James Carrington Collection: Japanese Rank Insignia Tabs

Gift of James W. Carrington, 2001.068.003-.005

"Marine Corporal James W. Carrington was among the thousands of American and Filipino soldiers ordered to surrender to the Japanese at Corregidor in May 1942. Imprisoned in Manila's notorious Bilibid Prison, Carrington endured brutal treatment. "They hung me up by my thumbs for laughing. They tried to make you beg for mercy. But I didn't... I just thought about, well, you're a marine. You're supposed to be tough, supposed to be able to take it." In 1944, Carrington made a daring escape and joined a guerilla group on Luzon. The force harassed the Japanese, ambushing convoys and attacking patrols. In February 1945, Carrington finally linked up with the U.S. 37th Infantry Division after they invaded Luzon. "A dusty soldier saw me and said, 'You look like an American to me!' I said 'Yeah, I'm a marine! I've been waiting for you guys for three years!'" Taking souvenirs was a common practice among GIs and Marines during the war. Carrington removed these items from dead Japanese troops."