Sartiano (Joseph Frank) papers, 1942-1949

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Summary

Title:
Joseph Frank Sartiano papers
Dates:
1942-1949
Creators:
Sartiano, Joseph Frank, 1913-2017
Abstract:
Colonel Joseph "Joe" Frank Sartiano (1913-2017) was a OSS/CIA officer. The Joseph Frank Sartiano papers contains Class B and C WWII Tribunal investigation reports, court cases, inventories, photographs of Sartiano's personal life in Japan and war criminal executions, interviews of Japanese WWII war criminals, and personal documents of Sartiano's military history.
Extent:
2 manuscript boxes (0.83 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joseph Frank Sartiano papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection is composed of Class B and C WWII Tribunal investigation reports; court cases of the General Headquarters Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Case reports on the murder of American fliers on the Island of Ishigake, Okinawa; inventories of movable objects of Japanese facilities used during WWII by dissolved organizations; photographs of Sartiano's personal life in Japan and war criminal executions; interviews of Japanese WWII war criminals in Yokohama, Japan, including interviews with Japanese officers, medical personnel and others; and personal documents of Sartiano's military history and his application for employment with the new Central Intelligence Agency.

Biographical / historical:

Colonel Joseph "Joe" Frank Sartiano (25 October 1913 - 9 February 2017) was a OSS/CIA officer born to Italian immigrant parents. As an OSS officer, he worked behind enemy lines, orchestrating and carrying out partisan activities, rescuing downed Allied pilots and leading both American and British units on intelligence gathering patrols in Italy. For his actions, Joe was awarded the United States Silver Star and from the United Kingdom, The British Military Cross, both for gallantry in action. In addition, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. At the end of hostilities in Europe, Joe volunteered for service in Japan. Based upon his OSS experience in Italy, he was recruited to join the team of American military officers investigating Japanese war crimes, and spent the next five years living in Japan conducting interviews and investigations that led to the prosecution of war crime offenders. In early 1950, after returning to the United States, Joe was asked to become a member of the recently established Central Intelligence Agency which sought former OSS officers to join its ranks. As a result of his work in Saigon for the CIA, he was awarded the South Vietnamese National Police Medal of Honor and Congressional Gold Medal for his participation in the OSS. Sartiano passed away at the age of 103.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2022.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jessica Yu
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-11-16 16:30:07.095656

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joseph Frank Sartiano papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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