<p>
Lieutenant Colonel <em>Ulysses J. Peoples, Jr</em>., or “Linc”, as we all knew him, died in the Pacific when the Japanese prison ship, Oryoku Maru, on which he was being transported to Japan with hundreds of other fellow prisoners of war, was sunk by American forces in Subic Bay, off Luzon, Philippine Islands. It is hard even now to realize that he has gone and to appreciate fully the extent of our loss, and we can only feel that his spirit is still with us, cheering us as did his friendly and hearty disposition.</p>
<p>
Linc was born in Pittsburgh, PA., December 26, 1900, son of <em>Ulysses John Lincoln Peoples</em> and Emma D. Utz Peoples. His father was a prominent architect in Pittsburgh. Linc graduated from Peabody High School in 1918, and attended the University of Pittsburgh, 1918 to 1919, where he became a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.</p>
<p>
It was a momentous day in Linc’s life when, on July 11, 1919, he entered West Point on a Senatorial appointment from Pennsylvania, and started his Army career. He was graduated with his class, number 99 of a total of 261, on June 12, 1923, the second four-year class after World War I.</p>
<p>
During his entire cadet life Linc and John Noyes were roommates, forming a life-long friendship. Howard W. Serig roomed with them Yearling and Second Class years, and J. Caldwell King the last year. Their living together in harmony so long is evidence of Linc’s unselfishness toward others and his ability to get along with people.</p>
<p>
In athletics, Linc was principally interested in fencing and was on the squad four years, including the squad from which the Intercollegiate Champions of 1923 were drawn. He did not take part in other varsity sports, but had his share in other extra-curricular activities, participating in the indoor Meet, Camp Illumination, and the Hundredth Night Show. He was a member of the Cadet Chapel Choir for four years, and enjoyed it very much, particularly the trips which the Choir made to New York City. In the military, he was a Sergeant his Second Class Year and First Sergeant of A Company his First Class Year. The latter was a source of great satisfaction to him, and he was punctilious in carrying out his duties.</p>
<p>
After graduation, Linc’s first service, as a Field Artillery Officer, was at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served for a year with the old horse-drawn 2nd Field Artillery (French 75’s), and for nearly three years with the motorized 17th Field Artillery (156 mm. Howitzers). During this time he was the Officer in Charge of the Post Officers’ Club and Officers’ Mess for nearly a year, which duty he performed in his usual painstaking and conscientious manner. He soon became an efficient artilleryman.</p>
<p>
From Fort Bragg Linc went to Curtis Bay Ordnance Depot (March, 1927), where he was in charge of the magazine area. This assignment was the result of his detail to the Ordnance Department and marked his change from Field Artillery to Ordnance. He wasted no time in taking advantage of this opportunity to get acquainted with his new Branch. His permanent transfer came in May, 1931 while at West Point.</p>
<p>
Linc attended the Ordnance School at Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, MA., June 28, 1928 to June 28, 1930, in the days when most of the theoretical work was done the first year at M.I.T., from which he received a B.S. in M.E. degree, and the practical work at the Arsenal the second year. From Watertown, Linc went to Aberdeen Proving Ground, where he was Proof Officer in the Gun Testing Division. However, his stay there was short, as he left in February, 1931 for West Point to become an instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Electricity. In June, 1932, because of the large size of the First Class, he was temporarily transferred to the Department of Ordnance and Gunnery as an instructor for a year, returning to teach chemistry and electricity another two years. For a time he was the Officer in Charge of the Cadet Orchestra.</p>
<p>
Linc’s next move was not far. He reported to Governors Island, New York, August 8, 1935, to the Ordnance Office of the Second Corps Area, as maintenance Officer. This entailed some traveling to inspect Regular Army and National Guard units throughout the Corps Area. He lived in Greenwich Village in New York, having a roomy apartment at his well known address of No. 1 Bank Street, where friends were always welcome.</p>
<p>
