Austin Shofner

Brigadier General Austin Conner Shofner was a United States Marine Corps officer who was captured during the Battle of Corregidor and escaped in the first and only successful escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He joined the Philippine resistance, and later returned to command units of the Marine Corps in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa.

Biography
Shofner attended the University of Tennessee where he was on the football and wrestling team. He graduated in 1937 with degrees in commerce and science, and was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps.

Shofner was assigned to the 4th Marines in Shanghai. The Regiment was later transferred to the Philippine Islands. Shortly after the start of the war, Lt. Shofner was promoted to captain on 5 January 1942 and took command of a company in 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines that he led in the Battle of Corregidor.

Captured at the surrender of the Philippines, Shofner escaped with a small group of 11 Americans and Filipinos on 4 April 1943. They made contact with anti-Japanese Filipinos who placed the party in touch with American Army and Filipino Scout guerrillas, Shofner was commissioned a major and later lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and assigned to the 110th Division of guerrillas as Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant Chief of Operations for the Division Shofner was awarded the Silver Star for his service on Corregidor and another Silver Star for his service with the guerrillas.

Evacuated to Australia by the submarine USS Narwhal, Shofner briefed the American Pacific Command on Japanese atrocities. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Douglas MacArthur. Using his experiences, he helped plan the raid at Cabanatuan then successfully appealed to the Commandant of the Marine Corps to be allowed back into action with the Corps.

He commanded the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in the Battle of Peleliu, where he was wounded by mortar fire. In late 1944 he was assigned as a Marine Corps liaison and advisor on guerrilla affairs to the command of Douglas MacArthur for the invasion of Luzon.

Shofner returned to command the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit, and became Provost Marshal of the 1st Marine Division in the Battle of Okinawa.

Following World War II Shofner served again in China, as a Naval Attache in Peru, and commanded the 6th Marines. He retired as a Brigadier General in 1959.