Oral History Interview with Frank H. Bigelow, June 13, 2002 Metadata

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Title

  • Main Title Oral History Interview with Frank H. Bigelow, June 13, 2002
  • Added Title A Soldier's Story
  • Series Title World War II Prisoners of War Oral History Project

Creator

  • Interviewer: Alexander, William J.
    Creator Type: Personal
  • Interviewee: Bigelow, Frank H., 1921-
    Creator Type: Personal

Contributor

  • Originator: National Museum of the Pacific War
    Contributor Type: Organization
    Contributor Info: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Publisher

  • Name: University of North Texas
    Place of Publication: Denton, Texas

Date

  • Creation: 2002-06-13

Language

  • English

Description

  • Content Description: Interview with Navy veteran Frank H. Bigelow, survivor of the siege of Corregidor. The interview includes Bigelow's personal experiences about being a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II, boyhood in North Dakota, various jobs during the Great Depression, and enlisting in the Navy. Additionally, Bigelow speaks about volunteering for duty in the Philippines and his assignment to the submarine tender USS Canopus, pre-war military life in the Philippines, the Japanese bombing of Cavite Navy Yard and the destruction of the Canopus, retreating to Bataan and to Corregidor, the fall of Corregidor, his confinement in the 92nd Garage area, the forced march down Dewey Boulevard in Manila and confinement at Cabanatuan, hell ship to Japan, coal mining for Mitsui Heavy Industries, the amputation of his leg by fellow prisoners after a mining accident, liberation, and the destruction in Nagasaki due to the atomic bomb. The interview includes an appendix with an article titled "A Soldier's Story."
  • Physical Description: 93, [8] p. ; 28 cm.

Subject

  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: People - Individuals
  • Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms: Oral histories
  • Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms: Personal narratives
  • Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms: Biographies
  • Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms: Interviews
  • Named Person: Bigelow, Frank H.
  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: Military and War - Wars - World War II
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings: World War, 1939-1945.
  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: Military and War - United States Armed Forces - United States Navy
  • University of North Texas Libraries Browse Structure: Military and War - Personnel - Veterans
  • Keyword: POW
  • Keyword: prisoners of war
  • Keyword: Great Depression

Primary Source

  • Item is a Primary Source

Coverage

  • Place Name: United States - Texas
  • Coverage Date: 1921/2002-06
  • Time Period: mod-tim
  • Time Period: new-sou
  • Place Name: Philippines
  • Place Name: United States - North Dakota
  • Place Name: Philippines - Central Luzon Region - Bataan Province
  • Place Name: Japan
  • Place Name: Philippines - National Capital Region - Manila
  • Place Name: Japan - Nagasaki Prefecture - Nagasaki-shi City - Nagasaki

Collection

  • Name: UNT Oral Histories
    Code: UNTOH
  • Name: Texas Oral History Collection
    Code: TOHC
  • Name: World War Two Collection
    Code: WWII

Institution

  • Name: UNT Oral History Program
    Code: UNTOHP

Rights

  • Rights Access: unt
  • Rights Statement: All rights reserved. To request a copy, contact the Oral History Program.

Resource Type

  • Book

Format

  • Text

Identifier

  • Accession or Local Control No: Number 1464
  • Call Number: OH 1464
  • OCLC: 424526047
  • UNT Catalog No.: b3780446
  • Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc306899

Note

  • Display Note: Summary: Interview with Frank H. Bigelow, a Navy veteran (USS Canopus), concerning his experiences as a prisoner-of-war of the Japanese during World War II. Boyhood in North Dakota; various jobs during the Great Depression; enlistment in the Navy, 1939; volunteering for duty in the Philippines and assignment to the submarine tender USS Canopus, 1940; pre-war military life in the Philippines; the Japanese bombing of Cavite Navy Yard and the destruction of the Canopus, December, 1941; retreat to Bataan, January, 1942; retreat to Corregidor; the fall of Corregidor; confinement in the 92nd Garage area; forced march down Dewey Boulevard in Manila; confinement at Cabanatuan, 1942-43; hell ship to Japan, July, 1943; coal mining for Mitsui Heavy Industries, Omuta, Kyushu; amputation of his leg by fellow prisoners after a mining accident, January, 1945; liberation; his description of the destruction in Nagasaki due to the atomic bomb. Appendix consists of photocopies from the website www.vetshome.com, which chronicles the story of the interviewee (eight leaves).
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