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George W. Pearcy in uniform, Philippines [1941]

Veterans History Project Service Summary:

  • War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
  • Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps; Army
  • Unit of Service: 2nd Observation Squadron; 527th Coast Artillery; B Battery, 60th Coast Artillery (AA)
  • Location of Service: Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Camp Robinson, Arkansas; Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippines; Clark Field, Philippines; Nichols Field, Philippines; Fort McKinley, Philippines; Cabanatuan, Philippines; Bilibid Prison, Philippines; Mindanao Island (Philippines); Davao Penal Colony, Philippines; Pacific Theater
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/101245

View full service history

"I hope that you are saving these letters and putting them in the lower drawer of my desk as I want to keep them as a record of my time in the Army." (Letter to Mother, 11/19/1940).

At the time Pearl Harbor was bombed, George Washington Pearcy had been serving in the Philippines with the Army Air Corps for nearly a year. Captured by the Japanese in May 1942, he spent the next 29 months as a prisoner of war, during which he meticulously documented his incarceration on whatever scrap paper he could find. In October 1944, Pearcy was forced aboard the prison ship Arison maru, which was sunk by an American submarine while en route to mainland Japan. Before departing the Philippines, however, Pearcy gave his makeshift diary to fellow prisoner Robert Augur, with the request that it be delivered to his family should he not survive. Following the liberation of the Philippines, Augur kept his promise and sent the diary to Pearcy's family in March 1945. It took another two months before the Pearcy family received official notification of their son's death.

Home movie footage shot by the veteran while he served in the Philippines

More Resources

[ Instructions for written communication with Prisoners of War of the Japanese ]
[ Photostat letter from the Adjutant General of the Army informing Mr. Claude O. Pearcy of the loss of his son on October 24, 1944 [6/19/1945] ]
[ Alarm signals pamphlet, found in letter of 4/23/1941 ]
[ Official Bulletin, Headquarters Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays [4/25/1941] ]
[ Copy of story, "Legend of Corregidor." ]

Show more resources (280)

