Oral History Interview with Glenn Oliver, May 27, 2002

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Glenn Oliver. Oliver was born in Brainerd, Minnesota 25 April 1919 and graduated from high school in 1937. He joined the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Tank Company in October 1940. The unit (194th Tank Battalion) was called to active duty 10 February 1941 and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington for further training. Oliver was ordered to Fort Knox, Kentucky to attend the radio and repair school, from which he graduated in June. On 8 September 1941 he went aboard the SS President Coolidge (1931) and sailed for the Philippines. The tank battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenberg, Philippines. Oliver witnessed the Japanese attack on Clark Field on 8 December 1941 and describes in detail combat in which he was involved and subsequently wounded. After surrendering, he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Japanese during a forced march. He describes being put aboard boxcars and sent to Camp O’Donnell and of the conditions which caused the death of many of the prisoners. He was assigned to a grave detail. On 24 October 1944 while at Bilibid Prison, he was in a group of 1869 men put aboard the Arisan Maru. He recalls in detail the chaotic scene of the sinking of the ship by an American submarine. He was rescued taken to Takao, Formosa where he was turned over to the Kempeitai. In January 1945 he was put aboard another ship and taken to Osaka, Japan. Upon arriving, he was assigned to work as a stevedore and he describes the severe conditions under which the prisoners labored. He tells of the surrender of Japan and the dropping of food and supplies from B-29 aircraft. After being liberated he was put on board the USS Goodhue (PA-107) and taken to the 312th General Hospital. On 6 October 1945 he was place aboard the USS Tryon (ADH-1) and taken to Letterman General Hospital. After spending over eleven months in various Army hospitals, he was discharged on 11 November 1946