RG-122 Papers of Major John Boone, USA,
31st Infantry, USAFFE / Bataan Military District, ECLGA / X Corps, FECOM

RG-122 Papers of Major John Boone USA, 31st Infantry, USAFFE / Bataan Military District, ECLGA / X Corps, FECOM;

2 Boxes (1 Shelf Foot)

John P. Boone served on Bataan as a corporal with the 31st Infantry Regiment. He evaded capture and the infamous Bataan Death March when the Bataan Force was surrendered by Major General King on 9 April 1942. After a period of hiding, Boone emerged to command the guerrilla resistance on Bataan. He served in that capacity until the return of U.S. forces in 1945. Boone earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his performance during the war.

After the war Boone resigned his commission, but reenlisted when the Korean War began. He served as an intelligence officer with the X Corps in Korea. This collection contains both the papers of the Bataan Military District Headquarters of the guerrilla resistance movement in the Philippines and materials from the Korean War.

Accession #8080.001-067

John Boone was a theatrical booking agent in Asia during the late 1930s, when he decided he wanted to join the U.S. Army. He joined the American Far East Regiment, the 31st Infantry, in Manila. When war came on December 7, 1941, Boone was in Company D, and fought in the campaign for Bataan after the withdrawal into the doomed peninsula. Evading capture with the surrender of Filipino and American forces, Boone took to the jungle and later emerged as the guerrilla leader of the Bataan Military District under Lt. Col. Ed Ramsey’s East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area.

Letter from Lt. Col. Ed Ramsey, commander, East Central Luzon Guerrilla Area to John Boone, commander Bataan Military District

A corporal on Bataan, Boone was commissioned as an officer during the guerrilla war and rose to the rank of brevet Colonel. The role of his guerrilla forces was of utmost value to the return of U.S. forces to the Philippines and Bataan in 1945.

Intelligence reports like this one showing key areas on Bataan and the Zig Zag pass were vital to returning U.S. forces in 1945

He was a great supporter and friend of both Claire Phillips and Margaret Utinsky, both famous for their efforts to get supplies to the prisoners of war in Cabanatuan prison camp.

Letter and affidavit of John Boone showing his close relationship with the angels of Cabanatuan, Margaret Utinsky and Claire Phillips

For his services on Bataan during the Japanese Occupation, Boone was personally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.

Commanders of the guerrilla districts on Luzon pose after being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur at GHQ in Manila, Philippines. Left to right are Major Harry McKenzie, Major Robert Lapham, Major Ed Ramsey, Manuel Roxas, Lt. Col. Bernard Anderson, Captain Ray Hunt, Major John Boone, and Captain Alvin Farretta.

Boone then resigned his commission and lived as a civilian in the Philippines, but his career was not over. When the Korean War broke out Boone reenlisted as a non-commissioned officer and served as an intelligence officer in Korea with the 32nd Regimental Combat Team.

Boone kept many materials from his time as a X Corps intelligence officer.

This marvelous collection of papers was donated by Jeanne Boone.