Personal Narrative 3D Object Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing George Washington Pearcy Collection
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
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
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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
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Bilibid Prison, Philippines
- Cabanatuan, Philippines
- Camp Robinson, Arkansas
- Clark Field, Philippines
- Davao Penal Colony, Philippines
- Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
- Fort McKinley, Philippines
- Fort Mills, Corregidor, Philippines
- Fort Sheridan, Illinois
- Mindanao Island (Philippines)
- Nichols Field, Philippines
- Pacific Theater