06/16/2026
This week’s highlights the William T. Calhoun Papers!
William T. Calhoun enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on January 4, 1941. Before the United States entered World War II, he was already preparing for military service that would eventually take him to the Pacific.
In 1943, he attended Officer Candidate School and earned his commission on November 11 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. His training also included the Aircraft Armorers School at Lowry Field in Colorado, the Parachute School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Infantry School Officer Candidate course at Fort Benning.
After completing his training, Calhoun was deployed to the Pacific with the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, serving in 1st Platoon, F Company. His service took him through some of the most active areas of the Pacific War, including Hollandia, Noemfoor Island, Mindoro Island, Corregidor, and Negros Island in the Philippines.
On February 16, 1945, Calhoun took part in the airborne assault on Corregidor during the liberation of the Philippines. The operation combined parachute drops with amphibious landings in a coordinated attack to retake the heavily fortified island from Japanese forces. The jump itself was especially dangerous because of strong winds, steep cliffs, and limited drop zones, making Corregidor one of the most challenging airborne operations in the Pacific theater.
The collection contains photographs documenting Calhoun's service in the Philippines, including images from Corregidor and Negros Island. These include scenes of combat, the 503rd landing on Corregidor, parachute and infantry training, ceremonies, and camp life, offering a wide view of both operational or combat moments and daily military life during his Pacific service.
Interested in more? Visit the Portal to Texas History, available on the museum's website at the Center for Pacific War Studies.
📸:
1) 2nd Lt. William T. Calhoun with Thompson submachine gun
2) 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment soldiers with captured Japanese guns
3) 1st Lt. Donald E. Abbott and 2nd Lt. William T. Calhoun
