Whitney H. Galbraith

Ordered to the Philippine Islands in 1940, he was Battery A Commander, 24th Field Artillery (Philippine Scouts). In November 1940 was assigned as Assistant G-4, USAFFE, in Bataan. On March 1941, he was named Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, USFIP, on Corregidor. On the afternoon of 8 April 1942, he was ordered by General Wainwright to Bataan to confer the General King and other senior officers, and report the impending collapse of Bataan to the Command on Corregidor. He brought nurses with him to Corregidor, as a result there were no nurses captured on Bataan. May 6, 1942, he “presided” with General Wainwright at the surrender of Corregidor and was offered to the northern Luzon Mountains to effect the successful surrender of “guerilla” forces. For this action he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross. This operation resulted in the conversion of “captives” at Navy Beach, Corregidor to “Prisoner of War” status. September 1945, American Prisoners of War were liberated in Manchuria by the OSS and Russian Army, to the latter of which he was appointed Liaison Officer. His awards were the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with “V”, and the Purple Heart with O.L.C.