His tour at Governors Island ended July 15, 1939, and was followed by a two months’ leave, during which time he married Miss Eliza E. Wardlaw on July 29, in a beautiful military ceremony at the historic old First Baptist Church, in Columbia, S. C. His bride was the daughter of Dr. Patterson Wardlaw, a well-known educator and Dean Emeritus of the Department of Education of the University of South Carolina, and Mrs. Mattie L. Wardlaw.</p>
<p>
Linc attended the speeded-up course of the Command and General Staff School at Leavenworth, September 7, 1939 to February 1, 1940. Following this, he joined the IV Corps as Assistant Ordnance Officer for the Corps maneuvers, February to April, 1940, then was at Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Beauregard, LA., to May, 1940.</p>
<p>
In July, 1940 be reported at Frankford Arsenal, as a Major, where he was in the Artillery Division, second in charge. He was a hard and conscientious worker, applying his time to improvements in organization and methods, at a time when Frankford Arsenal, as well as the Ordnance Department everywhere, was increasing in size and productive capacity in order to be prepared for any emergency. Linc was highly thought of and liked by civilians with whom he worked as well as by his fellow officers. He and Mrs. Peoples made friends readily and entertained often in their apartment.</p>
<p>
It was from Frankford Arsenal that Linc went on his fateful journey to the Philippines, from which he was destined not to return. He sailed October 4, 1941, arriving in Manila October 23, a little over a month before Pearl Harbor. The war clouds were then gathering and he was not permitted to take Mrs. Peoples with him.</p>
<p>
After the outbreak of hostilities, Linc apparently did not stay in Manila long. A cablegram received from him at Christmas, 1941 indicated he was in good health and “on duty in the provinces”, where he was assigned to General Wainwright’s Corps and became Corps Ordnance Officer. Another cable was received just before the fall of Bataan, routed by way of Cebu and dated April 5, 1942, stating that he was in good health then. At the time of the surrender of Bataan he remained there, being occupied with destruction of ammunition dumps until captured. He was, thereby, at least spared the terrific bombardment to which Corregidor was subjected. He apparently took part in the despicable Death March to Camp O’Donnell and from there was sent to Cabanatuan No. 1 where he remained most of his time as a prisoner of war.</p>
<p>
The second cable was the last heard from Linc until the summer ot 1943, when a card, released by the Japs with many others, was received. A few other cards, of the printed form type, with at times a typed message, were received. Though short, these messages were encouraging.</p>
<p>
Linc left Cabanatuan October 16, 1944 for Billbid prison in Manila. From there he was sent aboard the Oryoku Maru, December 13, 1944, which was attacked by our bombing planes and was sunk December 15. Linc evidently was one of those in the hold in which a bomb exploded and was not rescued. Not until July, 1945 was word of his fate received, by notification from the Adjutant General’s Office.</p>
<p>
Linc is survived by his wife, living with her father in Columbia, S.C., his mother, living in Uniontown, PA., and a cousin, Miss Edith B. Heckert of Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>
John Noyes writes of Linc’s cadet days: “Linc Peoples was a rare character whom one had to know a little before one fully appreciated him ... a quiet, friendly soul who soon became my friend and confidant ... an ideal roommate ... unobtrusive. He had a good mind and applied himself vigorously to his studies, and would always attempt to reason things out”. Although he was a good dancer and attended the hops with some regularity during the latter part of his stay at West Point, being somewhat studious, Linc would rather read a good book in his room or go to the library or gym, than take part in a great deal of social life.</p>
<p>
“His great forte was his conjuring ability.” As his gifts became known, “he was more and more often asked to put on a show of magic. This was a great source of delight to him and all his friends.” He followed this hobby throughout his Army career, and mystified many a youngster and entertained and cheered many a gathering of adults by his card tricks and other “magic”.</p>
<p>
As a cadet Linc never smoked, and after graduation he was one of those rare species of Army men who never smoked nor drank; and he never relented in these respects. This was an indication of his courage and determination to live up to all his high principles and ideals—he was a good attendant at church services wherever he was; avoided the use of profanity; was always loyal to his friends; and was attentive to duty.</p>
