Navy Badge
  • Name: Robert "Bob" Jave Mackie
  • Location of Birth: Coleraine, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: January 14, 1924
  • Date of Death: August 22, 1980
  • Parents: William Mackie & Blanche (Deal) Mackie
  • High School and Class:
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: S2 (Seaman 2nd Class)
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: July 23, 1941
  • Place Sworn In: Seattle, Washington
  • Date of Discharge: March 15, 1946
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Idaho
    Name: Robert Jave Mackie
    Race: White
    Age: 22
    Birth Date: January 14, 1924
    Birth Place: Coleraine, Minnesota
    Residence Place: Spirit Lake, Idaho
    Registration Date: March 18, 1946 [after discharge]
    Employer: Not employed at present, just discharged from Navy
    Weight: 170
    Height: 6
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Eye Color: Brown
    Hair Color: Brown
    Other characteristics: Scars on both legs and back, scars on tips of index and 2nd finger, right hand
    Next of Kin: Mrs. Blanch Mackie, Coleraine, Minnesota

    Robert Mackie enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and was the youngest Navy man to be taken as a POW by the Japanese on Wake Island. While a POW at Camp Chikko, Osaka, Japan, he saw the atomic bomb dropped. He was released from the prison camp in 1945.

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:
    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – January 23, 1942 – "ROBERT MACKIE A PRISONER OF THE JAPS – In an interview with Mrs. Blanch Mackie, mother of Robert J. Mackie, who is reported as a prisoner, together with 1,235 men brought from Wake Island to Yokohama, she stated that as yet, she has received no official word to that effect. He was on the U.S. ship “Wright”. Robert enlisted July 12 in Seattle, Washington, and was sent to San Diego, California. From there he was transferred to Pearl Harbor and the last word she had direct from him was dated December 8th, Wake Island. Robert was born and raised in Coleraine, and besides his mother, has a sister in Minneapolis, one brother in Coleraine and a sister, Almeta, employed in California."

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - August 14, 1942 - "IN PRISON CAMP - Mrs. J.J. Codden received a letter from the U.S. Navy informing her that her son Robert Mackie, who was taken prisoner at Wake Island, was confined in a prison camp at Shanghi, and if she wished she could send him a box of necessities. It was to contain certain articles, such as cigarettes, clothing and vitamin pills. Bobby was the first boy from this locality to be taken prisoner at this time."

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota - September 25, 1942 - "RECEIVES LETTER FROM SON, A JAPANESE CAPTIVE - The following letter was received from Robert Mackie to his mother. Robert is a prisoner of the Japanese, being among the first Americans captured in the present war. The letter follows: 'Shanghi War-prisoner's Camp, May 31, 1942 - Mrs. Blanche Mackie, Coleraine, Minnesota - Dear Mother: I hope you will not be too shocked in hearing from me. I am in good health and feel fine. We work here in the camp every day. We get up at 6:00 A.M., and are allowed to go to sleep at 8:30 P.M. We have rice and bread every meal, along with a bowl of stew. We get plenty of food and I have gained nine pounds. We play cards, baseball, and some of the men put on a show in the barracks at night. Be sure to write to Marjorie Crow and tell her I am all right, and hope to see her soon. Don't worry about me too much. I hope I can write you again. Yours, Son - Bob.'
    The letter was mailed from the Japanese Field Post Office 106 in Central China.

  • Civilian Life:
    Robert Mackie moved to Idaho in 1946 and married Betty Marie Walkup there. He worked as a scale repairman at Kaiser Aluminum. He was a life member of the American Ex-P.O.W., Disabled American Veterans of Priest River, and Spirit Lake VFW Post 1473 where he was a past commander.

    Bob died in Spirit Lake, Idaho and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Spirit Lake, Idaho. He is survived by his wife; a brother, William; two sisters, Alametta Kramer and Zola Wold; a half-sister, Gwen Latvala; and a number of other relatives.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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