Wake Island Civilian POWs

[siege1863]

The first two signatures are of the pilots who flew the men out of Tokyo. William P. Mercer was the commanding officer of the 63^rd Troop Carrier Squadron. The other signatures are those of twenty-one civilian contractors captured on Wake Island (including Dan Teters, supervisor of all civilian workers); two Bataan Death March survivors; and three airmen downed in 1943. Surrett and Etherige were on the same crew. Several of the civilian workers are referenced in the histories about the defense of Wake Island.

 

Clair Fred “C.F” Cochran

William P. Mercer

 

Axel R. Johnson (Wake)

Morris K. Gerard (Wake)

Reynold Carr (Wake)

Roy Lee Emken (Bataan)

Clayton H. Ruhland (530^th BS)

Stephen H. Shattles (Wake)

Fred H. Gomes (Wake)

Clarence G. Surrett (63^rd BS)

Harry R. Sanders (Wake)

Lawrence J. Fay (Wake)

John A. Schieferstein (Wake)

Ray F. Mallery (Wake)

Bert C. Dugas (Wake)

 

[siege1863]

Philo M. Fink (Wake)

James H. Lane Jr. (Wake)

William J. Riendeau (Wake)

James E. Etheridge (63^rd BS)

John J. Gillissen (Wake)

Villy M. Hansen (Wake)

Nubert H. Gilbertson (Wake)

Darwin L. Meiners (Wake)

Marshall E. Talbot (Wake)

Lorne H. Higgins (Wake)

Nathan “Dan” Teters (Wake)

Milton A. Glazier (Wake)

Elbert V. Coleman (Bataan)

 

 

[lettow]

Glad to see it went to good hands. Great note.

[KASTAUFFER]

Great piece!

 

Kurt

[katieony]

Very historic item...thanks for posting!

[KASTAUFFER]

Mail from Ray Mallery

 

[Wharfmaster]

I worked a number of years with Dorm Whittom, civilian taken POW on Wake. It took him years to prove vet status, but he did 

get it.  VA indicates service - 8 December 1941 to 1 October 1945.

 

Great guy that had a lot of POW stories to tell. Some not good. I would love to see something with his signature on it.

 

 

W

[1st Sgt CES]

Great piece with all the names on it ----one of a kind 

[usmedalman]

For those interested in this topic I highly recommend the 2012 book, Building for War, the Epic Saga of the Civilian Contractors and Marines of Wake Island in WWII, by Bonita Gilbert. Her father and grandfather were both civilian contractors on Wake and survived the war. These is a good deal of backstory provided to set the stage, and the author is a great storyteller.