Stories by author "William Hall Wallace, Sr.": 17
Stories
Prisoner of War Medal
“My father was also awarded a Prisoner of War Medal, and that was approved by President Ronald Reagan. That anyone who was or had been a prisoner of war would be awarded a prisoner of war metal. Congressman Roy Rowland, from Dublin, awarded that to…
The Bronze Star
“I was awarded the Bronze Star on September 30, 1985, at Robbins Air Force Base. It was through an act of Congress that had been signed by the President that awarded to all personnel that had been in the Philippines. To all personnel who helped to…
Bataan Survivors Reunions
“I have been to 8 or 10 in Fontana Village, North Carolina the 4th Sunday in August of every year. Those who will and want to meet in Fontana. It begins on Saturday and ends on the Thursday after… There are 400 or 500 of us there, different ones.…
Holiday Memories
“I can remember Christmas presents. And I probably was 5 or 6 years old. My sister [Carolyn Wallace]. And see [my father] sitting in his recliner. My mother [Mary Wallace] would fix breakfast. And just the four of us sharing Christmas together is…
Higher Education and Pastoring
“He went to Mercer University in Macon, to their school of theology. Went through in twelve consecutive quarters. He did four years’ work in three years and became a minister, and then pastored in small rural churches from that point forward.”
Reenlistment
“I reenlisted and served three more years in the Air Force after the war was over.”
“I was stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Macon. From 1946 to 1949. I was placed in personnel. Base personnel and regular squadron duties.”
Liberation
“I weighed 135 pounds when I was captured, and when I was released from prison I weighed 87 pounds. Just a bag of bones covered with skin.”
Slave Labor
“If you were not in the mines, you would take and unload coal off the ships onto railroad cars. We would work every morning about 4:00 am and you did not know where you were going to be, whether in the mine or on the ship or where. Then the next day…
The Journey to Japan
"We were stacked in the hull of the ship. We were just stood up in there with no bathroom facilities, no nothing. A little food once a day, if you were fortunate enough to get some food, if not, you waited until the next day. We were packed in…
Camp O'Donnell
“Then I was [on] a train there— a hundred men to a box car. The doors all closed and when were arrived 3 or 4 days later, twenty-five or 30 men in each box car had died. Upon arriving at the camp in 1942, we were told by the Japanese that we were…