Doomed garrison : the Philippines (a POW story) / John R. Vance
Title
Doomed garrison : the Philippines (a POW story) / John R. Vance
Subject
Vance, John R.
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons.
World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
Description
Personal experiences of the Philippine defense campaign (1941-1942) from a different perspective: the author was the Finance officer of the US Army in the Philippines.
Col. Vance narrates how he came to the Philippines in 1940, and his duties as US Army finance officer. He was responsible for disbursing money for all supplies bought, labor hired, vehicles and ships commandeered, and above all paying for all Philippine Army expenses since it had come into the service of the US. He details how, even during the siege of Bataan and Corregidor, bills had to be paid, and money sent to the southern islands to allow military units to continue to make purchases and pay their men. With the fall of Corregidor, Vance became a prisoner of war; the Japanese knew who he was and questioned him endlessly about the location of money. He was moved to Bilibid, then Tarlac, Taiwan and finally Manchuria, where he was when the war ended. After his return to the US, he was charged $71 million dollars for cash advances he had made in 1941 and 1942.
An important memoir which shows how army finance works during war.
Col. Vance narrates how he came to the Philippines in 1940, and his duties as US Army finance officer. He was responsible for disbursing money for all supplies bought, labor hired, vehicles and ships commandeered, and above all paying for all Philippine Army expenses since it had come into the service of the US. He details how, even during the siege of Bataan and Corregidor, bills had to be paid, and money sent to the southern islands to allow military units to continue to make purchases and pay their men. With the fall of Corregidor, Vance became a prisoner of war; the Japanese knew who he was and questioned him endlessly about the location of money. He was moved to Bilibid, then Tarlac, Taiwan and finally Manchuria, where he was when the war ended. After his return to the US, he was charged $71 million dollars for cash advances he had made in 1941 and 1942.
An important memoir which shows how army finance works during war.
Creator
Vance, John R.
Publisher
Ashland, OR : Cascade House, c1974
Date
1974
Format
23 x 15 cm.
Type
Hardbound
Call Number
D 767.4 .V36
Accession Number
13605
Pagination
[viii], 248 p.
Illustration
ill., maps
Files
Collection
Citation
Vance, John R., “Doomed garrison : the Philippines (a POW story) / John R. Vance,” FHL-Roderick Hall, accessed December 16, 2025, https://fhl.omeka.net/items/show/584.