Purple Heart Walk – Arlie Higgins – Nemaha County Historical Society

Early Life and Education

Arlie W. Higgins was born and raised in Seneca, Kansas, the only son of Mrs. Hester Higgins. He graduated from Seneca High School in the Class of 1925, where he formed lifelong friendships, including with Willard Winsor, who would later also give his life in World War II. Arlie pursued a career in education, and his dedication and leadership qualities led him to become principal of the high school in Florence, Kansas.

Early Service: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

Before the outbreak of World War II, Higgins served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In September 1936, as a lieutenant, he was transferred from the CCC camp in Burlington to another camp in Scammon, Kansas. This period reflected his early commitment to public service and national programs during the Great Depression.

Military Call to Duty

With global tensions rising, Arlie was called to active duty as a reserve officer on February 6, 1941. He was stationed at Camp Leonard Wood in Rolla, Missouri, and participated in large-scale military maneuvers in Louisiana. In October 1941, he received sudden orders to deploy to the Philippines. He telegraphed his mother, Hester, in Seneca, asking her to meet him in Kansas City before his departure.

Deployment to the Philippines

Major Higgins arrived in the Philippines only days before the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent invasion of the Philippines. Assigned to the defense of the islands, he served with valor during the initial chaotic months of the war. Unfortunately, as the American and Filipino forces were overwhelmed, Higgins was captured on the island of Mindanao in April or May 1943 and became a prisoner of war.

Life as a Prisoner of War

Major Higgins was confined for several months at Japanese Prison Camp Two at Davao on Mindanao, one of the southernmost islands in the Philippine archipelago. Though his wife, Venita Schade Higgins, and his mother had no direct word from him after January 1944, other sources confirmed that he was in good health. His wife, who was working at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, made visits to Seneca to see her mother-in-law and update local friends and family.

In June 1943, his name appeared among 789 American soldiers confirmed as POWs held by the Japanese. Later updates suggested that he may have been moved north from Mindanao as the Japanese began relocating prisoners in anticipation of Allied advances.

Final Days: Aboard the Arisan Maru

On October 11, 1944, Major Higgins was among the 1,800 American prisoners placed aboard the Arisan Maru, one of the infamous “Hell Ships” used by the Japanese to transport POWs. These ships were unmarked and subject to attack by American submarines. On October 24, 1944, the Arisan Maru was torpedoed by a U.S. submarine in the South China Sea, unaware of its human cargo. Nearly all the POWs aboard perished, including Major Arlie W. Higgins, Pharmacist’s Mate Emmett Gregory Stueve, and Seaman Willard Winsor—three men from Nemaha County who tragically died the same day.

Recognition and Remembrance

For his courage, suffering, and ultimate sacrifice, Major Arlie W. Higgins was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. His name is honored in military records, local tributes, and memorial services. His widow, Venita, and mother, Hester, ensured that his story remained part of the collective memory of Seneca and beyond.

Arlie W. Higgins stands as a symbol of the quiet strength and resilience of small-town America, where duty, honor, and love of country led ordinary men to do extraordinary things.

SOURCES

Find a Grave

Arlie W Higgins VVeteran

Birth 2 Sep 1906

Kansas, USA

Death 24 Oct 1944 (aged 38)

At Sea

Burial America City Cemetery

America City, Nemaha County, Kansas, USAAdd to Map

Memorial ID 30464508

Purple Heart image on memorial

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Receives Master’s Degree

Arlie W. Higgins received his Master of Science degree in Educational administration at the summer commencement exercises of Kansas State College, Manhattan, on August 3rd. The subject of his master’s thesis was, “A Study of Compulsory Education in the State of Kansas.”

Arlie is the son of Mrs. W. H. Higgins. He will return this fall as instructor in the high school at Ingalls, Kansas, where he has taught since receiving his basic degree at the college at Manhattan. A master’s degree requires much additional work above the regular four-year course. Arlie has made credits toward the degree by studying during his summer vacations.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 6 Aug 1934, page 1

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Courier Tribune

17 Sept 1936

Lieutenant Arlie Higgins has been transferred from the CCC camp at Burlington to the CCC camp at Scammon, Kansas.

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Defense Program Takes Higgins From Teaching

Arlie Higgins is a former Seneca young man who is called from school work by the national defense program. Arlie has been high school principal at Florence, Kansas, where he has taught three years. He is a member of the Reserve Officers Corps of the army as well as a teacher and the army now comes first. Arlie was here the first of the week to visit his mother, Mrs. W. H. Higgins, then went on to Fort Crook, Nebr., where he has been assigned as captain of the 3rd infantry. He is called for a year’s duty. He will look for a place to live at Ft. Crook and then he and his wife will move their household goods from Florence.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS), 28 Nov 1940, page 2

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Capt. Arlie Higgins, son of Mrs. Hester Higgins, is now stationed at Camp Leonard Wood near Rolla, Mo. Mrs. Higgins and another captain’s wife have a cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks. Each of the captains has a car and the two officers make the trip of some 60 miles at the weekends. One car is kept by the wives.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS), 10 Jul 1941, page 3

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Captain Arlie Higgins, who is stationed at Camp Leonard Wood, Mo., is expected to return from maneuvers in Louisiana in about a week. His wife and her mother, Mrs. Walter Schade, Kansas City, Kansas, were recent visitors of Mrs. Hester Higgins. Mr. Schade is an engineer at Providence hospital.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 6 Oct 1941, page 3

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Courier Tribune

9 OCt 1941

Capt. Arlie H. Higgins, Tuesday night telegraphed his mother, Mrs. Hester Higgins, Seneca, that he is being sent to the Philippines immediately and asked her to meet him in Kansas City today. Capt. Higgins recently returned to Camp Leonard Wood, Rolla, Mo., from maneuvers in Louisiana.