[ Telegram informing the Pearcys that their son is a POW [12/16/1942] ]
[ Letter from Chief of the Information Branch, Howard F. Bresee, of the War Department [12/22/1942] ]
[ Letter from the Adjutant General's office, War Department [5/21/1942] ]
[ Letter from Howard F. Bresee, Asst. Dir. Of the POW Division of the War Department [11/11/1944] ]
[ Letter from the Adjutant General's Office of the War Department informing the Pearcys of their son's death [6/19/1945] ]
[ Sympathy card from General Marshall [6/19/1945] ]
[ Letter from the State of Missouri [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter from C. H. Danielson, Major General, U.S. Army [7/3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Henry Stimson, Secretary of War [7/7/1945] ]
[ Letter from Douglas Mac Arthur [11/11/1945] ]
[ Military papers included with correspondence from 11/30/1940 ]
[ Quartermaster Corps Sales Store price list for March 1941 ]
[ Confidential memo concerning the "psychology of the Filipino servent." ]
[ War department pamphlet, "Sex Hygiene and Venereal Disease" ]
[ Blank pass authorizing civilian clothes ]
[ Army Song Book ]
[ Notice of award of the Purple Heart, posthumously [1/31/1945] ]
[ Official certificate of award of the Purple Heart ]
[ Memorial certificate for George Washington Pearcy ]
[ Letters from family to George Washington Pearcy, who was at the time being held prisoner by the Japanese. The reverse of the letters contain detailed drawings by Pearcy of his prison camp. ]
[ Postcard announcing the birth of George Washington Pearcy [4/22/1915] ]
[ Western Union telegram from "Fred" To George Pearcy congratulating him on his graduation from college [6/8/1937] ]
[ Cover of a photostat envelope marked "Correspondence re: George W. Pearcy." ]
[ Letter to Dr. J. Henry Green providing biographical information about George W. Pearcy, from his father Claude O. Pearcy [10/19/1945] ]
[ Series of photostat POW postcards from George W. Pearcy to his family, September 6 to September 8, year unknown ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [6/18/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [6/21/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [6/24/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [6/28/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/1/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/4/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/8/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/11/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/15/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/20/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/23/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [7/26/1936] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [8/3/1937] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [8/8/1937] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [8/10/1937] ]
[ Postcard to Mother [7/31/1939] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [8/1/1939] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy, including map of Camp Leonard Wood, Ft. Sheridan, IL [8/5/1937] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [8/8/1939] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [10/28/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [10/31/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/2/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [1111/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/13/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/17/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/19/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/25/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [11/30/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [12/12/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [12/17/1940] ]
[ Letter to Mother from George W. Pearcy [12/30/1940] ]
[ Letter to "Pop" from George W. Pearcy [1/2/1941] ]
[ Postcard to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [1/14/1941] ]
[ Postcard to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [1/15/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [1/17/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [1/24/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [2/9/1941] ]
[ Telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [2/11/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [2/13/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [2/18/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Jack" from George W. Pearcy [2/20/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [2/22/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [2/27/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy, including Pearcy's calling card [3/4/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/7/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/8/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/12/1941] ]
[ Military scrip from the Philippines, included with Pearcy's letter of 3/12/1941 ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/16/1941] ]
[ Amateur radiogram and assorted notes [3/16/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/20/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [3/30/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/2/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/6/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/12/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/16/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/23/1941] ]
[ Form letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/23/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Auntie Ree (?) and Mr. Castle" from George W. Pearcy [4/28/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [4/30/1941] ]
[ Amateur radio station telegram [4/15/1941] ]
[ Amateur radio station telegram [4/22/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Jack" from George W. Pearcy [5/6/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [5/9/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [5/14/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [5/21/1941] ]
[ Postcard to Mr. Johnson L. Pearcy [5/29/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [5/26/1941] ]
[ Telegram to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [5/28/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [5/31/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [6/5/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [6/10/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [6/15/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [6/19/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy including map and blank reconnaisance report [6/25/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [7/1/1941] ]
[ List of amateur radio station operators and their addresses and call signs ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [7/13/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "George M. Peary" from Jose de la Cruz, Deputy Clerk of the Commonwealth of the Philippines Supreme Court [6/24/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [7/18/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [7/26/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [8/4/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [8/8/1941] ]
