RG-111 Papers of General MacArthur’s Honor Guard
RG-111 Papers of General MacArthur’s Honor Guard; 6 boxes (5 Shelf feet) This collection is comprised of
correspondence, photographs, memorabilia, and scrapbooks from the veterans of the Honor Guard that protected
the United States Embassy and Far East Command Headquarters at the Dai Ichi Building in Tokyo during the Occupation of Japan.
The GHQ Honor Guard was created in Manila in the spring of 1945 to guard the residence and headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur in the city of Manila, Philippines. Originally comprised of decorated combat veterans in the Southwest Pacific Area, the Honor Guard became a much desired post in occupied Japan.
GHQ Honor Guard pose on the Imperial Plaza of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan. (Courtesy William Altman)
In Occupied Japan, the Honor Guard was stationed in Tokyo and responsible for guarding the U.S. Embassy, residence of General MacArthur and his family, and the General Headquarters located in the Dai Ichi Building.
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| U.S. Embassy (Fred Kirby Collection) |
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Dai Ichi Building (Fred Kirby Collection) |
CORRESPONDENCE: RG-111 features the personal and official correspondence of the members of the guard. These letters display the close relationship between the MacArthur family and the Honor Guard members. The John P. Long collection is full of an amazing collection of letters Long wrote home during his time in the Guard. They are a revealing look at the day to day life of the Guard and the MacArthurs.
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| (Thomas Henderson Collection) |
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(Daniel Humphries Collection) |
ORAL HISTORIES: Many oral histories with former Honor Guardsmen have been conducted over the years and are now part of RG-111.
PHOTOGRAPHS: RG-111 contains a vast amount of photographs. Both on duty and off duty, cameras seemed to be readily available and everything imaginable was captured on film.
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General MacArthur inspects the Honor Guard at the U.S. Embassy on his birthday, January 26,
(Ken Eddy Collection) |
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Honor Guards check identities inside the Dai Ichi Building
(Ken Eddy Collection) |
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Driver Daniel Humphries holds the car door for General MacArthur outside the Dai Ichi Building.
(Humphries Collection) |
PRINTED MATERIALS: Many Honor Guardsmen saved all the memorabilia they collected in Japan, providing insight into the many aspects of life in Occupied Japan.
Collections contained in RG-111
William Altman
March 1949-
Robert F. Babson
June 1945 - January 1946
Rod Bechtel
October 1946 - September 1947
Milliard Calvin Bell
January 1950 - March 1951
Leland H. Clifton
July 1945 - September 1946
Charles DeWet
October 1946 - April 1948
Robert Douglas
October 1953 - May 1955
Alfred K. Eddy, Jr.
January 1947 - December 1947
Otis Edwards
February 1947 - July 1948
Charles Emig
August 1947 - July 1948
Pete J. Fesovich
October 1946 - November 1946
Hillario Garcia
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Thomas Henderson
March 1947 - January 1948
Thomas V. Hirschberg
March 1949 - October 1949
Warren D. Hodges
November 1946 - January 1949
Maurice Howe
December 1949 - May 1951
Gerald Huff
September 1947 - October 1951
Daniel K. Humphries/p>
November 1947 -
Harold Hunt
June 1947 - June 1950
Charles William Johnson
August 1948 - May 1949
Fred Kirby
October 1946 - September 1947
Jamie F. Lee
September 1948 - October 1950
John P. Long
October 1945 - November 1946
Sydney Lucas
December 1945 - April 1946
Ira D. Marvin/p>
October 1948 - June 1949
Raymond Porter
July 1945 - November 1945
Thomas J. Pritchard
May 1949 - February 1950
Francis F. Reed
November 1945 - September 1946
Raymond Richards/p>
June 1945 - January 1946
Vincent Riddle
Original Honor Guard
Norman L. Smith
November 1945 - September 1946
Charles St. John
December 1945 - April 1946
Valentine E. Thornton
May 1949 - April 1952
Samuel R. Thurman
December 1947 - February 1949
David Valley
April 1951 - March 1952
Howard Mills
June 1945 - January 1946
Avery C. Young
October 1947 - July 1948
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