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Capt. Higgins on a Remote Pacific Isle

Mrs. W. H. Higgins received word indirectly Thursday that her son, Capt. Arlie Higgins, had passed through the first flurry of the Japanese attack on Manila without injury. Soon after the war began, Capt. Higgins was sent to an island (name not given) 400 miles from Manila. Mrs. Arlie Higgins is with her people, the Schades, in Kansas City. Mrs. Arlie Higgins had information of her husband through the wife of an officer who was sent to the Philippines at the same time as Arlie. This man wired his wife that both he and Capt. Higgins were safe.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 22 Dec 1941, page 1

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CAPT. ARLIE HIGGINS

Seneca has an army captain in the Philippines, Arlie Higgins, son of Mrs. W. H. Higgins. Arlie took officer training while attending the state college at Manhattan and was called to army duty from Florence, where he was principal of the high school. There has been indirect word from Capt. Higgins since the outbreak of the war. His location in the islands remains unrevealed.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 29 Jan 1942

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Captain Higgins Safe, Mother Learns Sunday

Mrs. Hester Higgins was happy Sunday to receive a telephone message from her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Arlie Higgins, in Kansas City, stating she had word from Captain Arlie Higgins that he was all right. No direct word had been heard from Capt. Higgins since he went to the Philippines with the first A. E. F., and the wife and mother and sisters have awaited news anxiously.

Mrs. L. G. Myers, America City, a sister, was visiting her mother, Mrs. Higgins, when the message came here.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 9 Feb 1942

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Mrs. Hester Higgins of Seneca has a son, Captain Arlie Higgins, in the Philippines, three grandsons in military service. The grandsons are Billy and Junior Post of Fort Collins, Colo., and “Gus” Myers of America City. Myers did not take his release when he became 28, but re-enlisted and is now on the coast. Mrs. Chandler Post, mother of the Post boys, was clerk of the draft board in Nemaha county in the first World War.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 23 Mar 1942, page 1

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Courier Tribune

13 APril 1942

Bob Griffith Was On Bataan
North of Seneca, Attended School Here

The gallant forces defending Bataan peninsula in the Philippines crumbled under the incessant strain last week.

Little has been given out to indicate the number of men captured or casualty, nor number that reached Corregidor Island, where the fort still holds under repeated attack of the Jap bombers.

Bob Griffith, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Griffith, who live north of Seneca and west of Bern, is believed to have been on Bataan. His parents have had no word for some time to allay their anxiety. Bob was in the air corps. Most of the planes on Bataan were knocked out, and the air corps joined with the infantry in ground fighting.

Bob is a graduate of the Seneca high school. He was 21 last January 5. He joined the air corps in August 1940, in California.

Capt. Arlie Higgins, son of Mrs. W. H. Higgins, Seneca, is somewhere in the Philippines but from earlier indication may not have been on Bataan.

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No Definite Word on Major Arlie Higgins

Arlie Higgins, the son of Mrs. W. H. Higgins, Seneca, was in the Philippines. It has been learned that Arlie, formerly a captain, had won the rank of major. Beyond that, there is little report. Mrs. Higgins believes there may be units of the Philippine forces, possibly moved, that are still carrying on. Arlie’s wife, Kansas City, had a letter from the department that expressed hope prisoner lists would be exchanged soon between the warring countries, so the names of men held could be learned.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 11 Jun 1942, page 2

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Major Arlie Higgins Prisoner of War

Mrs. Hester Higgins received word Sunday that her son, Major Arlie H. Higgins, from whom no word had been received since February, is a prisoner of war and may be addressed Major Arlie Higgins, care of International Red Cross Information Bureau, care of Edward Ecchools, Hong Kong, China, Prisoner of War, care Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif. Major Higgins was serving in the

Philippines. Sunday’s dailies stated that General Wainwright, commander in the Philippines, is also a prisoner of war. Japanese sources said he was on the island of Luzon and well. Mrs. Higgins’ information came from Mr. Schade, father of Mrs. Arlie Higgins, who lives in Kansas City. Mrs. Arlie Higgins is in San Antonio, Texas.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 10 Aug 1942, page 1

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Arlie Higgins Is a Prisoner

Mother Never Lost Hope He Was Alive

The best news that has come to Seneca in many a day is that Major Arlie Higgins is safe. It is learned that he has been a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of the Philippines. The War Department notified the Major’s wife in San Antonio. She immediately notified her father, Walter Schade, an engineer at Providence hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, who in turn, talked to the Major’s mother, Mrs. W. H. Higgins, of this city.

Friends have admired the courage of Mrs. Higgins, the Major’s brave mother, who has never lost hope that her son was alive. With her when she received the news were her daughters, Mrs. Chandler Post of Fort Collins, Colo., and Mrs. L. G. Myers of Havensville, and Mrs. Post’s sister-in-law, Mrs. John Markham, Havensville.

Further information was promised by the War Department.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 17 May 1943, page 1

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Among the names of 789 soldiers held prisoners by Japan, published June 30th, was that of Major Arlie W. Higgins, husband of Mrs. Arlie W. Higgins of Kansas City, Kansas and son of Mrs. Hester Higgins, Seneca. Word to this effect was received by his wife and mother some weeks ago. The Kansas City Star comments as follows: Major Higgins, former principal at the Florence, Kansas high school, arrived in the Philippines only a few days before the Japanese attack. As a reserve officer, he was called into active service February 6, 1941. Major Higgins is the husband of the former Miss Venita Schade, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Schade, live at 1511 Tauromee Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Mrs. Higgins, expected home today for a visit with her parents, is an office employee at Kelly Field, Texas.

