World War II Honoree

Jose Emilio Olivares, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Manila, Philippine Islands

Honored By

Edward C. Olivares, USMA 1957

Relationship

Son

SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINE SCOUTS DURING WWII IN BATAAN, CORREGIDOR, PANAY. CAPTURED IN MANILA DURING FORAGING EXPEDITION TO SOUTHERN LUZON AND ISLANDS, GATHERING FOOD SUPPLIES FOR EMBATTLED TROOPS IN BATAAN. IMPRISONED FOR 14 MONTHS BY JAPANESE KEMPITAI AND ARMY IN FORT SANTIAGO MILITARY PRISON. BEATEN, TORTURED AND STARVED. RELEASED ON PAROLE TO HIS WIFE TO DIE AFTER CONTRACTING PNEUMONIA, AMOEBIC DYSENTERY AND COMPLETE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL BREAKDOWN. RECOVERED TO CONDUCT ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE USING OTHER PAROLED PHILIPPINE SCOUTS (ENLISTED) WHOSE FAMILIES HE SUPPORTED WITH CASH AND FOOD DURING THE OCCUPATION OF MANILA. REPORTED BACK TO U.S. ARMY FOR DUTY WHEN SANTO TOMAS UNIVERSITY WAS LIBERATED. COMMANDED PHILIPPINE SCOUT MILITARY POLICE BATTALION UNTIL THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN GRANTED U.S. CITIZENSHIP ON AUGUST 10, 1945 AND INTEGRATED INTO THE REGULAR U.S. ARMY UPON PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE. SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY COAST ARTILLERY UNTIL 1950, THEN IN U.S. ARMY AIR DEFENSE (MISSILES) UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT AS COLONEL IN AUGUST 1953. HE WAS A FOREIGN MIDSHIPMAN GRADUATE OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY IN 1923, COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY, PHILIPPINE SCOUTS. HIS MOST SIGNIFICANT ASSIGNMENT WAS AS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PLANS ON GENERAL MACARTHUR'S STAFF PRIOR TO WWII.