[ Letter to Betty and Jack from George W. Pearcy [8/17/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [8/17/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [8/23/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [9/1/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [9/9/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [9/17/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [9/26/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Jack and Betty" from George W. Pearcy [9/30/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [10/8/1941] ]
[ Letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [10/21/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [10/26/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy, with commentary on the dating scene in the Philippines [11/2/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [11/11/1941] ]
[ Typewritten letter to "Mother and Pop" from George W. Pearcy [11/22/1941] ]
[ Telegram from George W. Pearcy to his parents, "Am alright don't worry." [12/20/1941] ]
[ Blank Christmas card from George W. Pearcy [1941] ]
[ Christmas card to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy from their son, George W. Pearcy [12/1941] ]
[ Letter from Betty Pearcy to George W. Pearcy [11/22/1941] ]
[ Letter from Betty Pearcy to George W. Pearcy [3/1/1942] ]
[ Letter from Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy to George W. Pearcy [4/22/1942] ]
[ Telegram from Claude Otis Pearcy to Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy [12/16/1942] ]
[ Letter from Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy to George W. Pearcy [9/28/1943] ]
[ Letter from Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy to George W. Pearcy [7/4/1944] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [1/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [1/27/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [2/7/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [3/12/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo enclosed [3/14/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [3/17/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo enclosed [3/20/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [3/23/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo enclosed [3/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Glen Pearcy enclosed [3/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [5/23/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [5/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [5/27/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [5/29/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/1/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/4/1945] ]
[ Letter from Glen Pearcy (who was eleven months old at the time) to George W. Pearcy [6/7/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Claude Otis Pearcy enclosed [6/10/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Frances Johnston Pearcy holding baby Glen Pearcy enclosed [6/15/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Doddy," Claude Otis Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/17/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/19/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy enclosed [6/19/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/21/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Johnston (Jack) L. Pearcy holding baby Glen Pearcy enclosed [6/22/1945] ]
[ Postcard from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy [6/25/1945] ]
[ Letter from "Mother," Frances Johnston Pearcy, to George W. Pearcy; photo of Betty Pearcy holding baby Glen Pearcy enclosed [6/26/1945] ]
[ Letter from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 9/6/1943 ]
[ Letter from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 9/7/1943 ]
[ Letter from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 12/8/1943 ]
[ Postcard from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 3/17/1944 ]
[ Postcard from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 12/8/1944 ]
[ Postcard from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 1/16/1945 ]
[ Postcard from George W. Pearcy to his family, written from a POW camp and received 10/1945 ]
[ Letter from Connie Wiedmann to Frances Johnston Pearcy [3/23/1942] ]
[ Letter from Tyrell Williams to Johnston "Jack" L. Pearcy [6/10/1942] ]
[ Letter and photocopy of an envelope from Mrs. R. P. Petersen to Frances Johnston Pearcy [6/20/1942] ]
[ Letter and photocopy of an envelope from George McKay to Frances Johnston Pearcy [6/22/1942] ]
[ Letter from Mr. Petersen to Frances Johnston Pearcy [7/27/1942] ]
[ Letter from Lt. Juanita Redmond to Frances Johnston Pearcy [8/10/1942] ]
[ V-mail from Hortense McKay to Frances Johnston Pearcy [8/24/1942] ]
[ Letter and photocopy of a newsclipping from Dorothea Daley Engel to Frances Johnston Pearcy [8/16/1942] ]
[ Christmas 1941 greeting card to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Demming, from George W. Pearcy, returned to his parents Dec. 1942 ]
[ Letter from Mrs. George McKay to Frances Johnston Pearcy [2/12/1943] ]
[ Carbon copy letter from Johnston "Jack" L. Pearcy to Commander Melvyn H. McCoy [4/28/1944] ]
[ Letter from Commander Melvyn H. McCoy to Johnston "Jack" L. Pearcy [8/18/1944] ]
[ Letter and photocopied envelope from Major Hawkins to Johnston "Jack" L. Pearcy [11/12/1944] ]
[ Letter from Col. John H. McGee to Frances Johnston Pearcy [12/15/1944] ]
[ Letter from Lt. Col. Harry O. Fisilies (?) to Frances Johnston Pearcy [2/15/1945] ]
[ Letter to Claude O. Pearcy and Frances Johnston Pearcy from Robert Augur, informing them that he was forwarding George W. Pearcy's POW diaries to them [3/23/1945] ]
[ Letter from Claude O. Pearcy to Robert Augur acknowledging receipt of his letter and their son's diaries [ca. 3/1945] ]
[ Letter from Robert Augur to Claude O. Pearcy [4/8/1945] ]
[ Letter from Chancellor of Washington University, Arthur H. Compton to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [6/21/1945] ]
[ Autographed letter from J. Edgar Hoover, Director F.B.I., to Frances Johnston Pearcy [6/27/1945] ]
[ Letter from Mayor of St. Louis, A. P. Kaufmann to Hon. And Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [6/29/1945] ]
[ Letter from and address card for William E. Shaffer to Claude O. Pearcy [6/5/1945] ]
[ Letter from Captain William Miller to Frances Johnston Pearcy [7/13/1945] ]
[ Letter from Robert Augur to Frances Johnston Pearcy [7/22/1945] ]
[ Letter enclosing the poem by Grace Coolidge, from George Sweazey to Frances Johnston Pearcy [9/23/1945] ]
[ Letter from Captain Harold E. Costigan to Claude O. and Frances Johnston Pearcy [9/27/1945] ]
[ Postcard to Frances Johnston Pearcy from Captain J. D. Obbink [10/22/1945] ]
[ Note card and photocopied newsclipping relating to the captivity of Calvin E. Brethold at Davao prison camp on Mindanao, Philippines [ca. 10/1945] ]
