The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-11-17
This Is My Story

1 IILO 10 4
CONTINUED from Page F0ur)
chief of staff for Lieut.. Gen.
Styer, took the surrender. Places
had been arranged for Gen. Styer
and me at the Allied center OF the
table. When we came in the Japs
had been standing at their places
for ten tense minutes-Gen. Yama-
shita and an admiral, each accom-
panied by an aide, and two in
terpreters. After we were seated,
they took their places on the
folding chairs and stools opposite
us.
Yamashita, the so-called "Tiger
of Malaya," was man as large
as my old opponent Homma and a
little heshier. He had been hiding
out in the mountains to the wes1
Of Cagayan Valley and had been
brought in the day before by a de-
tachment of American troops. His
beribboned uniform was dirty ano
Impressed. Gen. Percival stared
impassively at him, masking what
ever emotion he felt over wit
Messing the unconditional surrende,
Of the man who had so aggressively
forced the same thing on Perclva
at Singapore in February, 1912.
Japs Sign
Gen. Leavey conducted the brie-
ceremony. The Japs signed ane
then Gen. Leavey affixed his sig
nature for the United States, hand
ing one of his two signing pens tt
me. He then announced that the
Japs, having Internationally sur
rendered, would be removed I'm
der guard as prisoners of war.
Immediately large and capable
looking MP major came in witt
three or four muscular enlisted
men. He walked up to Yamashita
punched an extended index finge,
into the Jap generals shoulder an<
motioned him out of the room lik'
an umpire thumbing a player gu
of ball game. He was to be takel
to Bilibid Prison to await trial a
war criminal.
Yamashita suddenly wept as n
walked away. l got up from thu
table and strolled out Of the room
with Gen. Styer.
General" / asked him, "thi:
might seem little strange, com
ing from me, but hope Yama
shita is shown the courtesy due
his rank, in the matter of per
sonal accommodations, housing
and food"
Hell be given everything he:
entitled to under the Geneva Con
vention," Gen. Styer assured me
1--WE don't want to be guilty O
treating anyone as the Japs treat
ed you and your men,
/ flew back to Manila tina
afternoon and through the evening
was called on by number Q
old friends I had not seen in years
That same day I saw what wa
to me one of the most astonisfln
sights Of my two score Of years i
the Army. Into my line Of vision 8
the airfield walked a very prett
young lady.
well, I'll be damned" I mu:
have muttered, for an officer ne'
to me asked me what the matte
was. I walked over to her. She ma
on what was obviously the femlnln
version of an Army uniform. 81
even saluted me.
II beg your pardon, I said, "bl
but what are you?"
She seemed little startled.
"Why, I'm a WAC, sir"
; "A what?"
"a WAC" she insisted.
I thanked her and came back
the officer.
What the devil is a wack?"
asked him. :.
was still catching up with tn
war.
The next day, September 4,
lunched with Mrs. Macarthur
the generals residence in tn
Santa Mesa region of Manil;
along with Beebe, Pugh an
Dooley.
Many warm friends were
nichols Field the next morning
see us off.
Perfect Weather
We flew through perfect weathe
to Guam, whose development sine
' I first saw it in 1908, and last sa
it in 1910, was hard to bellev'
Lieut.. Gen. Barney Giles, OF tn
J. Twentieth Air Force, took us
: hand that evening and showed l
;: our first BIO.
j: We left Guam in the morning ar
flew to Kwajalein, where the Nav
treated us handsomely, and thel