Woolever, C. Emerson (Charles Emerson)

Before invading the Philippine Islands in 1944, General Douglas MacArthur formed the first Psychological Warfare Branch within the Southwest Pacific Area of the U.S. military forces. The first set of leaflets was designed to encourage the resistance of the Philippine population. The branch created a second series of leaflets in an attempt to weaken the morale of the Japanese troops in the area and urge them to surrender. A third propaganda campaign targeted Japanese civilians in Japan. General MacArthur's PSYOP (psychological operations) staff prepared a great number of leaflets for the Philippine campaign. There were close to 200 different leaflets in the "J-1" series. Examples are 148-J-1 (Desire for Peace Crushed), 137-J-1 (Significance of Unconditional Surrender), and 134-J-1 (Japanese Navy, Air Force Powerless). The J-1 series was issued by the 1st Army, J-6 by the 6th Army, and the F series was directed to Filipinos.

Charles Emerson Woolever, Penn State graduate in journalism, class of 1942, served in the U.S. Army as a reporter assigned to the Psychological Warfare detachment in Manila, Philippines. He assembled the propaganda leaflet scrapbook during Oct. 1945. After the war Woolever owned a feed and farm supply dealership in Millgrove, Pa. and retired to Bradenton, Florida.

From the description of C. Emerson Woolever Psychological Warfare Branch propaganda leaflet scrapbook, 1943-1945. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 61770801