Interview with Morgan French, July 25, 1985

Interview Summary

Morgan French served as a maintenance crew chief for the 192nd Tank Battalion, Company D. He participated in the delaying action in the Philippines, and describes the Japanese bombing of Clark Field, the subsequent battles, and the fall of Bataan. When the rest of the battalion surrendered, French and his maintenance section escaped to Corregidor. They were eventually captured by the Japanese at Fort Drum and taken to a prison camp in Cabanatuan. There, French was selected to go to Japan on a work detail. He recalls his "hell ship" voyage, prison camps in Tanagawa and Tsuruga, illness among the prisoners, and the prisoners' work and acts of sabotage.

Interview Keyword

military service experience War Veterans World War II World War II veterans

Interview LC Subject

French, Morgan French, Morgan--Interviews Prisoners of war--Japan Prisoners of war--Philippines Prisoners of war--United States United States. Army. Tank Battalion, 192nd. Company D World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Philippines World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons, Japanese

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Interview Usage

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