Courier Democrat (Seneca, KS) 5 Jul 1943, page 1

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Mrs. Hester Higgins in International Red Cross information received Sunday was told that she could now write to her son, Major Arlie W. Higgins, a war prisoner, and might expect letters from him. The St. Joseph Gazette Monday stated that several letters dated in February and March, before the fall of Bataan, were received Sunday by families in St. Joseph. On receipt of address, Mrs. Higgins immediately wrote to her son by air mail. A Red Cross ship is now being loaded for the Far East and air mail cards may be mailed by addressing soldiers at their last known station, directed to the information bureau of the International Red Cross, Central Prison Camp, Hongkong, China.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 13 Aug 1942, page 1

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Courier Tribune

5 July 1943

The Kansas City Star comments as follows: Major Higgins, former principal at the Florence, Kansas high school, arrived in the Philippines only a few days before the Japanese attack. As a reserve officer, he was called into active service February 6, 1941.

Major Higgins is the husband of the former Miss Venita Schade, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Schade, live at 1511 Tauromee Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Mrs. Higgins, expected home today for a visit with her parents, is an office employee at Kelly Field, Texas.

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Major Arlie W. Higgins, prisoner of the Japanese, has sent a card, presumably through the Red Cross, to his wife, Mrs. Vent Higgins, employed by the army air forces at Kelly Field, Texas. This first direct word to be received from the Major states that he is in good health. He went to the Philippines in November 1941. Mrs. W. H. Higgins, the Major’s mother, has been with her daughter, Mrs. Chandler Post, in Fort Collins, Colo., this summer, following Mrs. Post’s visit here. Mrs. Arlie Higgins’ parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Schade, live in Kansas City, Kansas, and reported the item to the Kansas City Star.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 13 Sep 1943, page 1

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The Gripsholm Not Bringing Senecans

With the arrival of the Gripsholm, the Swedish exchange liner, in New Jersey last week, questions arose as to whether Frederick A. Knight, husband of Mrs. Louise Knight, Seneca High School teacher, would be among the hundreds of Americans and Canadians returned to the United States. While it has been made plain the exchange of war prisoners included only civilians, who were mostly missionaries and business people who were caught in Japanese territory at the outbreak of the war, some thought Mr. Knight might have been with the group. Mrs. Knight told a reporter last week that she has no reason to believe her husband will be returned at this time because he was regarded as one who took up arms against Japan. He was a civilian engineer on the Island of Wake when it was captured and the Japanese feel that all on the island took part in the battle. However, Mrs. Knight is very hopeful that she will receive a letter from her husband at this time, as the Gripsholm also carries an exchange of mail. The Red Cross handles this exchange. Mrs. W. H. Higgins feels she may have word from her son, Major Arlie Higgins, also a Jap prisoner. An article in the Kansas City Star, Wednesday, stated that a naval public relations officer said authorities would look with disfavor on any stories of alleged atrocities and guerilla warfare in the interest of Americans still remaining in the Orient.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 6 Dec 1943, page 1

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Another Card From Major Arlie Higgins

Mrs. Hester Higgins has a card written by her son, Major Arlie Higgins, who is interned in Military Prison No. 2 in the Philippines. It was received by his wife in San Antonio and sent here. Arlie writes he is well. The message was written on a Japanese postcard and was transmitted through the International Red Cross. It is the third card signed by Major Higgins which has come through since the Japanese capture of the Philippines.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 30 Mar 1944, page 1

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Mrs. W. H. Higgins has received no further word from her son, Major Arlie Higgins, a prisoner of the Japs, interned in the Philippines. Major Higgins has been a prisoner since the fall of that island. Information received from Red Cross Headquarters recently stated the Japanese government has not issued a safe conduct permit for a voyage of the Gripsholm to the East this year for the purpose of transporting Christmas boxes to the Orient, therefore persons are wondering if mail will be forthcoming from prisoners, interned by Japs, this fall.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 17 Aug 1944, page 5

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Red Cross Message Forms Available

May Send War Prisoners A Message Before Nov. 30

As the result of the great victory in the Philippines, and no doubt, anticipated progress, information has been sent Mrs. Edwin Buehler, chairman of Nemaha County Red Cross, regarding messages to prisoners of the Japs, interned in the Philippines. Mrs. Buehler has received message forms to be used by families and friends in sending word to internees, and they are available at her office in The Seneca Library.

The message read in part: Plans have been completed for Red Cross message forms 1616 to be taken to the Philippines. One message, length limited only by space on both sides of form, will be accepted until November 30 from relatives and friends to United States prisoners of war and U.S. civilians interned on that island, if address is known. These messages are subject to U.S. Army overseas mail censorship. Messages cannot be accepted for free civilians Filipinos, and although the Red Cross cannot guarantee delivery of each and every message, all efforts will be made to reach addressees so they may establish direct contact with their families as soon as possible after the islands are liberated.

There are three men from this community who are known to be prisoners of the Japs: Major Arlie Higgins, son of Mrs. Hester Higgins, has been interned in a Japanese camp in the Philippines since the fall of Corregidor. He has not been heard from since the invasion of the Philippines—and while his wife and mother have his address and have heard from him in the past, it is believed he has been moved back out of the battle area. Allen Knight, husband of Mrs. Louise Knight, Seneca High School teacher, is a civilian internee, confined in a camp in Shanghai, China. The other prisoner is Pvt. Orville Edman, Centralia soldier, also interned in the Philippines.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 6 Nov 1944, page 1

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Courier Tribune

18 Jan 1945

Believe Major A. W. Higgins Still Prisoner of Japs

Mrs. Arlie W. Higgins, San Antonio, Texas, in Seneca this week, said Wednesday she believes her husband has been moved north in the Philippines from Japanese Prison Camp Two at Davao on Mindanao, where he was confined several months. Major Higgins was taken prisoner in Mindanao in April or May of 1943, has been overseas since October 1941. His wife has had no direct word from him since January of last year but has heard from other sources that he is in good health. Mindanao is one of the Philippine islands in the extreme south part of the chain and Mrs. Higgins has reason to believe her husband has been moved from that section.

