. The engineer called was the condition of my parachute; I out, “The whole right wing is on fire.” anticipated that it might have caught And indeed, the fuel tanks were fire or been damaged in the explosion. burning so intensely that we could see Reaching around to examine the the internal structure of the wing backpack, I was greatly relieved that glowing red. No. 3 engine was bending although my leather jacket and flight down, and vibration soon tore it loose suit were badly torn, the chute seemed from the mounts. to be intact. There was a light coating of ice on me, no doubt caused by Realizing there was no way to save the sudden change from the intense the aircraft, I called my deputy The author, J. Francis Angier heat to the minus 50 degrees below leader and asked him to move the 0 outside. The layer of ice began to squadron above and to the left of us to avoid any of fly off in the wind my fast fall was generating. I was my crew striking the other planes in the squadron as bleeding from several cuts and could hear absolutely they bailed out. I had just hit the bail-out bell and nothing. told the crew to leave the aircraft when the No. 3 engine and right landing gear fell away. Pieces of Some people have the misconception a person metal from the debris struck S/Sgt. Osborn, cutting falling from great heights would “be dead before his face as he bailed out the waist door. hitting the ground.” The sensation of falling lasts only during the time a body is accelerating. After Hoping everyone had left the airplane, I attempted that it is a feeling of being supported by a strong to turn out of the formation, but the maneuver rush of air. I had missed that initial feeling of falling turned into a roll and a horizontal spiral due to No. because of my momentary loss of consciousness. 4 engine running wild and uncontrollable. I pushed No. 1 to full throttle in an attempt to balance No. 4; I was falling “like a log”—on my back, without No. 2 had shut down. spinning or tumbling—and, looking about, I could see both the east and west coasts of Denmark on Lack of oxygen was beginning to blur my vision. I my left and the Zeider Zee and Friesian Islands in no longer had any control of the plane and was Holland on my right. Because the plane had no attempting to leave my seat when the plane went forward motion when it exploded, the debris was into a steep climb. This caused heat from the fire in falling with and around me. the bomb bay to rise into the cockpit, and although there was no fire around me the heat was becoming The entire tail-section of the plane was tumbling unbearable. The paint on the instrument panel was slowly, due to its comparative light weight for its already blistering, and I thought it was all over, for size, about a mile higher. The bright yellow eight- sure. man life raft had inflated and was floating down another half a mile above me. When the aircraft reached a vertical nose-up atti- tude, all power stopped abruptly. The plane started Directly above was the left wing, with both engines falling tail first. Then it exploded—violently. 27 and the bomb bay still attached to it. The bombs,

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 27 which had not been armed, were still in the bomb The parachute was a backpack that I had worn all bay. They were completely exposed and formed a the time in the plane. It had a 28-foot canopy, in pivot around which the wing was spinning quite contrast to a chest type that had to be buckled on rapidly, much like a maple seed spiraling down on when needed and was only 24 feet in diameter. The its own wing. extra width of my chute, no doubt, saved my life by slowing me down quickly so close to the ground. The control cables, with the bell cranks still at- Although it was instantaneous, I felt the sequence tached, were whirling around outside the 200-foot of events as I hit the ground feet first with tremen- circle transcribed by the wing and would have dous force. My shoulders struck my knees, dislocat- created another obstacle for my parachute if I ing both shoulders. My face hit the ground, causing opened it. There were also other pieces of the plane a severe and permanent neck injury, while the jolt that could damage the chute if it was open. The of the impact did considerable damage to all my main part of the right wing was falling about a half joints and caused some internal injuries. mile away, still burn- The wing with the ing, and leaving a long bomb bay still attached trail of oily, dark landed some 200 feet smoke. away and was burning Remembering we had quite intensely as fuel been briefed that the drained down out of cloud layer over the the wing, which was coast was at about tilted at an angle 2,000 feet, I decided against some trees. to roll over and look Other debris was still at it, to help judge my falling into the three- altitude and deter- acre clearing in a mine how much time I woods where trees had had remaining to been cut and left lying safely open my chute. Up to this point, I had had on the ground. The tail section of the plane floated nearly complete control, but in turning over there down with an oscillating motion and landed in the was some unpleasant tumbling and I had difficulty upper parts of some pine trees. breathing in the wind rushing past. I was, however, Usually when a large plane exploded, the debris able to see the cloud layer and felt I would have a would be scattered over a five- to six-mile path on little more time to give the spinning wing a chance the ground, due to the forward momentum of the to drift off to one side or the other so my parachute plane and its contents. In my case, the plane had no could pass through without becoming entangled in forward speed as it was falling tail first when it the control cables. disintegrated, causing the parts of the plane, me and the body of Howard Lang, the engineer, to land in a Somehow, I had managed to monitor the time but small area. Had I successfully opened the chute at a had mistakenly calculated my time to reach the few thousand feet, it would have carried me perhaps ground at about two-and-a-half minutes although it miles away from the crash site. actually took less than two minutes. The wing was at this time less than 200 feet above me when, The impact stunned me for a time, but the heat suddenly,WORLD I passed through theWAR cloud layer II and VETERANS could from the fire andCOMMITTEE the realization the bombs could go see tree branches and a dark brown landscape. I off when they got hot enough motivated me to pulled the ripcord with the feeling it was too late, begin the painful process of getting out of the but it functioned perfectly and I struck the ground parachute harness with two dislocated shoulders. almost immediately. My back pained me so much I believed it was 28 broken, but it was due to damage to several verte-

