The Naked Soldier is the inspiring story of Major Jesse M. Baltazar, USAF (Ret.), a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March during WW II. His service to America covers three wars, four federal agencies, postings in nine countries and government travel to over 80 nations. This is a story about an American Patriot, Soldier, Airman and Diplomat; about his character, honor, and commitment.
Maj. Jesse M. Baltazar, USAF (Ret.) served in three wars: WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. For his gallantry during WWII, he was awarded the Bronze Star and belatedly, the Purple Heart was presented to him by the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Raymond Odierno in 2015. He received awards in the other world conflicts as well.
In his book, Baltazar vividly recounts his WWII experiences in the Pacific theater of operations. He was a staff sergeant in the 71st Battalion of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) under General Douglas MacArthur. His left leg was hit by a bomb during a Japanese air raid, and he was subsequently captured. He survived the horrors of the Bataan Death March, managing to escape with the help of two villagers under cover of darkness. Later he scouted on enemy camps.
In telling his own personal story, he reminds us as well of the gallantry of other Filipino and American soldiers, many of whom never returned. He honors these men and women in his book. Likewise, he salutes today's men and women who are in harm's way, engaging in far more perilous combat conditions than in the conventional wars.
Major Jesse M. Baltazar, USAF (Ret.) was born in Manila, Philippines on October 8th, 1920, and began his military career with the United States Armed Forces, Far East (USAFFE). He is a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam; a Japanese Prisoner of War and Bataan Death March Survivor.
After being discharged from the army in 1945, he went on to become the first Filipino-born Officer in the United States Air Force in 1948. He served for 20 years in the Air Force, primarily overseas as a Special Agent in the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), where he authored the monthly Counter-Intelligence report for Korea (1950-52), West Berlin (1956-58) and France (1958-60). During the Korean War, he was one of a handful of American officers posted to Korea that spoke both Russian and Chinese. During the Cold War, he was stationed in Berlin when the Berlin Wall was erected.
