William J. Pomeroy

William J. Pomeroy (November 25, 1916 – January 12, 2009) was an American communist and a ghost writer[1] who served the American army in the Pacific during World War II. He has a connection with the Philippine guerillas during the war, supplying them with materials. He also organized a protest against the decision of the U.S. government to treat the guerillas as enemies. He married Celia Mariano, a Filipina who was a member of the HUKBALAHAP in 1948.

William J. Pomeroy
BornNovember 25, 1916
Waterloo, New York
DiedJanuary 12, 2009(2009-01-12) (aged 92)
London, England

In 1952 he and Celia were captured by government forces in the Sierra Madre in the Philippines. Sentenced to life, the couple were released in 1962, but Celia was refused a passport. So Pomeroy started campaigning, lobbying Bertrand Russell and Graham Greene. The fight was successful but – denied US entry – the Pomeroys moved to England.

Early life

William J. Pomeroy was born on November 25, 1916, in the town of Waterloo, New York, into a working-class family. During the 1930s he moved from job to job and read avidly. By 1937 he was a factory worker in Rochester, New York. He joined the Young Communist League in 1938.

World War II

William Pomeroy had strong ties with Filipino guerillas known as HUKBALAHAP during World War II. He supplied the guerillas with the materials they needed for the war. His wife Celia was also a guerrilla during the war. He was known to be a legendary fighter for Philippines freedom and independence. During World War II, William Pomeroy was deployed with the 5th Air Force of Douglas MacArthur.

References
  1. Bezkorvany, Sergei (1 June 2009). "Obituary: William J Pomeroy". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  • Pomeroy, William J. "Half a Century of Socialism: Soviet Life in the Sixties". New York: International Publishers, 1967.
  • Guerrilla Warfare and Marxism edited by Pomeroy, 1968.


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