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Post by friscohare on Sept 2, 2011 16:55:35 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I thought I would (over time) post the stories of some of the Bataan Death March survivors that I had the great opportunity to research. The first one I'd like to tell is that of Sgt. Robert James Robinson. He first started with the Air Corps and then transferred to the Field Artillery Corps after Bataan surrendered. Here's his Ike Jacket:
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Post by friscohare on Sept 2, 2011 16:56:09 GMT -5
And here is his story:
Robert James Robinson was born in Georgia on October 10, 1916. He attended one year of college and worked in the laundry services industry prior to the war.
Robinson enlisted in the Army Air Force on October 29, 1940 at Ft. McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia for a term of three years. He commenced training at Hunter Field, Georgia and attended Airplane Engine Mechanic School. The Army then assigned him to the 91st Bombardment Squadron, 27th Bombardment Group.
Corporal Robinson and the Group left on October 21, 1941 to get ready to sail for the Philippines, leaving the Continental U.S. on November 1. They arrived in Manila on November 20, stationed at Ft. William McKinley, and were placed under the command of the Far East Air Force. (FEAF)
The Group’s A-24 Dauntless planes were en route from the mainland U.S. to the Philippines when the Japanese attacked on December 8, 1941. The Army quickly redirected the planes to Australia. The Group’s commander and 20 pilots left the islands for Australia to pick the planes up. Unfortunately, the situation further deteriorated in the Philippines and the pilots and planes never returned.
On December 22, the aircraft-less 91st Bomb Squadron transferred to the San Marcelino Airfield in Zambales. On December 24, the Army converted the remaining ground personnel into infantrymen, including Corporal Robinson, and became the Provisional Air Corps Regiment. The 27th Bomb Group became the 2nd Battalion of the regiment. The next day, the battalion boarded a boat to Bataan and continued to fight as infantrymen under the command of the II Philippine Corps.
The 27th Bomb Group/2nd Battalion earned three Presidential Unit Citations for distinguished service: 1) from December 7, 1941 to May 1942, 2) from December 8-22, 1941, and 3) from January 6-March 8, 1942.
On April 7, the Japanese broke through II Philippine Corps lines and forced them closer and closer to the tip of the Bataan Peninsula. The 27th Bomb Group/2nd Battalion received orders to pull out and move south to Limay or be trapped.
“Either by mistake or fright, some men received orders to head for Mariveles and cross the channel to Corregidor… The 91st [Bombardment Squadron,] in particular, seemed to disintegrate early. The men vividly remember being told it was every man for himself.”
Corporal Robinson managed to cross the channel and joined the forces on Corregidor. There, he transferred to the Field Artillery Corps and served with Headquarters Company, Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays.
After the surrender of Bataan on April 9, the Japanese pounded Corregidor and forced the US Forces in the Philippines to surrender on May 6. Corp. Robinson surrendered to the Japanese the next day. All men on Corregidor were herded to the 92nd Garage Area where they remained in the hot, smelly, insect-infested area until the morning of May 23.
A landing craft then took them across the Manila Bay to Manila. By the afternoon of the 23rd, they arrived at Bilibid POW Camp, where they stayed temporarily.
The Japanese took the POWs in groups to Cabanatuan POW Camp, Nueva Ecija. On October 8, the Japanese brought Robinson and many other Corregidor POWs back to Manila and forced them to board the hellship Tottori Maru. They arrived in Pusan, Korea and received winter clothing. They proceeded by train to the Mukden POW Camp, (Temporary) Mukden, Manchuria on November 11.
At Mukden, he was POW #460. The entire camp relocated in June 1943 to a permanent one named Hoten POW Camp.
The Russians liberated Hoten on August 19-20, 1945. When the Americans arrived, they placed the Air Corps enlisted men into separate companies. Corporal Robinson was placed in 7th Company and left the camp by train on September 11.
The Army gave Sergeant Robinson (promoted 9/2 after the war) an honorable discharge on June 8, 1946 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He returned to Georgia and passed on September 11, 2001.
OFFICIAL DECORATIONS & AWARDS: Presidential Unit Citation w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal w/1 Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Ribbon w/1 Bronze Star.
AWARDS ENTITLED TO: Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, POW Medal
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cco23i
History Student
"But I don't wanna go back to the States"
Posts: 94
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Post by cco23i on Sept 3, 2011 19:46:36 GMT -5
WOW! That's neat!! The 27th is the unit my old unit I was assigned to has direct lineage to. (27th TFW, 522 FS) I loved reading Rockey Gause"s account. ( I think I spelled his name correctly)
Scott
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Post by friscohare on Sept 12, 2011 23:13:01 GMT -5
WOW! That's neat!! The 27th is the unit my old unit I was assigned to has direct lineage to. (27th TFW, 522 FS) I loved reading Rockey Gause"s account. ( I think I spelled his name correctly) Scott Thanks, Scott. I have to check out that book sometime. I read some summaries and reviews and it looks like a good read.
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Post by friscohare on Sept 12, 2011 23:14:57 GMT -5
For the visually inclined, I made a map of Sgt. Robinson's journey throughout the Philippines during the war: Wartime Map: POW Map:
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Post by VeeVee on Sept 13, 2011 22:31:03 GMT -5
Friscohare, great stuff in your collection! More items and stories please if you have time Indeed... Maj. Rocky Gause's story is incredible.
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