Major Higgins is the only son of Mrs. Hester Higgins of Seneca, graduated from Seneca schools and has many friends here who share the hope of the family that he will soon be returned to them. Mrs. Higgins visited her mother-in-law from Tuesday until today.

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Mrs. W. H. Higgins has had word about her son, Major Arlie Higgins, through Mrs. Arlie Higgins who recently visited here. The Major’s wife received a prisoner of war card from him after returning to Kansas City from Seneca about two weeks ago. The card had no date but Arlie said he was well. At the time his card was written he hadn’t been moved.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 1 Feb 1945, page 2

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Gen. Wainwright Located At Mukden, Manchukuo

Friday night radio and Saturday morning dailies announced that Lieut. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright and 176 other prisoners had been transferred from Japanese prison camps on Formosa to Hoten Camp at Mukden, Manchukuo. The prisoners moved, the War Department said, were from six camps. Seventeen generals were in the group beside Lieut. Gen. Wainwright. The name of Major Arlie Higgins, who was believed to be on Formosa, was not mentioned. The nearest Kansas man transferred to Manchukuo was James E. Irey, pharmacist’s mate, Powhattan, Kansas.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 12 Feb 1945, page 2

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SAY OFFICER LOST LIFE IN PRISONER TRANSFER

Mrs. Arlie W. Higgins Informed By War Dept. Of Husband’s Death

Word from the International Red Cross to the United States government, giving an official list obtained from the Japanese government after long delay, of American prisoners of war who were lost while being transferred from the Philippine islands on a Jap war ship, sunk October 24, listed Major Higgins among those lost when the sinking occurred. Mrs. Arlie Higgins came to Seneca Tuesday night to bring the official information from the war department to Major Higgins’ mother, Mrs. W. H. Higgins.

The War Department was able to obtain information that the vessel sailed from Manila, Philippine Islands on October 11, 1944, with 1775 prisoners of war aboard. On October 24, 1944 the vessel was sunk by submarine action in the South China Sea, over 200 miles from the China coast, which was the nearest land. Five of the prisoners escaped in a small boat and reached the coast, four others have been reported as picked up by the Japanese, by whom all others aboard are reported lost. Absence of detailed information as to what happened leads to the conclusion that all other prisoners listed by the Japanese as aboard the vessel perished.

This news came as a severe shock to Seneca folks who have never lost hope that Major Higgins would some day return to his wife and mother, who have been so brave in their long period of anxiety and suffering. The faith and courage of Major Higgins’ mother has been an example of pure faith and courage.

Arlie was born September 2, 1906 at America City and his early life, until his graduation from grade and high school, was spent in this county. He was a graduate of Kansas State College, Manhattan, and following his graduation taught in high schools at Ingalls and Florence, Kansas. He was a member of the R.O.T.C. in college and kept his membership active. He was engaged in C.C.C. work for a while and in 1940 was called to active duty. He was in the states about a year, stationed at Ft. Crook, Neb., and Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. In October 1941, he went overseas and landed in the Philippines. He later went to Bataan and when that island fell he was taken prisoner. He remained a prisoner of war at various camps in the Philippines. His last internment was at Davao and from that camp he was moved to Manila. His wife received a card from him in January which was mailed at Davao, date unknown.

Arlie was married to Venita Grace Schade at Manhattan in August, 12 years ago. Since her husband was taken prisoner she has been employed at San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. L. G. Myers, Havensville and Mrs. C. W. Post, Ft. Collins, Colo., are sisters of Arlie. Mrs. Arlie Higgins, her father W. A. Schade, Kansas City, and Mrs. Myers came Tuesday and Mrs. Higgins and Mr. Schade returned to Kansas City Wednesday, and Mrs. Myers remained for a longer visit with her mother.

Arlie Higgins will be remembered by his friends and classmates as a young man of outstanding character, sincere and honest in all of his associations. He served his country with the feeling of genuine patriotism and gave his life in the hope that freedom would come to all nations.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 28 June 1945, page 1

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Courier Tribune

2 Jul 1945

Memorial Mass Tuesday For Emmett Gregory Stueve

A memorial mass for Pharmacist’s mate Emmett Gregory Stueve will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church in Axtell, Tuesday morning at 9:00 o’clock.

Pharmacist Mate Stueve lost his life off the Philippines at the same time of Major Arlie Higgins and Seaman Willard Winsor, on October 24, 1944.

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Will Honor Two From County at Kansas State

Manhattan, Kansas—Two Nemaha County servicemen who died in World War II, Arlie William Higgins of Seneca and Raymond Ruben Rokey of Corning, will be given special recognition in All-Faith Chapel to be built at Kansas State College, Manhattan, in memory of alumni and former students who served in the war.

Higgins, the son of Mrs. Hester Higgins, Seneca, was a 1929 graduate of Kansas State. Rokey, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. S. Rokey, Corning, was a 1942 graduate of the College.

“The College has not forgotten these men, and the chapel will be an inspiring monument to their sacrifices,” President Milton S. Eisenhower said. “It will honor them and make their ideals the ideals of students for generations to come.”

The chapel will honor approximately 5,000 K-Staters who served in the war, with special recognition being given nearly 200 who died in service.

Built of native limestone, the chapel will be located in a wooded area on the campus. Estimated cost of the memorial is $275,000, all of which must come from contributions.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS) 8 Aug 1946, page 1

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Perplexity: What can you tell me about US soldiers taken prisoner on the island of Luzon in 1942?

In 1942, during World War II, many U.S. soldiers were taken prisoner on the island of Luzon following the surrender of Allied forces on the Bataan Peninsula. The surrender occurred on April 8, 1942, after a prolonged defensive retreat across Luzon. The troops had been suffering from severe shortages of food, medicine, and ammunition, leading to widespread malnutrition and disease among the soldiers[2].