[ Letter from Milton Kohlberg to a Dr. Green, relating to a memorial gift in honor of George W. Pearcy [10/23/1945]; also included, a letter from Fred A. Walker to Mr. and Mrs. Pearcy informing them of ]
[ Letter from Lt. David Nash to Claude O. Pearcy [11/7/1945] ]
[ Carbon copy letter from Claude O. Pearcy to Lt. David Nash [11/5/1945] ]
[ Letter from William Walsingham to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [3/23/1946] ]
[ Letter from Commander David Nash to Frances Johnston Pearcy [5/29/1946] ]
[ Letter from Commander David Nash to Mr. and Mrs. Pearcy [7/2/1946] ]
[ Letter from Commander David Nash to Mr. and Mrs. Pearcy [9/5/1946] ]
[ Letter from Claude O. Pearcy to William Shaffer [8/22/1947] ]
[ Letter and photocopied envelope from William E. Shaffer to Claude O. Pearcy [11/12/1946 ]
[ Letter from Robert Augur to Frances Johnston Pearcy [2/25/1947] ]
[ Letter from William Phebus, Secretary of Bataan Veterans Organization [4/3/1947] ]
[ Letter from John Albert Goodpasture, Jr., to Frances Johnston Pearcy [ 5/21/1947] ]
[ Letter from David Nash to Claude O. Pearcy [8/11/1947] ]
[ Letter from Joe S. Smith to Mr. and Mrs. Claude O. Pearcy [3/12/1948] ]
[ Telegram from "Capt. J.A.G. Jr." to "Mrs. Judge Pearcy" that the Pearcy's could make no sense of, regarding the sender as "mixed up mentally" [4/2/1949] ]
[ Leather-covered diary of George Washington Pearcy ]
[ Loose-leaf diary of George Washington Pearcy, written on multiple types of paper including labels from cans of mackerel; diary was kept while Pearcy was a prisoner at Cabanatuan POW camp [1941-1944] ]
[ Loose-leaf diary of George Washington Pearcy, written on blank Philippine immigration forms; diary was written by Pearcy during his captivity at Cabanatuan POW camp [1941-1944] ]
[ Loose-leaf diary of George Washington Pearcy, written on blank Philippine immigration forms; diary was written by Pearcy during his captivity at Cabanatuan POW camp [1941-1944] ]
[ Typed notes, "very limited", on the diary of a Captain Starr with remarks by "me" George W. Pearcy ]
[ Typed copy of Lt. George W. Pearcy's diary 10/5 to 10/25/1942 ]
[ Typed copy of Lt. George W. Pearcy's diary 10/26 to 11/18/1942 ]
[ Typed copy of Lt. George W. Pearcy's diary 10/8/1940 to 2/24/1944 ]
[ Typed extracts from the diaries of George W. Pearcy [1941-1944] ]
[ Hand drawn map of parts of the Philippines, including Bataan, Corregidor, and Luzon. ]
[ Color map of Manila, with a full scale map of the Philippines on the reverse ]
[ Biographical information and family tree by George B. Pearcy ]
[ Program from a Piano Recital by the pupils of Ann Gordon; Jack and George Pearcy are listed as performing "In the Month of May" by Franz Behr [6/11/1925] ]
[ Graduation program for the Sherman School class of June 1929 [6/11/1929] ]
[ Ticket for Gene Johnson's Deep Sea Fishing Trip, good for August 17, 1933 only ]
[ Graduation program for Theodore Roosevelt High School [6/15/1933] ]
[ Graduation program for Washington University, St. Louis, MO [6/6/1937] ]
[ Graduation program for Washington University, St. Louis, MO [6/9/1940] ]
[ Commencement program for Washington University, St. Louis, MO [6/8/1937] ]
[ Congratulations card from "The Castles" ]
[ Doctor's prescription with the word "Hematoma" printed on it in pencil ]
[ Sympathy card with Gold Star from the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO, in memory of George W. Pearcy ]
[ Announcement of a memorial service for George W. Pearcy ]
[ Poem, "A Parent's Prayer for Wartime" ]
[ Publisher's order form for the book "Noting But Praise" by Henry Lee ]
[ Card with a POW mailing address for George W. Pearcy ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [10/21/1945] ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [4/18/1948] ]
[ Invitation to attend the dedication ceremony for the St. Louis "Court of Honor" by the World War II Memorial Committee [5/31/1948] ]
[ Memorial service program for the dedication of the "Court of Honor" in St. Louis, MO [5/31/1948] ]
[ Memorial service card for George Washington Pearcy [10/24/1945] ]
[ Birth announcement for Susan Marilyn Penninger [5/9/1942] ]
[ Note handwritten in pencil ]
[ Easter order of service for Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [n.d.] ]
[ Bataan Relief Organization Bulletin [Dec. 1945 - Jan. 1946] ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [4/20/1947] ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [5/26/1946] ]
[ Memorial service card for Raymond B. Oberschelp [7/1/1945] ]
[ Memorial service card for Lt. Arthur B. Knackstedt, Jr. [3/18/1945?] ]
[ Memorial service card for brothers Lt. Harry L. and PFC John J. Upchurch [n.d.] ]
[ Memorial service card for Lt. Elwood Edward Jones [9/10/1945?] ]
[ Handwritten inscription for engraving on back of cross ]
[ Handwritten list, perhaps an inventory of Pearcy's possessions with dollar amount next to each item ]
[ POW address for George W. Pearcy ]
[ Draft letter written on the back of two Tuesday Literary Club election ballots, requesting furlough for J. N. Hughes, storekeeper 3rd class aboard U.S.S. Carter ]
[ Newsclipping, "14,000 Thought Missing Prisoners in Philippines." ]
[ Handwritten itemized list with dollar amount next to each item ]
[ List of names and page numbers ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [1/24/1943] ]
[ Memorial service card for 1st Lt. George W. Pearcy [10/24/1945] ]
[ Order of service for the Tyler Place Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO [10/24/1945] ]
[ Text of memorial service for George W. Pearcy, written and delivered by Dr. George E. Sweazey [10/24/1945] ]
[ Tyler Place Presbyterian Church Golden Jubilee pamphlet, providing church history [1946] ]
[ Index to the letters of George W. Pearcy and family [1936 - 1949] ]
[ Newsclipping contained in letter of 2/27/1941, "Families of American Army Personnel In the Islands Depart for the U.S." ]
[ Army and Navy Club Monthly Bulleting, Manila, Philippines [April 1, 1941] ]
[ Typhoon signals and a map of Pacific "Danger Zone." ]
[ Story, "Legend of Corregidor." ]
[ Movie ticket, "I wanted Wings," showing at the Capitol Theater in the Philippines [7/1/1941] ]
[ Customs form ]
[ Army and Navy Club Bulletin [August 1941] ]
[ Typed letter fro the Veteran's Administration ]
[ Note of a phone call between Capt. W. A. Miller and unindentified person [5/20/1945] ]
[ Scrap of a note on the liberation of Cpl. Robert Martineau from POW camp [ca. 6/1945] ]
[ Poem and envelope "The Open Door" by First Lady Grace Coolidge, autographed for Frances Johnston Pearcy ]
[ Notes of a phone call between Maj. R. K. Whiteley and unknown person [ca. 10/1/1945] ]
[ Notes on a phone conversation with Col. Arnold Amorso [ca. 8/30/1946] ]
[ Memorial card for Lt. George W. Pearcy ]
[ Assorted notes made by the Pearcys concerning contacts made in regards to the loss of their son, Lt. George W. Pearcy, who was a POW of the Japanese 1941-1944 ]
[ Commencement program for Washington University [1940] ]
[ Luggage tag ]
[ Anonymous poem titled "The Lure of the East." ]
[ Special Orders # 116 [5/19/1941] ]

