Ordered, Then Executed: The Case of Robert James Zacks

In the first days of the war on Mindanao, a U.S. civilian named Robert James Zacks stood beside the senior American officer in Davao and did what he was told. Colonel Roger Hilsman, U.S. Army, ordered the safe at the Ohta Development Company opened. Zacks went. Seven months later the Japanese executed him for that act. On 10 July 1942 he was beheaded at Magugpo and buried with the Filipino and Chinese men who died beside him.

This episode tells that story from the primary record—NARA RG 331 Report 186—and asks why a U.S. citizen who followed a U.S. Army officer’s orders is still absent from the accounting roster that DoDD 2310.07 itself says is incomplete.

What You’ll Hear

• The December 1941 orders: how Zacks, serving as civilian aide to Col. Hilsman, opened the Ohta safe at Talomo and deposited the recovered funds on Hilsman’s instruction.
• The affidavits that have sat in the National Archives since 1946—Madeleine Zacks, Leslie E. Stevens, and Gregorio F. Ferreol—describing exactly what happened.
• The selection at Malaybalay, the Japanese proceeding in Davao, and the execution at Magugpo on 10 July 1942.
• Why DoDD 2310.07 § 3.1.f already authorizes DPAA to add an eligible omitted U.S. citizen, and why that determination has not been made.
• What AMAG’s Investigative Team will do on the ground in November.

Key Primary Sources

• NARA Record Group 331, War Crimes Branch Report No. 186 (statements of Madeleine Zacks, 8 October 1945; Leslie E. Stevens, 2 January 1946; Gregorio F. Ferreol, 14 and 24 January 1946).
• DoDD 2310.07, “Past Conflict Personnel Accounting Policy” (12 April 2017), §§ 3.1.f and 3.1.g.
• U.S. Department of Labor Form 960, SS Point Ancha, 5 April 1933 (Robert Zacks, oiler).
• Los Angeles Examiner, 4 May 1945 (Henry P. Zacks on his father’s service).

Central Quotes

“I was instructed by Colonel HILLSMAN, together with Mr. ZACKS, to proceed there to blow the vault open… Colonel HILLSMAN instructed Mr. ZACKS to turn it in to the City Treasurer… and obtain a receipt.”
— Leslie E. Stevens, 2 January 1946

“Lt. Zack… was directed by Colonel Hilsman to open the safe of the Ohta Development Company… Same were brought to the headquarters of Colonel Hilsman by Lt. Zack.”
— Gregorio F. Ferreol, 24 January 1946

“When DPAA determines that an eligible person was omitted from the original USG roster, DPAA will add the person.”
— DoDD 2310.07 § 3.1.f

Why This Matters

The World War II rosters are not comprehensive. The directive says so. It also says that when an eligible person was left off, DPAA will add them. Robert James Zacks was a U.S. citizen who acted under the direct orders of a U.S. Army officer and was executed for those acts. The record has existed for eighty years. The authority has existed since 2017. What remains is the determination.

Looking Ahead

In November, AMAG’s Investigative Team will be at the location. They are going for Robert James Zacks and for the Filipino and Chinese heroes who were executed and buried with him. The work of bringing them home starts on the ground.

Support the November Mission

The November mission is self-funded. If this story matters to you, help put the team on the ground.
Donate here: https://donorbox.org/support-amag-s-worldwide-mia-mission

About the Show

Stories of Sacrifice: American POW/MIAs is produced by John Bear, Chief of Investigative Research, Asymmetric MIA Accounting Group (AMAG).

It’s About Time ⏳

https://amagonline.org

#POW #MIA #AMAG #Magugpo #Mindanao #WWII