Talk:Chick Parsons

Panamanian Neutrality

The discussion of Parson's activities as consul of Panama claims, I think falsely, that Panama was neutral in World War 2. According to Wikipedia elsewhere, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_during_World_War_II#President_De_la_Guardia , Panama declared War on Japan immeidately after Pearl Harbor. So what is the real scoop? Mikedelsol (talk) 08:32, 18 September 2018 (UTC)

Upgrading the article

I purchased Ingham's book, Rendezvous by Submarine, via Amazon.com and just received it. It covers Charles Parsons' activities in the Philippines, both before and during the war, as well as his wartime activities elsewhere. When I get around to reading it (there are many in the queue before it), I'll be using it to cite pages that support the text others have created here, plus any additions I find valuable.Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 01:32, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

OK, I am beginning to add information to the article. The book significantly differs with a previous statement that Parsons first arrived in the Philippines when he was five years old. I changed that to 19. Except for the citation I just added to the first paragraph I heavily modified, there are no other previous citations in this article. If someone has a citation for Parsons' arrival at an earlier date, add it. I will be using the book for all additions and citing such. Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 02:16, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

I just discovered a great resource, an online narrative by Peter Parsons, Charles Parsons' son, who speaks about his father's activities in the Philippines and later. One sentence details Peter's experience at the age of 5 when the Japanese entered Manila. Perhaps this was responsible for an earlier editor stating Charles Parsons was 5 when he first arrived in the Philippines. The online narrative is now linked under References and I will be using it to support the article in addition to citing Ingham's book. Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 02:59, 26 October 2009 (UTC)

I have significantly modified the text for the Pre-War years and Japanese occupation in the early war years. I will be coming back to this article as time allows over the next few weeks and continuing the upgrade. Not finished yet! Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 02:01, 29 October 2009 (UTC)

Well, I discontinued editing this article. I stopped where I mention the Doolittle Raid. The reason is I was able to contact Peter Parsons, one of Charles Parsons' sons, who informs me that Ingham's book contains errors. Here is part of his e-mail to me:

You must remember that two things are a problem with Ingham's book. [First, though, it is rather accurate in general.] The first problem, however is that it was written while the war was still on and could not write whole truths about many things. 2. My dad protected the lie that he was born in 1902 and that he went first to the Philippines later in life, the truth being that he accompanied an uncle in 1905. Returned to Chatta in 1908.

Also, as I read the book, I came across material that contradicted other books I have read in this area. For example, Ingham mentions that Colonel Whitney of MacArthur's staff was a "true friend of the Filipinos." Other material says just the opposite. So, since I do not have the facts, it is better I just walk away from this article. Too bad. Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 18:00, 1 November 2009 (UTC)