Oral History Interview with Sister Antoinette Ada

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Antoinette Ada. Ada’s idyllic childhood in Saipan was interrupted when Japanese troops occupied her school. Subsequent bombing by the American military drove Ada and her family to hide in caves. Three of her siblings went ahead of Ada and her parents to the cave, never to be seen again. It would be another 50 years before she learned that they were killed by a bomb. Her father led the family to a cave near Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff. He was shot and killed while foraging for food … continued below

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59 p.

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Ada, Sister Antoinette Creation Date: Unknown.

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National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation

Established in 1967, the Museum honors the 8 million Americans who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater by sharing their stories with the world. Located in Fredericksburg in the restored Nimitz "Steamboat" Hotel, the Museum partners with the Texas Historical Commission to preserve the historical resources of the era.

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The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Antoinette Ada. Ada’s idyllic childhood in Saipan was interrupted when Japanese troops occupied her school. Subsequent bombing by the American military drove Ada and her family to hide in caves. Three of her siblings went ahead of Ada and her parents to the cave, never to be seen again. It would be another 50 years before she learned that they were killed by a bomb. Her father led the family to a cave near Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff. He was shot and killed while foraging for food at night. Ada’s mother tried to leave the cave and bring her children back home, but she too was shot. Ada and her brother hid in the jungle until surrendering to Americans as a last resort to avoid starvation. She was initially sent to Camp Susupe, where conditions were much worse than the Chamorro camp, Chalan Kanoa, to which she was transferred. Ada remained in Saipan after the war, but her surviving brother was sent to Japan. She found him in the 1960s. Ada attended college in the United States, entered a convent in her late 20s, and spent 11 years as a missionary in Japan.

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59 p.

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National Museum of the Pacific War Oral History Collection

This oral history collection depicts an instrumental era in American history. In these transcripts of interviews with World War II veterans are personal experiences with the war, from the Doolittle Raid and D-Day to the Battle for Bataan.

National Museum of the Pacific War Digital Archive

The Digital Archive presents digitized collections from the Center for Pacific War Studies collections at the National Museum of the Pacific War. Collections and material are continuously being added and represent only a small portion of the archives' physical holdings.

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Oral History Interview with Sister Antoinette Ada (Sound)

Oral History Interview with Sister Antoinette Ada

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with Antoinette Ada. Ada’s idyllic childhood in Saipan was interrupted when Japanese troops occupied her school. Subsequent bombing by the American military drove Ada and her family to hide in caves. Three of her siblings went ahead of Ada and her parents to the cave, never to be seen again. It would be another 50 years before she learned that they were killed by a bomb. Her father led the family to a cave near Suicide Cliff and Banzai Cliff. He was shot and killed while foraging for food at night. Ada’s mother tried to leave the cave and bring her children back home, but she too was shot. Ada and her brother hid in the jungle until surrendering to Americans as a last resort to avoid starvation. She was initially sent to Camp Susupe, where conditions were much worse than the Chamorro camp, Chalan Kanoa, to which she was transferred. Ada remained in Saipan after the war, but her surviving brother was sent to Japan. She found him in the 1960s. Ada attended college in the United States, entered a convent in her late 20s, and spent 11 years as a missionary in Japan.

Oral History Interview with Sister Antoinette Ada - ark:/67531/metapth1607834

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  • Oct. 15, 2023, 2:05 p.m.

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Ada, Sister Antoinette. Oral History Interview with Sister Antoinette Ada, text, Date Unknown; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1604022/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.

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