After the surrender, the captured soldiers were subjected to the infamous Bataan Death March, where they were forced to march approximately 65 miles under brutal conditions to prison camps. Many soldiers died from exhaustion, dehydration, and abuse during the march. Once at the camps, such as Camp O’Donnell and later Cabanatuan, the prisoners faced overcrowding, inadequate food, and harsh treatment, leading to high mortality rates. At Camp O’Donnell alone, over 1,500 Americans died due to the harsh conditions[2].

The conditions in these camps were dire, with prisoners suffering from diseases like malaria and dysentery due to the lack of medical supplies. The Japanese eventually closed Camp O’Donnell due to the high death rates and transferred prisoners to other locations, including Cabanatuan[2]. The treatment of POWs in the Philippines was a significant violation of the rules and customs of war, leading to numerous post-war investigations and trials[3].

Citations:

[1] https://history.army.mil/brochures/luzon/72-28.htm

[2] https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/WWII_Cabanatuan

[3] https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/dispose-them-massacre-american-pows-philippines

[4] https://goforbroke.org/luzon/

[5] https://www.stamfordhistory.org/ww2_luzon.htm

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Perplexity: What can you tell me about the Japanese military prison No. 2 in th epHilippines?

The search results do not provide specific information about a Japanese military prison referred to as “Prison No. 2” in the Philippines during World War II. However, they do mention several Japanese prison camps in the Philippines, such as Camp O’Donnell, Davao Prison and Penal Farm, and others, which were known for their harsh conditions and brutal treatment of prisoners. If “Prison No. 2” refers to a specific camp, it might be known by another name or number, and further details would require additional context or clarification.

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Perplexity: What prison ws Gen. Wainwright in during WWII?

General Jonathan M. Wainwright, who was the highest-ranking American prisoner of war during World War II, was held in several Japanese prison camps throughout his captivity. After his surrender on Corregidor Island in May 1942, he was initially imprisoned in the northern part of Luzon, Philippines. He was then transferred to camps in Formosa (modern-day Taiwan), Japan, Korea, and ultimately Manchuria. His captivity lasted for 39 months until he was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in Manchuria in August 1945[1][2][4].

Citations:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_M._Wainwright_%28general%29

[2] https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/general-jonathan-m-wainwright-survived-the-privations-of-captivity-at-the-hands-of-the-japanese/

[3] https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1948274/medal-of-honor-monday-army-lt-gen-jonathan-wainwright/

[4] https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/the-oss-operation-cardinal-locating-general-jonathan-wainwright/

[5] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan-M-Wainwright

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Perplexity: Is there a list of US soldiers captured after the surrender on Corregidor Island n May 1942?

The search results do not provide a specific list of U.S. soldiers captured after the surrender on Corregidor Island in May 1942. However, it is known that approximately 11,000 American and Filipino troops were taken as prisoners of war following the surrender of Corregidor to Japanese forces on May 6, 1942[1][2]. These soldiers were subjected to harsh conditions in various Japanese POW camps. For detailed information or specific names, one might need to consult military records or archives that document the personnel involved in the Battle of Corregidor.

Citations:

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Corregidor

[2] https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Corregidor

[3] https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/WWII_Cabanatuan

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Corregidor_%281945%29

[5] https://www.asomf.org/what-happened-during-the-battle-of-corregidor/

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Perplexity: Is there any information about Major Arlie Higgins who was captured about the same time as Gen. Wainwright?

Major Arlie W. Higgins was a U.S. Army officer who served in the 101st Philippine Division, 101st Infantry Regiment during World War II. He was captured by Japanese forces around the same time as General Jonathan M. Wainwright following the surrender of Corregidor Island in May 1942. Unfortunately, Major Higgins died when the Japanese transport ship Arisan Maru, carrying prisoners of war, was sunk by a U.S. submarine in 1944[1][2].

Citations:

[1] https://twitter.com/k0art/status/1780083488974368798

[2] https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=45379

[3] https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mjhiggins/ww2.htm

[4] http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mjhiggins/genealogy/wwii-abmc.htm

[5] https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/general-jonathan-m-wainwright-survived-the-privations-of-captivity-at-the-hands-of-the-japanese/

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Perplexity: What was Major Arlie HIggin’s role in the 101st Philippine Division? (this was a prompt from Perplexity)

Major Arlie W. Higgins served in the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 101st Philippine Division during World War II. His role included commanding the 2nd Battalion, which was positioned in Aroman. The 101st Infantry Regiment was part of the defensive efforts in Mindanao, engaging in battles such as the Battle of Digos and the Battle of Davao City. The regiment was involved in holding Japanese forces at bay from December 1941 until its surrender in May 1942. Following the surrender, Major Higgins, along with other American and Filipino soldiers, became a prisoner of war under Japanese control[5].

Citations:

[1] https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/missing-in-action/higgins-arlie-mia-36371.cfm

[2] https://api.abmc.gov/decedent-search/higgins=arlie

[3] https://sites.rootsweb.com/~mjhiggins/ww2.htm

[4] https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=45379

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Infantry_Regiment_%28PA%29

__________________

Perplexity: What were the conditions faced by American soldiers int he 101st Philippine Division?

American soldiers in the 101st Philippine Division faced extremely challenging conditions during World War II. The division, part of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), was primarily composed of Filipino soldiers with some American officers. It was tasked with defending the island of Mindanao against Japanese forces.

### Conditions Faced

1. **Training and Equipment**: The division was organized in August 1941 and continued to train in infantry tactics despite significant shortages. They faced a lack of ammunition, broken rifles, and insufficient equipment, which hampered their operational effectiveness[4].

2. **Combat Engagements**: The 101st Division was involved in several key engagements, including the Battle of Digos and the Battle of Davao City. They successfully delayed Japanese advances in these areas from December 1941 to April 1942, demonstrating resilience despite being outnumbered and outgunned[4].

