Evening star., 1949-09-03
Veteran of Corregidor in Jail
As Traitor After Rocks Fall
Ex-Sergeont Accused
Of Changing Uniform
For Buddhist Robes
BY the Associatsd Press

VI Su0isS3'Ss9 Oi'''OiUH
For Buddhist Robes
BY the Associated Press
NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-Hand-
some. 80 year old John David
Provoo - Just discharged from
eight years in the army-was in
jail today on charges of betrayin.
his country to Japan during war
time. !
An ex-sergeant, Provoo alleg- |
edly volunteered his services to
Japanese military commanders
after his capture on Corregidor in
1912.
Federal authorities said he
worked for the wartime enemy
for three years as a propaganda.
an inquisitor OF American pris-
oners and in other roles.
His arrest yesterday on a trea-
son warrant, just a few minutes
after he had shed his Army uni
form, apparently surprised him.
This is the first I've heard of
this" he said.
The maximum penalty for trea-
son In time Of War is death.
FBI Started New Inquiry.
An investigation of Provoo's case
had been underway off-and-on
ever since the wars end. The
FBI began a new inquiry year
ago.
The tall, dark-haired Provoo,
a native of California and one
time student Of Oriental philoso-
ply, allegedly worked with Tokyo
Rose" in broadcaSting japanese
propaganda to American troops.
At the time. Corregidor fell to
Japan, he allegedly changed from
his Army uniform to the robes of
a Buddhist priest, hoping by this
means to curry favor of the Japa-
nese.
Provoo was arraigned yesterday
before United States Commissioner
Edward w. Mcdonald.
Sent Telegram to Father.
FBI agents permitted him to
send a telegram to his father,
j. F.. Provoo, at Sausalito, Calf,
near San Francisco. before taking
him to the Federal house Of de-
tention.
United States Attorney John F.
x. McGohey, and his chief as
sistant. Irving H. Saypol. gave this
account Of the case:
Before the war. Provoo worked
in the Federal Reserve Bank in
San Francisco, where he had a
good record. He made one or
more trips to Japan, ostensibly to
study the Japanese language and
the Buddhist religion,
He entered the army in May, |
l941. Sent tc the Philippines, he
was on Corregidor when the
Rock" fell to Japan in 1912.
marking a major American defeat
in that stage Of the war.
Took Vestments of Priest.
He presented himself to the jap
anese in the vestments of a Budd-
hist priest. He did not seek to
pretend he was priest, Mr.. Say
pol said, but sought only to show
his familiarity with Oriental life
and language.
After offering his services, he
was used by the Japanese to guard
other prisoners. and to aid in
questioning them, among other
things" Mr.. Saypol said. The
attorney did not elaborate.
After the Philippines fell. he
was shipped to Japan. where he
allegedly did his propaganda work,
and was associated with Tokyo
Rose"-Mrs. Iva Toguri d'Aquino.
(Mrs. d'Aquino, born in Los
Angeles of Japanese ancestry. is
on trial in San Francisco on
treason charge. She is accused
of broadcasting propaganda for
the Japs under the name OF
Tokyo Rose and Orphan ANN
Contrasting the two cases, Mr..
McGohey said:
Tokyo Rose was used for prop
aganda purposes. while this fell
low is charged with actively aiding
the Japanese forces by voluntarily
offering his services to the jap
anese forces to assist them in the
occupation of Corregidor."
Lives With Collaborationists.
The complaint against Provoo,
made by FB1 Agent George E.
Davis, accused him Of "unlawfully.
willfully and reasonably" aiding
the Japanese enemy between May
6, 1912, until September 2, l945,
when the war ended.
In Tokyo, he lived in a school,
house with q group OF other col
laborationists, Mr.. Saypol said.
When American forces entered
the city, however, Provoo was
found in a prisoner of war camp.
Mr.. Saypol said he had managed
to get into the camp after Japan
surrendered.
An Army investigation after
the war ended apparently devel-
oped no case against Provoo and
he was returned to the United
States where he was honorably
discharged in late 1916. Shortly
thereafter he re-enlisted.
Served at Fort Meade.
He served most of his second
hitch at Fort Sill, near Lawton,
Okla, and recently was trans
ferred to Fort Meade, Md. Yes
terday, he was brought to Gov
ernors Island where he was dis
&n1y r,rx~acf-