Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording William Orville White Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Airwarning Company, Signal Corps
- Location of Service: Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Philippines; Kyushu, Japan
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9614
William White worked for the C.C.C. (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression for one and a half years. When he was drafted, he decided to enlist in the Air Corps. Given the choice between duty in the Philippines or Alaska, White chose the Philippines, where he was assigned radar duties in Manila. American and Filipino forces suffered a devastating attack from the Japanese on the same day as Pearl Harbor and White would be taken prisoner when the American forces surrendered. On the Bataan Death March for 3 days, he marched 60 miles through dense forest, watching as his fellow soldiers fell out of rank or off to the side of the road and often were stabbed with the end of a bayonet. White did what he had to do to survive, stealing food and hiding it from his captors.
William Orville White Collection
Interview / Recording
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William Orville White Collection
Interview / Recording
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About this Item
Title
- William Orville White Collection
Names
- White, William Orville
- Reed, Helen
- Park County Veterans History Project
- Hammond, Janet B.
Home State
- Wyoming
Headings
- - White, William Orville
- - 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
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Airwarning Company, Signal Corps
- Location of Service: Fort Monmouth, New Jersey; Philippines; Kyushu, Japan
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1941-1945
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran had malaria, pellagra, and dysentery while a Japanese prisoner of war (POW). White survived the Bataan Death March.
Materials
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [2 items] -- (collected unknown)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-07-24)
- Audio: CD [ item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-03-22; 2006-03-22)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9614
Cite as
- William Orville White Collection (AFC/2001/001/9614), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image