3. **Surrender and Aftermath**: On May 10, 1942, the division received orders to surrender. Many soldiers were reluctant to comply and instead chose to retreat into the hills, mountains, and jungles, eventually joining guerrilla units to continue resistance efforts[4].

4. **Prisoner of War Experience**: Those who surrendered faced harsh conditions as prisoners of war. The soldiers endured brutal treatment, insufficient food, and inadequate medical care in Japanese prison camps. The division’s experiences mirrored those of other units captured in the Philippines, who suffered through the Bataan Death March and years of captivity[1].

Overall, the 101st Philippine Division’s soldiers showed remarkable bravery and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds and severe hardships.

Citations:

[1] https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org/philippine-division-ww2.cfm

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Division_%28Philippines%29

[3] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA147751.pdf

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Infantry_Regiment_%28PA%29

[5] https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/finding-aids/pdf/us-army-unit-records-1.pdf

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Perplexity: What can you tell me about the sinking of the Arisan Maru during WWII?

The sinking of the Arisan Maru on October 24, 1944, was one of the deadliest maritime disasters involving American prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II. The Arisan Maru was a Japanese transport ship that was part of a convoy carrying POWs from Manila, Philippines, to Japan.

### Key Details of the Sinking

– **Ship Details**: The Arisan Maru was a wartime standard cargo ship with a gross tonnage of 6,886 tons, operated by Mitsui Sempaku. It departed Manila on October 11, 1944, with 1,782 POWs, primarily American military personnel, and 100 civilians of various nationalities on board[5].

– **Convoy and Route**: To avoid air raids, the ship initially headed south along the west coast of Palawan Island before returning to Manila. On October 21, it joined a convoy bound for Takao, Taiwan, escorted by several Japanese destroyers[5].

– **Sinking**: On October 24, while transiting the Bashi Strait, the convoy was attacked by U.S. submarines. The USS Snook fired torpedoes that struck the Arisan Maru, causing it to sink. The attack resulted in the largest loss of American lives in a single maritime incident during the war, with 1,773 POWs perishing[2][5].

– **Survivors**: Only nine POWs survived the sinking. The Japanese guards initially cut the rope ladders in the holds, but some POWs managed to escape using ropes. Despite the chaos, the guards did not fire on the POWs as they were preoccupied with their own escape. Some POWs attempted to swim to a Japanese destroyer but were repelled[5].

– **Aftermath**: The survivors endured harsh conditions at sea. A few managed to find a lifeboat and survived by utilizing available resources, such as fresh water and a sail. This small group of survivors included both military personnel and civilians[5].

The tragedy of the Arisan Maru highlights the perilous conditions faced by POWs during transport and the significant loss of life due to wartime maritime operations.

Citations:

[1] https://archive.teanecklibrary.org/WWII/Bridgman/arisan.pdf

[2] https://pacificwrecks.com/ships/maru/arisan.html

[3] https://pows.jiaponline.org/2019/10/75th-anniversary-of-arisan-maru-tragedy.html

[4] https://philippinedefenders.pastperfectonline.com/archive/0179EBF2-8DAC-4A3B-8BDC-459719887932

[5] http://www.powresearch.jp/en/archive/ship/arisan.html

__________________

MAJ. ARLIE HIGGINS IS REPORTED KILLED

Kansas State Grad Dies When Prison Ship Is Sunk By American Sub

Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Shade, formerly of Manhattan now of Topeka, received a telegram from the War Department Saturday, informing them that their son-in-law, Maj. Arlie Higgins, was killed when a Japanese prison ship he was on was torpedoed by an American submarine about 200 miles off the coast of China.

Major Higgins had been a prisoner of the Japanese since the fall of Bataan and was apparently being moved to another prison camp at the time of his death.

KSC Graduate

He was a graduate of Kansas State college with the class of 1929 and received his Master Degree in Education at Kansas State in 1934. He was a member of Phi Lambda Theta fraternity and Hamilton Literary society. Entering the army in 1941 with a commission as Captain in the Reserve corps, Major Higgins went overseas in 1942 and was in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese invasion.

His wife, the former Vinita Schade is employed in California. Upon receiving the War Department announcement her father left for California to break the news.

The Manhattan Mercury (25 Jun 1945) page 1

_________________

Find A Grave: Tablets of the Missing

Maj Arlie W Higgins Veteran

Birth 2 Sep 1906

Kansas, USA

Death 24 Oct 1944 (aged 38)

At Sea

Monument

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines

Plot Tablets of the Missing

Memorial ID 56760955

______________

2nd Narrative with additional information

Arlie William Higgins was born on September 2, 1906, in America City, Kansas. A man of strong character and dedication, he pursued higher education at Kansas State College in Manhattan, where he graduated in 1929. His academic journey did not end there; he went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from the same institution in 1934, writing his thesis on “A Study of Compulsory Education in the State of Kansas.” This achievement was a testament to his commitment to both education and personal growth.

After completing his studies, Higgins embarked on a career in education, serving as a high school teacher and principal in Kansas. He worked at high schools in Ingalls and Florence, where his leadership and passion for education were evident. However, his career took a turn when the national defense program called him away from teaching. As a member of the Reserve Officers Corps, Higgins was summoned to active duty in the U.S. Army in 1940, where he served as a captain in the 3rd Infantry at Fort Crook, Nebraska. His military responsibilities soon took precedence, and he, along with his wife Venita Grace Schade, relocated to Fort Crook.

By 1941, Captain Higgins was stationed at Camp Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he continued to serve until his deployment to the Philippines later that year. The outbreak of World War II brought new challenges, and Higgins was soon embroiled in the conflict in the Pacific. He participated in the defense of the Philippines during the Japanese invasion and was eventually sent to an island approximately 400 miles from Manila. Despite the chaos and danger, Higgins managed to survive the initial Japanese attacks without injury.

