Draft:Roger Hilsman Sr

Roger Hilsman Sr., (September 10, 1890 – February 23, 1975) is US Army officer both World War I and World War II veteran. He became a prisoner of war (POW) when the Philippine garrison surrendered in May 9, 1942. He is the father of his namesake Roger Hilsman Jr., who is an adviser of President John F. Kennedy on foreign policy.

Background
When he was born on 10 September 1890, in San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas, United States, his father, Lee Janes Hilsman, was 30 and his mother, Jennie Gertrude Powell, was 26. He married Emma Prendergast on 15 July 1914, in Travis, Texas, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He immigrated to San Francisco, California, United States in 1930 and lived in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States in 1950 and Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States in 1975.

Military Service
He was known to served in the Philippines during World War II from 1941 to May 1942. He commanded Davao subsector during the early days of Japanese invasion of Mindanao. His 2nd Battalion, 101st Infantry along with ragtag Philippine Army soldiers, Constabularies, police, militias, and with 3 QF 2.95inch Mountain Guns detachment. He tried to repel Muira and Sakaguchi detachments of Japanese Imperial Army. Due to lack of training, weapons, ammunitions was not able to put firm defense. The Japanese force with Naval, Air, and artillery support able to quickly dispersed his troops. He has to endured a long hike in the jungle from Davao to Bukidnon back to 101st Division HQ, leaving 3 of 8 artillery guns of the entire Mindanao Force. Due to his health failing, he was sent to Negros Island to recuperate and assumed command of the island in March 1942. His health didn't improve so the Visayan Force commander Brigadier General Bradford Chynoweth took him as his Chief of Staff in Cebu. Just few days, he cross back to Negros to reassumed the command as Cebu was invaded by the Kawaguchi detachment of the Japanese Army evading the Japanese sea patrol.

Along with other garrisons in the Visayas islands, he surrendered his command in May 9, 1942 as ordered by General Wainwright. He became a POW and was brought to Luzon late that year and hell ship to Manchuria where he was rescued by his son then 1Lieutenant Roger Hilsman Jr. of OSS. He returned to United States and retired in 1948 with his rank Colonel was made permanent upon his retirement.

He died on 23 February 1975, in San Francisco, California, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States.