Interview with James L. Leggett, Jr., March 24, 1981

Interview Summary

James Leggett, Jr. talks about joining the ROTC during college, 1933-1937. He talks about earning his commission in 1938, joining the Corps of Engineers, and his interest in aviation which led to his joining the 803rd Engineers Battalion. Leggett talks about being on active duty, and his battalion's training for a cold climate assignment. They were instead given orders to go to the Philippines. He describes his battalion's shipping out process, and tells a story about attempting to teach his wife how to drive before he left. Leggett talks about how he and his battalion felt about being sent to the Philippines after training for a colder climate. He talks about the ship that transported them to the Philippines via Honolulu and Guam, and talks about how he spent his shore leave.

Leggett talks about the personnel who worked at Clark Field while he was stationed there. He talks about the types of recreation available. Leggett talks about his battalion's mission as aviation engineers to construct and maintain airfields. He talks about how his battalion was divided in the area. Leggett talks about the missions he led to destroy enemy gasoline and ammo dumps and his decision to assist another battalion in salvaging the ammunition. Leggett talks about whether he was apprehensive while being on alert, and talks about how he heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He talks about the attack he experienced personally at Clark Field approximately nine hours later. Leggett talks about how their mission as aviation engineers changed after the attack on Clark Field. He talks about the various fields and runways they maintained, and discusses one leader's argument for storing planes further from one another so that they would be more difficult for the enemy to destroy.

Leggett talks about where his battalion moved not long after the attack on Clark Field. He talks about driving under blackout conditions and the hallucinations he experienced. He talks about the process of moving their troops to the Bataan Peninsula. Leggett talks about their hopes for the war shortly after their move to the Bataan Peninsula. He talks about where they were stationed, and their mission of maintaining roads and bridges in the area. He describes a typical day. He talks about his concerns regarding enemy attacks, and talks about the losses that B Company took during an attack. Leggett talks about the reduced rations his battalion was put on after moving to the Bataan Peninsula. He talks about supplementing their rations with monkeys and other animals, and tells a story about a major finding out what they were eating. Leggett talks about the types of propaganda leaflets he witnessed that had been dropped by the Japanese. He talks about the morale on the peninsula due to malaria and MacArthur leaving the Pacific theater.

Interview Keyword

Military service experience War veterans World War II World War II veterans United States. Army--Reserves United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941 World War, 1939-1945--Fuel supplies World War, 1939-1945--Food supply--United States World War, 1939-1945--Propaganda

Interview LC Subject

Leggett, James L., Jr. Leggett, James L., Jr.--Interviews World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Asia World War, 1939-1945--East Asia World War, 1939-1945. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines Bataan (Philippines : Province) Clark Air Base (Philippines) United States. Army--Military life United States. Army

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Interview Usage

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