In the early days of the war, Higgins was promoted to the rank of major. However, his situation grew dire as the Philippines fell to Japanese forces. In 1942, Major Higgins, along with thousands of other American and Filipino soldiers, was captured and became a prisoner of war. He was held in various Japanese prison camps, including the infamous Military Prison No. 2 in the Philippines. During his imprisonment, he managed to send occasional messages to his wife, Venita, and his mother, Hester, providing some reassurance of his well-being.

Tragically, Major Higgins’ story did not have a happy ending. In October 1944, he was among 1,775 prisoners aboard the Japanese transport ship Arisan Maru, which was en route from Manila to Japan. On October 24, 1944, the ship was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine in the South China Sea, approximately 200 miles off the coast of China. The sinking resulted in one of the deadliest maritime disasters of the war, with nearly all prisoners, including Major Higgins, losing their lives.

The news of Higgins’ death was a severe blow to his family and the community of Seneca, Kansas, where he was well-known and respected. His mother, Hester Higgins, and his wife, Venita, had held onto hope for his return throughout his years of captivity. Major Higgins’ bravery and dedication to his country were remembered by those who knew him, and his legacy was honored at Kansas State College, where he and another local serviceman, Raymond Ruben Rokey, were commemorated in the All-Faith Chapel built in memory of alumni and students who served in World War II.

Major Arlie William Higgins is also memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, where his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing. His sacrifice, along with that of countless others, serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of war and the enduring legacy of those who gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

Here is the list of sources used for the narrative about Arlie W. Higgins:

Find a Grave Memorial ID 30464508:

Birth and death information, burial details, and a Purple Heart image on the memorial.

Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS):

August 6, 1934, page 1: Information about Arlie W. Higgins receiving his Master’s Degree.

November 28, 1940, page 2: Details about Higgins being called from teaching by the national defense program.

July 10, 1941, page 3: Mention of Higgins stationed at Camp Leonard Wood and weekend trips to Lake of the Ozarks.

October 6, 1941, page 3: Mention of Higgins expected to return from maneuvers in Louisiana.

December 22, 1941, page 1: Report of Higgins surviving the initial Japanese attack on Manila.

January 29, 1942: Note on Higgins’ presence in the Philippines as an army captain.

February 9, 1942: Information on Higgins’ safety communicated to his mother.

March 23, 1942, page 1: Mrs. Hester Higgins’ mention of her son and grandsons in military service.

June 11, 1942, page 2: Brief mention of Higgins being promoted to Major.

August 10, 1942, page 1: Announcement of Higgins being a prisoner of war.

May 17, 1943, page 1: Confirmation of Higgins being alive and a prisoner of war.

July 5, 1943, page 1: Mention of Major Higgins among 789 soldiers held by Japan.

August 13, 1942, page 1: Information from the Red Cross about writing to Higgins.

September 13, 1943, page 1: A card received from Major Higgins through the Red Cross.

December 6, 1943, page 1: Arrival of the Gripsholm and discussion about war prisoners.

March 30, 1944, page 1: Another card received from Major Higgins from a Japanese prison.

August 17, 1944, page 5: No further word received from Higgins.

November 6, 1944, page 1: Information on Red Cross message forms available to send to war prisoners.

February 1, 1945, page 2: Word received through Mrs. Arlie Higgins that Major Higgins was well.

February 12, 1945, page 2: Mention of General Wainwright’s transfer, with no word on Major Higgins.

June 28, 1945, page 1: Report on the death of Major Arlie W. Higgins during a prisoner transfer.

August 8, 1946, page 1: Announcement of Major Higgins being honored at Kansas State College.

The Manhattan Mercury:

June 25, 1945, page 1: Report of Major Arlie Higgins’ death when the Arisan Maru was sunk.

Perplexity Inquiries:

Information on the Bataan Death March, Japanese military prisons, General Wainwright’s imprisonment, details about the Arisan Maru sinking, and Major Arlie Higgins’ role in the 101st Philippine Division.

These sources were used to compile the narrative of Major Arlie W. Higgins’ life, military service, and ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

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From Perplexity –

The 101st Infantry Regiment was a unit of the Philippine Army, part of the 101st Division, which served under the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) during World War II.wikipedia+1

The regiment was activated in August 1941 at Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and composed mainly of Filipinos from Mindanao, a few officers from Luzon, Moros (Muslim Filipinos), and some American officers responsible for command and training. The regiment began training with limited equipment and ammunition after being inducted into USAFFE on September 1, 1941.wikipedia

Key facts about the 101st Infantry Regiment:

It played a pivotal defensive role in Mindanao, notably holding Japanese forces from advancing to Kabacan from December 1941 until April 1942, and resisting Japanese troops in the Digos sector for several months.wikipedia
The unit operated in fragmented and challenging conditions due to limited resources and artillery, often forcing the regiment to fight as scattered battalions rather than a cohesive formation.wikipedia+1
The regiment was under a series of commanders, including Lt. Col. Roger Hilsman Sr., Lt. Col. Howard Frissell, Lt. Col. Howard Perry, Lt. Col. John McGee, and Lt. Col. Reed Graves during intense fighting and eventual withdrawal.wikipedia
The 101st Infantry participated in the defense against the Japanese during the initial landings in Davao in December 1941, subsequently retreating and carrying out delaying and guerrilla actions in the jungles of Mindanao.wikipedia+1
Regiment detachments took part in raids and delaying operations, helping destroy Japanese supplies in Padada, and conducted defensive actions along key routes such as the Sayre Highway.wikipedia
As the Japanese advanced further in Mindanao in April-May 1942, the regiment retreated under pressure until the division was ordered to surrender after the fall of Corregidor in May 1942.wikipedia.nucleos+1

