Henry Clay Conner's WWII Journey (Part 1 of 7): From Army Radio Operator to Filipino Guerrilla Leader

Henry Clay Conner, Jr. shares his extraordinary WWII experience from joining the 27th Bomb Group as a communications officer to becoming a guerrilla leader in the Japanese-occupied Philippines. His candid account reveals how unprepared American forces were for the reality of war in the Pacific and the cultural misunderstandings that led to tragedy.• Born in Indianapolis on August 31, 1918 and graduated from Duke University in 1940• Joined the Army Air Force in January 1941 with minimal training in communications• Assigned to the 27th Bomb Group, the first complete bomb group sent overseas in US military history• Stationed in the Philippines when Japanese forces attacked just hours after Pearl Harbor• Received no cultural orientation about Japanese attitudes toward prisoners of war• Heard President Roosevelt describe American forces in Bataan as "expendable"• Chose to escape rather than surrender when Bataan fell on April 9, 1942• Survived for 34 months behind enemy lines, leading guerrilla forces with Filipino support• Witnessed firsthand how Japanese occupation forces mistreated Filipino civilians• Credits Filipino loyalty and support for his survival throughout the occupation