About this Item

Title

  • George Washington Pearcy Collection

Names

  • Pearcy, Glen
  • Pearcy, George Washington

Home State

  • Missouri

Headings

  • -  Pearcy, George Washington
  • -  World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
  • -  United States. Army.
  • -  Prisoner of War -- United States
  • -  World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
  • -  United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
  • -  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: 527th Coast Artillery; B Battery, 60th Coast Artillery (AA)
    • Location of Service: Fort Sheridan, Illinois; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Camp Robinson, Arkansas; Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippines; Clark Field, Philippines; Nichols Field, Philippines; Fort McKinley, Philippines; Cabanatuan, Philippines; Bilibid Prison, Philippines; Mindanao Island (Philippines); Davao Penal Colony, Philippines; Pacific Theater
    • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
    • Dates of Service: 1940-1944
    • Prisoner of War: Yes
    • Entrance into Service: Commissioned
    • Military Status: veteran
    • Service History Note: The veteran was held as a prisoner of war (POW) for 29 months. He was killed while being transported from the Philippines to Japan aboard the Arisan Maru, an unmarked Japanese POW transport ship, that was sunk by a US Navy submarine.
  • World War, 1939-1945

    • Branch of Service: Army Air Forces/Corps
    • Unit of Service: 2nd Observation Squadron
    • Prisoner of War: Yes
    • Military Status: veteran
    • Service History Note: The veteran was officially transferred from the Army to the Army Air Forces in 07/1941.