The 101st Infantry Regiment, and the 101st Division as a whole, was the principal unit resisting the Japanese invasion in Mindanao—a region otherwise lightly defended. Despite being cut off, outgunned, and undersupplied, the regiment offered prolonged resistance and delayed Japanese advances for several months until overwhelming force and the general surrender of Filipino and American forces in the Philippines led to its disbandment.military-history.fandom+3

When the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 101st Philippine Division surrendered after the fall of Corregidor in May 1942, including the U.S. officers, they generally became prisoners of war (POWs) under Japanese captivity. Lieutenant Colonel John McGee, the regimental commander at the time, complied with orders to surrender and was taken as a POW. He was initially interned at the Davao Penal Colony on Mindanao and was later transferred for shipment to Japan, from where he eventually escaped captivity.wikipedia+1

More broadly, the surrender of U.S. and Filipino forces in the Philippines, including Mindanao forces, led to many officers and soldiers being captured and interned by the Japanese. While some individuals escaped to join guerrilla forces, most U.S. officers and soldiers faced harsh conditions as POWs. Notably, some high-ranking U.S. officers who surrendered at Corregidor and other parts of the Philippines were interned, and a few, such as Brig. General Guy O. Fort, were executed by the Japanese later during captivity.wikipedia

In summary:

U.S. officers of the 101st Infantry Regiment became prisoners of war after surrender.
They were interned in camps such as Davao Penal Colony.
Some attempts at guerrilla resistance were made by individuals who evaded capture.
Conditions as POWs were harsh, with some officers executed later by the Japanese.

This outcome was typical for many U.S. and Filipino officers and soldiers surrendering in the Philippines during the Japanese invasion in 1942.arsof-history+2

After the surrender of Corregidor in May 1942, U.S. officers, along with the rest of the Allied forces, became prisoners of war under the Japanese. General Jonathan Wainwright, commander of U.S. forces in the Philippines, formally surrendered Corregidor on May 6, 1942, leading to the capture of approximately 11,500 surviving Allied troops who were subsequently interned in prison camps such as Old Bilibid Prison and Cabanatuan Camp No. 3 in Manila. The prisoners, including many U.S. officers, were subjected to harsh conditions during captivity, though they were spared the death march that other Filipino and American soldiers suffered after the Bataan surrender.asomf+2

Some U.S. personnel attempted escapes; for example, Lieutenant Commander John Morrill and some of his crew escaped Corregidor by boat to continue fighting elsewhere. However, most officers and soldiers endured years of brutal imprisonment. The captivity involved forced labor, starvation, beatings, and executions, with a significant number of prisoners, including some officers, dying in captivity.militaryhistorynow

In summary:

U.S. officers were captured and interned in Japanese prison camps after Corregidor’s fall.
They faced harsh conditions but were not sent on the Bataan Death March.
Some officers and sailors attempted escape to continue resistance.
Many endured brutal imprisonment with significant mortality.wikipedia+3

This fate was typical for the U.S. officers and soldiers captured in the Philippines after the collapse of organized resistance in 1942.

Major Arlie W. Higgins served as the senior instructor of the 3rd Battalion, 101st Infantry Regiment of the 101st Philippine Division during World War II. The 3rd Battalion under his leadership was posted in Malaybalay for training and later ordered to Digos along with the 3rd Battalion, 102nd Infantry to set up a defensive sector in Digos under Lieutenant Colonel Howard Frissell in December 1941. He was wounded at some point, after which Major Earl C. Frandsen assumed command of the 3rd Battalion.

Major Higgins and the 3rd Battalion were actively engaged in defending against the Japanese invasion in Mindanao as part of the 101st Infantry Regiment’s efforts to slow the Japanese advance.wikipedia+1

Additionally, Major Arlie W. Higgins was reported missing in action and is commemorated as a World War II Gold Star veteran from Kansas, serving in the 101st Philippine Division, 101st Infantry Regiment.honorstates+2

In summary:

Major Higgins was senior instructor of the 3rd Battalion, 101st Infantry Regiment.
He took part in defensive actions in the Digos sector during the Japanese invasion.
He was wounded during the campaign and later replaced.
He is recognized as missing in action from WWII and hailed from Kansas.

: Wikipedia, 101st Infantry Regiment (PA)wikipedia
: HonorStates.org – Arlie W Higgins profilehonorstates
: RootsWeb WWII POW recordsfreepages.rootsweb
: American Battle Monuments Commission recordfreepages.rootsweb

Yes, Major Arlie W. Higgins was on the Arisan Maru. He was listed as a prisoner of war on this Japanese “hell ship,” which was sunk on October 24, 1944. He was part of the 101st Infantry Regiment, 101st Philippine Division, and is documented with this ship in multiple sources, including a roster listing on a West Point website and official Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency records.west-point+2

The Arisan Maru was carrying approximately 1,800 U.S. POWs when it was torpedoed and sunk in the South China Sea, leading to one of the largest maritime losses of U.S. prisoners during World War II.freepages.rootsweb+1

Approximately 1,781 U.S. prisoners of war were aboard the Arisan Maru when it was torpedoed and sunk on October 24, 1944. Nearly all trapped POWs perished, with only nine survivors from the entire group. The ship carried many U.S. Army Infantry and Coast Artillery men, along with Marines, Navy personnel, and civilians. Specific numbers of U.S. officers, including Major Arlie Higgins, lost in the sinking are not separately detailed in the sources, but given the total captive count and survival rate, it is known that almost the entire complement of POWs were lost, which would include the officers aboard.veteransbreakfastclub+2

To summarize:

Total POWs aboard: about 1,781
Survivors after sinking: 9
Lost POWs (including officers such as Major Higgins): approximately 1,772 or more

No precise official count exists distinguishing how many of the lost were officers, but Major Higgins was among those lost in the disaster. This represents one of the largest losses of U.S. lives in a single maritime incident during WWII.wikipedia+2