<p>
“Linc was possessed of an enormous quiet sense of humor”—keen and appreciative—”which he used to enliven his every action”. He brightened many a gathering with his wit and hearty laugh. On the other hand, he took his work seriously and applied himself to it with the determination to do a good job.</p>
<p>
One of Linc’s Commanding Officers wrote these Lincs after the announcement of Linc’s death:</p>
<p>
“Lincoln served with me for two years. I saw him every day—all of every day. He performed his duties with meticulous, care and thoroughness, conscientiously protecting the interests of the Government and the well being of the troop units which were being supplied by him, on every occasion analyzing the problem at hand and considering the ultimate result. Always dependable, always presenting a completely worked out solution, always eager to carry whatever load fell upon him, I have never had a young officer who was more systematic, more conscientious, more cheerful, or more willing in the performance of the tasks allotted to him.</p>
<p>
“Lincoln was my very dear friend. In the years after our official relationship had ended, I saw him frequently. I admired his fine outlook on life, his philosophy, his Christian attitude, his desire to help the fellow who needed help. I always felt better after a visit with him—he made me have the feeling of wanting to look up instead of down”.</p>
<p>
Information of his service on Bataan and his life as a prisoner of war has been received from a few of those who were rescued. A chaplain wrote: “Col. Peoples had the great admiration of all the men who served under him during our participation in the war...all men marveled at his great courage under fire. He did an outstanding piece of work with the Ordnance”.</p>
<p>
A captain wrote: “He was very thoughtful and considerate of others, and for that reason and his friend Lincss he made many friends and was popular in camp”.</p>
<p>
A naval officer wrote: “Col. Peoples was most pleasant to talk with; and incidentally he obligingly entertained us with his uncanny card tricks at a party we gave in December, 1943 in honor of the Camp Commander...The picture bears his typical expression, and the Japanese could no more kill the spirit that inspired that smile than they could make the rising sun set”.</p>
<p>
He apparently withstood the rigors of prison life as well as anyone, and was fortunate in being in good health in general, suffering only a few attacks of malaria. This good health was probably attributable to his having kept himself in good physical condition and the fact that he kept active at Cabanatuan, engaging in gardening on a large scale with a small group of officers with whom he lived. He undoubtedly stood his imprisonment so well because of his courage to do what had to be done, with a will to make the most of it. He took an active interest in church work at Cabanatuan, serving on the Board of Directors and several committees, attending all services, and giving valuable and active assistance.</p>
<p>
For his service on Bataan he was awarded, posthumously, the Legion of Merit, by General Jonathan M. Wainright. The award was made to Mrs. Peoples by the Commanding Officer of the South Carolina Military District, on September 16, 1946, in a brief and dignified ceremony at the District Headquarters, in the presence of her father, Linc’s mother, and the headquarters staff. The citation is as follows:</p>
<p>
“Lieutenant Colonel Ulysses J. L. Peoples, Jr., as Ordnance Officer, North Luzon Force and I Philippine Corps, performed exceptionally meritorious service on Luzon, Philippine Islands, from December, 1941 to April, 1942. In spite of difficult supply routes and limited personnel and transportation, he maintained a constant flow of vital materials to the combat units, successfully evacuated large quantities of ammunition, and skillfully directed the destruction of ordnance materiel before fighting ceased. Colonel Peoples’ superior performance of duty materially aided the conduct of operations on Luzon”.</p>
<p>
He was also awarded, posthumously, the Purple Heart.</p>
<p>
Words are weak in portraying truly one we love and admire, and one cannot do full justice to Linc, but these are written to serve as a remembrance of and a lasting tribute to him—to record what he was and did. As his former Commanding Officer wrote: “Lincoln passed out of this life at entirely too early an age and under the most tragic circumstances. Why, we cannot say—an acceptance of the inevitable in good grace and good philosophy is all that is left for us to do”.</p>
<p>
<em>—J. P. W.</em></p>
<p>
</p>