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 28 brate. Somehow, I crawled out and was sliding and Hamburg. There was an inspection party there that rolling toward a little wood road nearby, when I saw day, and some of them had watched the pieces of a body lying face down in a small space between the airplane falling into the wood through the parts of the wreckage. It was Lang. He had not overcast. They had not seen my parachute as it had opened his parachute, possibly due to injuries from opened at tree-top level, and from experience they shrapnel or not having cleared the plane when it had learned not to approach shot-down bombers exploded. until the bombs had exploded or until they were fairly certain there were no After identifying him, I bombs aboard. continued my awkward travel away from the A tall, very homely man in burning aircraft, and upon some type of uniform, reaching the little wood probably Home Guard, road completely ex- approached me down the hausted, I used my feet to old wood road, slowing push myself across the down as he struggled to roadway into a shallow get a large pistol out of its ditch on the other side. The Angier’s POW identification card. holster. He held the gun intense pain triggered my ahead of him and came up memory enough that I very close to me until the realized there was morphine in my survival kit. With barrel of the gun was in my face. The man was difficulty, I opened the surret and gave myself a shaking, obviously quite frightened, and I expected shot. The bombs went off perhaps 10 minutes later, he would pull the trigger either by accident or by uprooting and knocking over trees. I was unable to intention. “Pistol! Pistol!” he shouted with a trem- breathe for a time, because the blast created tremen- bling chin. I rarely carried my .45 and also advised dous pressure followed by a vacuum as it pushed my crew not to do so. If one crew member shot and rolled me through the underbrush. I experienced either a civilian or one of the military it would mean excruciating pain in my lungs and stomach. When the death sentence for the rest of us. When he was air rushed back into the vacuum, it dragged me satisfied I was unarmed, he uncocked his gun. back through the underbrush but, thankfully, en- A party of about 20 people started down the hill abled me to breathe again. after the bombs went off. The first people to reach As I slowly recovered from this second explosion of me called me names and yanked me to a sitting the day, my hearing returned in my right ear, al- position in the road, kicked me repeatedly and when though I was experiencing a severe headache and they had knocked me over, stomped on me. Some considerable distress from my other injuries. Two of them shouted with sarcasm and anger, “Libera- boys, about 16 years of age, were making their way tor! Terrorflieger! Gangster bastard!” while others toward me, one with black hair and the other blond. kept asking, “Anglis? Anglis?” A woman pushing her The blond boy reached me first and tried to shake bike close by said, “Don’t tell them you are English, hands with me. By this time my shoulders, elbows even if you are, or they will hang you.” An old man and knees were badly swollen and very painful. with a long club struck me in the nose just as some Shaking hands was not what I needed at that time. of the military arrived and drove off the civilians at gunpoint. I do not remember the trip up the hill “I’m a Dutchman,” he said in fair English. I knew because of the hard blow to the nose, but I do we were not in Holland, but I asked him anyway, “Is remember my arrival there. this Holland?” The black-haired boy, probably a member of the Hitler Youth, answered arrogantly, For information on purchasing a copy of Ready or Not, contact “Nein! das ist Deutschland!” the author by e-mail at [email protected], by telephone On a hill about three-quarters of a mile away, was a at 802-879-7215, or visit www.jfrancisangier.com. 29 WWII hospital, a convalescent home for burn victims from

