Brigadier General Austin Conner Shofner (March 3, 1916 – November 13, 1999) was a United States Marine Corps officer who was captured during the Battle of Corregidor and then part of the only successful escape from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He joined the Philippine resistance, and later returned to command units of the Marine Corps in the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa. Early life Austin C. Shofner was born on March 3, 1916, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as the son of Austin W. Shofner. He attended the high school in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and subsequently enrolled in the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While at the university he was active on the wrestling and football team under famous Robert Neyland and was also a member of the ROTC unit. He graduated in the summer of 1937 with Bachelor of Science degree in commerce and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on August 5, 1937. As any other newly commissioned marine officer, Shofner was ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for further officer training. Many of his instructors were distinguished officers later, including Chesty Puller, Gilder D. Jackson Jr., Leonard B. Cresswell, Russell N. Jordahl, Howard N. Kenyon, and Roy M. Gulick. Shofner also attended the gunnery school aboard the battleship USS Nevada and was later attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma in August 1938. He participated in the patrols off the coast of Hawaii until June 1939, when he completed his tour of sea duty and reported for duty at Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Shofner was attached as first lieutenant to the 6th Marine Regiment there under the command of Colonel Samuel L. Howard. Because of his football experiences, he was appointed assistant coach of San Diego Marines and led them in the seasons 1939 and 1940. Shofner then served with 2nd Marine Regiment under Joseph C. Fegan from January to April 1941 and then sailed for Shanghai, China in May 1941 as a member of the Headquarters Company of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines under lieutenant Colonel Donald Curtis. World War II The Fourth Marine Regiment under colonel Samuel L. Howard arrived to the Philippine Islands at the beginning of December 1941, just few days prior the Japanese attack. When the Japanese attack the Bataan, the Fourth marines were already under army command and ordered to the strengthening