Major Shofner was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until connecting with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. The officers remained with the guerillas for weeks, obtaining vital information which they carried with them when they were subsequently evacuated by American submarines. Their escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. He retired in 1959 as a U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General.
Sponsored by:
Austin
Conner
Shofner
POW (WWII) Escapee
March 3, 1916
–
November 14, 1999
Cemetery:
Shofner Lutheran Church Cemetery
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
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Distinguished Service Cross
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Prisoner of War Medal
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Legion of Merit
Heroes U.S. Marine Corps, 1861 – 1955: Jane Blakeney(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Austin Conner Shofner (MCSN: 0-5641), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the period from 15 May through 2 July 1945.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Lieutenant Colonel [then Captain]Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
4th Marine RegimentAction Date:
April 15, 1942
War Department General Orders No. 82 (1946)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Army Award) to Lieutenant Colonel [then Captain] Austin Conner Shofner (MCSN: 0-5641), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action on 15 April 1942, while serving with the Fourth Marine Regiment, displaying gallantry in action on Corregidor, Philippine Islands. Consistently under enemy fire, he organized first aid parties, supervised evacuations of wounded men, and under a heavy enemy artillery barrage, drove the last truckload of wounded men to the hospital. Colonel Shofner’s leadership and courageous devotion to duty reflect great credit on himself and the Armed Services.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
CaptainBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
4th Marine RegimentAction Date:
March 24 – 28, 1942
Headquarters, Philippine Coast Artillery Command, General Orders No. 22 (April 9, 1942)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Captain Austin Conner Shofner (MCSN: 0-5641), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, Second Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, at Fort Mills, Philippine Islands, during the period from 24 to 28 March 1942. On March 24, 1942, after a heavy bombing attack by enemy planes on Fort Mills, Captain Shofner directed the extinguishing of a fire on a building at Middleside, while shells from a nearby burning ammunition dump were exploding and projecting into the area. On March 27, 1942, he succeeded in extinguishing a fire on buildings north of Middleside barracks caused by incendiary bombs, thus saving the entire line of buildings. Again on March 28, 1942, Captain Shofner directed the combating of a fire in an ammunition dump caused by enemy aerial bombardment, and then directed the removal of casualties from a caved-in shelter, all while the island was under shell fire from enemy shore batteries.
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Distinguished Service Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorDivision:
Philippine Guerrilla ForcesAction Date:
April 4 – November 15, 1943
Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 78 (December 6, 1943)The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major Austin Conner Shofner (MCSN: 0-5641), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy while serving with the Philippine Guerilla Forces in the Philippine Islands during the period 15 January 1943 to 13 November 1943. Although physically weakened by eleven months detention in a Japanese camp for American prisoners-of-war, Major Shofner outwitted the Japanese guards on 4 April 1943, made his escape, eluded pursuing patrols and made his way from Davao to Northern Mindanao. Hearing of an American force still operating against the enemy, he continued on foot and by launch to its headquarters, with information of great military value on the defense of Corregidor and the treatment of our prisoners-of-war in Japanese hands. He volunteered his services to the commander of this force and served for nearly six months in responsible staff duties. Combat operations planned and coordinated under his direct supervision did much to reduce the enemy and limit his action. Major Shofner, by his daring escape, his determination, and his voluntary services, made an important contribution to continued resistance in the Philippine Islands and provided valuable information to United States forces. His outstanding heroism and skill reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.
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Prisoner of War Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
CaptainDivision:
Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)Action Date:
May 6, 1942 – March 4, 1943
Captain Austin Conner Shofner (MCSN: 0-5641), United States Marine Corps, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until he successfully escaped captivity on 4 March 1943.