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 29 Spotlight on Committee Interns

From the Greatest Generation to the latest generation… Aleea Slappy is from Philadelphia, PA. She is a junior at Hampton University where she is majoring in This is the motto of the World War II Veterans journalism and sociology. Aleea is an on-air personal- Committee. Following our tremendously successful th ity on her campus radio station WHOV 88.1 FM and D-Day: 60 Anniversary is a writer for the campus Issue this spring, in which newspaper the Hampton the content was supplied Script. She is the author of solely by the members of “General Claire Chennault the “Greatest Generation” and the Flying Tigers,” and who helped secure victory in one of Aleea’s future goals Normandy, we have decided is to become an investiga- to turn this issue over to the tive reporter. “latest generation.” Joining the Committee in the sum- Jordan Michael Smith is a mer of 2004 were four 23-year old student/jour- outstanding interns, who nalist from the city of researched and wrote much Thornhill in Ontario, of the content in this Canada. He recently issue. Each worked very The 2004 class of interns for the World War II Veter- received his Bachelor of hard to put their stories ans Committee. From left: Aleea Slappy, Scott Arts from the University together, and they all Wentland, Committee President James C. Roberts, of Western Ontario, where shared in our mission to Program Director Tim Holbert, Joel DiGrado, Becky he double majored in continue the legacy of the Appledorn, and Jordan Smith. Honors Political Science World War II generation. and English. Jordan is This summer, the Committee was proud to welcome... beginning work on his Master’s of Arts at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. His program of study Becky Appledorn is a senior at Miami University in is International Relations and he will be writing a Oxford, Ohio. She was born in Bismarck, North thesis on Global Terrorism. Jordan is the author of Dakota, but moved early and often, spending her 21 “Questioning the Questioners,” which appears in this years living in such places as Minnesota, Washington, issue of WWII Chronicles, and well as an article on the Utah, Texas, and for the last three years, Ohio. Becky liberation of the Nazi concentration camps which will is majoring in Political Science and Journalism, and is appear in the Autumn issue. involved on campus with the College Republicans and Associated Student Government. Becky is the author Scott Wentland is also a student at Miami Univer- of this issue’s lead article, “China-Burma-India: The sity in Oxford, Ohio, where he majors in Political Forgotten Theater.” Science and Economics. He is from Toledo, Ohio, and though he considers himself to be a “political Joel DiGrado is a graduate of College of the Holy junkie,” he has no desire to become a politician, but Cross, and hails from New Orleans, Louisiana. He plans on attending law school following graduation. will soon be enrolling in the MA program at the Scott is the author of “Merrill’s Marauders: Heroes of American University School of Public Affairs. Not the Burma Jungle,” and “Remembering Liberation: 60 only is he working for the World War II Veterans Years of Paris’ Freedom,” which both appear in this Committee, he is also a producer for our sister organi- issue of WWII Chronicles. zation, Radio America. His article on the Bataan WWII Death March will appear in the Autumn issue of 30 WWII Chronicles.

World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 30 The World War II Book Club Featuring Books About World War II

