Corporal Jesse B. Stubblefield
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)

Background
Jesse B. Stubblefield was born in 1919 to parents Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Stubblefield who were farmers in Hillsboro, Tennessee.

Wartime History
During January 1942 Stubblefield enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a private at age 23. He underwent basic training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia and Biloxi, Mississippi then was sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) as a mechanic and was promoted to the rank of Corporal.

Reportedly, he was suffering from combat fatigue. During June 1944, while stationed near Lae, Stubblefield wandered into the jungle. He was officially reported as Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL). Wandering in the jungle, he took supplies from abandoned military dumps. He lived with native people for over two years in the mountains inland from Lae.

Postwar
For several months in late 1946, New Guinea natives reported seeing a white man roaming in the jungle. On November 15, 1946 Police inspector E. Steeple sent sixteen natives in two groups to search for the mystery man.

On November 15, 1946 natives found laying in reeds him wearing green fatigues and Australian flying boots. His only possessions were a razor and a Bible. They carried him to the nearest jeep track where he was transported to Lae and admitted to Lae Hospital. Despite being in the jungle for over two years, he was overall in good health but was suffering from malaria. Initially, he was unable to remember much about himself or tell the hospital attendants much. He was identified because his Bible had the name "Mrs. J. B. Stubblefield Hillsboro, Tenn." written inside. The man had been missing for over two years and four months.

On November 20, 1946 the U.S. news wire services released a story about his return to civilization including his photograph. On November 22, 1946 the Associated Press (AP) released a wire service in the United States.

On November 22, 1946 it was reported that he was being guarded at the hospital to prevent anyone from seeing him until the mystery of who he was or why he was AWOL was resolved. In early December 1946, he was flown as a passenger aboard a C-46 Commando to Manila.

References
The Lima News "Yank Soldier Found Wandering Deep in Jungles of New Guinea" November 19, 1946 pages 1, 2
The Herald "Lost G.I.'s Parents Overjoyed" November 20, 1946 page 3
Chronicle "Adventures Of U.S. Soldier " November 21, 1946 page 26
Scottsbluff Daily Star Herald "Long Missing Soldier Is Held Under Guard" November 22, 19426, page 1
The Sydney Morning Herald "Guard On U.S. Soldier Found In Jungle" November 22, 1946 page 3
Truth "Rescued G.I. Is Melancholy Had Girl Trouble?" November 24, 1946 page 18

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?