Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording William Burton Clark Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 200th Coast Artillery
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2730
William Clark joined the New Mexico National Guard as a 21-year-old who had been working highway construction jobs in New Mexico. It was only a few months before Pearl Harbor, but he knew he was going to be drafted. What he didn't know is that all of the National Guard units would get called into active duty. Clark was actually at Clark Air Field when the Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941;he was manning his 3-inch anti-aircraft gun. Since the war, William Clark has been doing his own research on those two initial Japanese attacks, and he is concerned that none of the top brass were demoted or punished in any way. After the Philippines surrendered, William Clark spent the next 1,248 days as a Prisoner of War, including 33 months in Japan.
William Burton Clark Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayThe morning of the Pearl Harbor attack, viewed from the Philippines; a conspiracy theory. 00:14:03.0 - 00:20:05.0
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PlayWhy hospital was not safe during the attack on Clark. 00:23:06.0 - 00:24:13.0
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PlayBeing carried by angels while on the Death March. 00:39:09.0 - 00:39:39.0
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PlayThe first days of the trek to San Fernando; the absurd conditions and actions of the prison guards; how many Americans were dying each day. 00:40:17.0 - 00:45:36.0
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PlayThe grave detail for 250 men--every morning. 00:45:36.0 - 00:47:06.0
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About this Item
Title
- William Burton Clark Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- Clark, William Burton
- Ordner, Larry
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Clark, William Burton
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Prisoner of War -- United States
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 200th Coast Artillery
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1941-1946
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran worked with anti-aircraft artillery. He was held as a prisoner of war (POW) for 1,228 days in the Philippines and Japan and was on the Bataan Death March.
Materials
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2002-09-08; 2005-10-11)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2002-09-08)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2002-09-08; 2005-04-11)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-09-08)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [1 item] -- Portrait (collected 2002-09-08)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2730
Cite as
- William Burton Clark Collection (AFC/2001/001/2730), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text