Materials

  • Photograph: Original photographic print [15 items] -- Photograph (collected 1941)
  • Photograph: Copy photographic print [3 items] -- Photograph (collected 1915-1940)
  • Photograph: Negatives [16 items] -- Photograph (collected 1941)
  • Manuscript: Biographical information [3 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected unknown)
  • Manuscript: Civilian papers (certificates, forms, wills, etc) [21 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1915-1940)
  • Manuscript: Clippings [32 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1942-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [98 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1936-1944)
  • Manuscript: Diaries and journals [4 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1942-1943)
  • Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [11 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1940-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [29 items] -- Handwritten document (collected 1941-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [10 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1942-1945)
  • Manuscript: Correspondence [44 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1942-1949)
  • Manuscript: Maps [2 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1940-1941)
  • Manuscript: Mixed (Multiple types of manuscripts) [ item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945)
  • Manuscript: Periodicals [11 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1945-1947)
  • Manuscript: Transcript [4 items] -- Transcription of document (collected unknown)
  • Video: 16mm Film [1 item] -- Home movie footage (collected 1941)
  • Artifact: Artifact [6 items] -- (collected 1941)
  • Photograph: Original photographic print [13 items] -- Photograph (collected 1930-1940)
  • Photograph: Negatives [5 items] -- Portrait (collected 1930-1940)

Collection Number

  • AFC/2001/001/101245

Cite as

  • George Washington Pearcy Collection (AFC/2001/001/101245), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Online Format

  • image
  • video

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

Using VHP Material in Publication or Exhibition

The Veterans History Project (VHP) at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand what they saw, did and felt during their service. The Veterans History Project Collection includes oral histories along with documentary materials such as original letters, diaries, photographs, and memoirs.

Veterans and interviewers contribute these materials to the Library for scholarly and educational purposes, retaining any copyright they may hold. Therefore, permission must be obtained before using the interview or other materials in exhibition or publication. Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these materials should contact the Veterans History Project for assistance.

As a publicly supported institution, the Library generally does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot give or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute material in its collections. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item from the Library’s collections and for securing any necessary permissions rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Please contact us with questions.

Obtaining Copies of VHP Materials

In order for VHP materials to be duplicated, we must receive written permission from the interviewee for you to obtain a copy of the recording unless the proposed use is limited to personal use, research, or other uses permissible by copyright law. If the interviewee is deceased, their next-of-kin may grant written permission.

Please contact VHP for assistance if you need to contact a veteran for permission to use their materials in exhibition or publication, or if you have received permission from the veteran and need access to high-resolution copies of VHP collection materials.

Citing VHP Materials

Please use the following formats when citing Veterans History Project materials (substituting the appropriate name and collection ID number).

Materials as a whole:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Manuscript material:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Memoirs (MS02), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Transcript (MS04), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Correspondence (MS01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Recording:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Audio recording (SR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Video recording (MV01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Photograph:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH01), photographer unknown, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Photographs (PH03-PH14), Ralph Williams photographer, Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Computer file:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Computer file (CF01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Artifact:

  • John P. Snodgrass (AFC 2001/001/[VHP collection]), Artifact (AR01), Veterans History Project Collection, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Pearcy, Glen, and George Washington Pearcy. George Washington Pearcy Collection. 1940. Personal Narrative. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.101245/.

APA citation style:

Pearcy, G. & Pearcy, G. W. (1940) George Washington Pearcy Collection. [Personal Narrative] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.101245/.

MLA citation style:

Pearcy, Glen, and George Washington Pearcy. George Washington Pearcy Collection. 1940. Personal Narrative. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.101245/>.