WASHINGTON -- Former United Press war correspondent Frank West Hewlett, the last reporter to leave Corregidor Island in Manila Bay before it fell to the Japanese in 1942, died Thursday in Arlington, Va. He was 74.
Hewlett was the Manila bureau chief for United Press, the forerunner of United Press International, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and World War II spread to the Pacific.
Before his retirement in 1981, Hewlett was Washington bureau chief of the Salt Lake City Tribune for 23 years.
The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia.
Hewlett's reporting of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor as a war correspondent won him the National Headline Award in 1942.
After Bataan surrendered April 9, 1942, Hewlett went with the retreating American troops for the island fortress of Corregidor, where he described their heroic defense. At the urging of General Jonathan Wainwright, who was left in command when Gen. Douglas MacArthur was ordered to Australia, Hewlett left Corregidor in a small training plane shortly before it too fell on May 6, 1942.
Hewlett spent the following two years with American forces in the South Pacific and in the China-Burma-Japan theater, including going behind the Japanese lines with 'Merrill's Marauders' -- a name he gave the 3,000 jungle fighters under the command of Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill.
Hewlett also was credited with giving the name 'Angels of Bataan' to the nurses on Bataan who were held at the Santa Tomas internment :amp in Manila, where his wife, the late Virginia Bryant of Danville, Va., was imprisoned by the Japanese.
On his way back to the United States in 1944, Hewlett learned of a planned invasion of the Philippines. He joined the task force and was with the first troops to land on Leyte.
Later he was with American troops who entered Manila and liberated prisoners held at Santa Tomas -- including his wife.
Hewlett's next assignment was covering the formation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945.
After leaving United Press, Hewlett served briefly on the public affairs staff of the Defense Department.
During his many years in the national capital, he also reported for the Seattle Times, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Tulsa World, Albuquerque Journal, Honolulu Star Bulletin and the Guam Daily News.
He was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and attended Idaho State University. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University after World War II.
Hewlett began his journalistic career with the Idaho State Journal, and went to work as an editor for the Honolulu Star Bulletin in 1937. In 1940 he worked briefly for the Japan Times in Tokyo before joining United Press in Manila.
In 1971-72, Hewlett was chairman of the Standing Committee of Correspondents, the governing body for correspondents who cover Congress.
He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the National Press Club.
His wife preceded him in death four years ago.
Hewlett is survived by his daughter Norma Jean Hewlett of Cloverdale, Calif., two grandchildren, Alice and Frank, and a sister, Norma Coster of Los Angeles.
Visting hours will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Gawlers' Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington. A memorial service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1914 Randolph St., Arlington, Va. Contributions may be made to the National Press Club Fellowship Fund.
Former United Press war correspondent Frank West Hewlett, the last reporter to leave Corregidor Island in Manila Bay before it fell to the Japanese in 1942, died Thursday in Arlington, Va. He was 74.
Hewlett was the Manila bureau chief for United Press, the forerunner of United Press International, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and World War II spread to the Pacific.
Before his retirement in 1981, Hewlett was Washington bureau chief of the Salt Lake City Tribune for 23 years.
The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia.
Hewlett's reporting of the fall of Bataan and Corregidor as a war correspondent won him the National Headline Award in 1942.
He left Corregidor by plane shortly before its fall on the direct orders of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Hewlett spent the following two years with American forces in the South Pacific and in the China-Burma-Japan theater, including going behind the Japanese lines with 'Merrill's Marauders' -- a name he gave the 3,000 jungle fighters under the command of Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill.
Hewlett also was credited with giving the name 'Angels of Bataan' to the nurses on Bataan who were held at the Santa Tomas internment :amp in Manila, where his wife, the late Virginia Bryant of Danville, Va., was imprisoned by the Japanese.
On his way back to the United States in 1944, Hewlett learned of a planned invasion ofthe Philippines. He joined the task force and was with the first troops to land on Leyte.
Later he was with American troops who entered Manila and liberated prisoners held at Santa Tomas -- including his wife.
Hewlett's next assignment was covering the formation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945.
After leaving United Press, Hewlett served briefly on the public affairs staff of the Defense Department.
During his many years in the national capital, he also reported for the Seattle Times, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Tulsa World, Albuquerque Journal, Honolulu Star Bulletin and the Guam Daily News.
He was born in Pocatello, Idaho, and attended Idaho State University. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University after World War II.
Hewlett began his journalistic career with the Idaho State Journal, and went to work as an editor for the Honolulu Star Bulletin in 1937. In 1940 he worked briefly for the Japan Times in Tokyo before joining United Press in Manila.
In 1971-72, Hewlett was chairman of the Standing Committee of Correspondents, the governing body for correspondents who cover Congress.
He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the National Press Club.
His wife preceded him in death four years ago.
Hewlett is survived by his daughter Norma Jean Hewlett of Cloverdale, Calif., two grandchildren, Alice and Frank, and a sister, Norma Coster of Los Angeles.
Visting hours will be 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at Gawlers' Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington. A memorial service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1914 Randolph St., Arlington, Va. Contributions may be made to the National Press Club Fellowship Fund.
