By Roni Gehlke
In the 1800s the renowned Byron Hot Springs Resort was well-known by the rich and famous for its 160-acre property with three grand hotels, a Queen Anne cottage called the Mead Mansion, a hospital, and several guest cottages. The resort saw brisk business well into the early part of the 20th century, but that all changed in the 1940s. During World War II, the local resort famous for its hot springs held a secret camp that became a highly reputed location for interrogation of Japanese POWs and civilians.
In his book, "The History of Camp Tracy: Japanese WWII POWs and the Future of Strategic Interrogation," author Major Alex Corbin gives a highly researched account of the history of Camp Tracy and the top secret interrogation facility at the Byron Hot Springs Resort during WWII.
As an active-duty Military Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, Corbin serves as the J2 intelligence adviser to the Ministry of Defense and Aviation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His background gave Corbin a unique view point on the subject of the interrogation process and what was learn from the techniques that were used at Camp Tracy during World War II.
During his military career of more than 17 years, Corbin has served in human intelligence and counterintelligence positions at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels in the Balkans, Egypt, Kuwait, and Iraq. Drawing on his extensive background in U.S. Army MI future-force development, he has written, developed, and published doctrine for the U.S. Army Future Combat Systems’ MI organizations as part of the Future Brigade Combat Team.
Major Corbin also is an adjunct professor at Henley-Putnam University where he teaches intelligence and security-related courses. Corbin holds a master’s degree in military studies, with an emphasis on intelligence, from the American Military University, and a master’s in strategic intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College.
"I spent about a year conducting research at the National Archives and Records Administration in Maryland, going over documents over 60 years old to learn all I could about Camp Tracy," Corbin said. "In my researching, I located lists of Army and Navy personnel stationed at Camp Tracy and started a search to see if any of the veterans were still living. I was fortunate to find several veterans still with us, and willing to spend some time talking with me about their experiences at Camp Tracy."
For most of the veterans this was the first time they had ever discussed their time at Camp Tracy. Corbin said that some had not even spoken of to their family and loved ones on what happened during those day.
Corbin started thinking about writing a book around 2007 when he enrolled into a master’s program at the National Defense Intelligence College at the Defense Intelligence Agency on Bolling Air Force Base. As part of his master’s program he had to write a thesis.
"After spending some time doing research, I learned about Fort Hunt, a top secret interrogation facility located just south of Alexandria, Va., just off the George Washington Parkway. I was intrigued about Fort Hunt and in my research learned there was a second top secret facility, this one located (near) Tracy," Corbin said.
Since Fort Hunt had already been written about extensively, and Camp Tracy had not, he decided it would be a better subject matter.
"This is when I started researching specifically about Camp Tracy. Once I learned about the successful interrogation techniques that were used there, and the similarities between today’s Islamists and the WWII Japanese soldiers, I knew this was the right subject for me," Corbin said.
By learning what techniques were successful against the WWII Japanese soldiers, and based on the similarities between the enemy we fight today and the WWII Japanese, Corbin said he determined that some of those successful techniques could be applied today.
"My thesis, which received the Joint History Office’s Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Archival Research Award, served as the foundation for my book today," he said.
Corbin said that while it was intriguing poring over records at the National Archives and Records Administration and seeing documents that had not been touched in more than 60 years, what was most exciting was tracking down the still-living veterans and discussing their experiences.
"A great debt of gratitude is owed to our WWII Veterans. It was an enriching experience for me to spend time and listen to them," he said.
"The History of Camp Tracy: Japanese WWII POWs and the Future of Strategic Interrogation" is available at LULU.com
The book will be released to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble within the next few weeks. For more information about the Byron Hot Springs, see www.byronhotsprings.com.
* During the month of July, via Lulu.com, purchasers can use the code: JULYCONTEST10 at checkout to receive an additional 10% off
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