In this edition we feature books available from the Naval SPIES FOR NIMITZ: Institute Press, the publishing arm of the United States JOINT MILITARY INTELLIGENCE IN THE PACIFIC WAR Naval Institute. The Naval Institute has a long and estab- lished tradition of publishing important works in the fields of by Jeffrey M. Moore naval, military, and maritime history. These books, as well Naval Institute Press; 299 pages $29.95 (Hardcover) as other Naval Institute Press books, can be found at In this book Jeffrey Moore profiles the history and select operations bookstores across the country and Amazon.com; or by of America’s first effective, all source, joint military intelligence visiting the Naval Institute Press web site at www.usni.org/ agency. Known as JICPOA for Joint Intelligence press/press.htm or calling 800-233-8764. Center, Pacific Ocean Areas, the agency’s nearly two thousand specialists are credited with giving Admiral Nimitz the intelligence he needed to win THE MESSMAN CHRONICLES: the Pacific War. Moore explains how JICPOA AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE U.S. NAVY 1932-1943 evolved and reveals some new facts about the war by Richard E. Miller as he assesses the impact of intelligence on eight Naval Institute Press; 390 pages $32.95 (Hardcover) amphibious campaigns in the islands of the Central Pacific. He also demonstrates timeless Despite racial discrimination and second-class intelligence lessons, faulty versus effective intelligence techniques, status within the enlisted corps, the U.S. Navy’s and intelligence-operational planning integration—subjects that mess attendants, officer’s cooks, and stewards continue to be pertinent to today’s military operations, including compiled a proud legacy of combat service in the war on terror. World War II. The heroism of a few like “Dorie” Miller became well known to the For this unprecedented look at the little-known but American public, but most have long been groundbreaking organization, Moore draws on interviews with key forgotten. This book tells the story of those personnel and internal documents. He supports his analysis of thousands of unheralded sailors of African JICPOA’s strengths and weaknesses, its successes and failures, with descent who served in frontline combat with fellow “messmen” of more than forty maps, charts, and illustrations. With a foreword by Filipino, Guamanian, and Chinese ancestry from the first day of the head of Marine Corps intelligence, the book makes an excellent war to the last. Their story begins with recruit training in the racially addition to World War II history and professional collections. segregated confines of Norfolk, Virginia’s Units K-West and B- Intelligence experts and operations planners will find its lessons East during the 1930s and proceeds through the perilous early useful and insightful. Readers with an interest in real-life thrillers months of war. Though long disparaged as “seagoing chamber- will find it a fascinating study of basic intelligence work. maids” and worse, they gallantly upheld the honor of their race while shedding their blood in full proportion in some of history’s RESURRECTION: greatest naval battles. SALVAGING THE BATTLE FLEET AT PEARL HARBOR by Daniel Madsen VOICES FROM THE PACIFIC WAR Naval Institute Press; 241 pages $36.95 (Hardcover) BLUEJACKETS REMEMBER by Bruce M. Petty The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is a topic of Naval Institute Press; 253 pages $29.95 (Hardcover) perennial interest to the American public, and numerous books and movies have focused on the Although volumes have been written about air raid and events leading up to it. This book, World War II in the Pacific, very little has been however, offers an entirely new perspective. published from the perspective of individual Aimed at the general reader with an interest in sailors. The Navy enlisted men interviewed for World War II and the U.S. Navy, Resurrection looks this book fought in some of the fiercest battles at the massive efforts following the attacks to save of the war, such as Coral Sea, Midway, and the the ships, beginning with damage control aboard the ships that Solomon Islands campaign. Some were eyewit- took hits on December 7, 1941 and ending in March 1944 when nesses to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, salvage efforts on the USS Utah were finally abandoned. and many were part of the island-hopping campaigns of the Southwest and Central Pacific. Others were Dan Madsen tells the story in a straight-forward style, moving witness to or casualties of Japanese suicide attacks, and a few saw it from activity to activity as the days and months wore on in what all, from Pearl Harbor to the surrender at Tokyo Bay. These proved to be an incredibly difficult and complex endeavor. Rather accounts of the men who faced the horror of combat head on than writing a dry operational report, Madsen describes the Navy’s vividly portray naval warfare up close and personal. 31 dramatic race to clear the harbor and repair as many ships as possible so they could be returned to the fleet ready for war. Book descriptions courtesy of the Naval Institute Press World War II Chronicles - Summer, 2004 - 31 Committee Sponsors Symposium on Churchill & Eisenhower

On April 19-21, 2004, the World War II Veterans Committee co-sponsored a symposium on the legacies of Sir Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower at the campuses of Miami University. Speaking in front of a packed house at the Hamilton, Ohio and the main campus in Oxford were Celia Sandys, grand- daughter of Winston Churchill; Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of General Eisenhower; and the Honorable John E. Dolibois, former United States Ambassador to Luxembourg and interrogator of the Nazi War Criminals prior to Nuremburg.

Pictured above: (Left to right) Committee President James C. Roberts (Miami University ‘68), Ambassador John E. Dolibois (Miami University ‘42), Hon. Celia Sandys, Miami University President Emeritus Phillip R. Shriver, Jean Hill, and Michael J. Carafiello, Direc- tor of the Michael J. Colligan History Project.

Pictured left: Celia Sandys (left), granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, speaks with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower during the proceedings at the Hamilton campus of Miami University. The symposium was a part of the Michael J. Colligan History Project and put on in association with Beta Theta Pi fraternity, of which Ambassador Dolibois was a member during his collegiate days.

WWII

World War II Veterans Committee NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE A Project of The American Studies Center PAID WALDORF, MD 1030 15th St., NW, Suite 856 PERMIT NO. 30 Washington, D.C. 20005 32