Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing William S. Allen Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Company B, 194th Tank Battalion
- Location of Service: St. Joseph, Missouri; Fort Lewis, Washington; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/9214
Army Sergeant William Allen had a front-row seat for America's entry into World War II. He was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines when Japanese forces attacked at the same time they were hitting Pearl Harbor. Four months later, U.S. forces on the islands had to surrender to the Japanese, and Allen joined thousands of GIs and Filipinos on the Bataan Death March. Miraculously avoiding illness, Allen kept his spirits up, volunteering for work details in order to get better rations. He survived transport to Japan in one of the notorious hell ships, and war's end found him working in railroad yards north of Tokyo.
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Interview / Recording
Transcript
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Interview / Recording
Transcript
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About this Item
Title
- William S. Allen Collection
Names
- Babcock, Robert O.
- Swanson, Gary W.
- Allen, William S.
- Americans Remembered, Inc.
Home State
- Missouri
Headings
- - Allen, William S.
- - 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: Company B, 194th Tank Battalion
- Location of Service: St. Joseph, Missouri; Fort Lewis, Washington; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1941-1946
- Prisoner of War: Yes
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran is a Bataan Death March survivor.
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2012-03-27)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-05-20; 1999-12-31)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/9214
Cite as
- William S. Allen Collection (AFC/2001/001/9214), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video