The Mysterious Death of Pete Ellis
100th ANNIVERSARY
12 MAY 1923
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF PETE ELLIS
After World War I several of defeated Germany’s Pacific island possessions passed to Japan under a League of Nations mandate. Japan’s subsequent fortification of these islands in defiance of the mandate’s terms concerned American planners in the 1920s. In fact, even before the outbreak of WWI, a decorated and forward-thinking USMC officer, MAJ Earl H. “Pete” Ellis, anticipated Japanese imperialism. For a decade Ellis had feverishly researched the defense of the Pacific against predicted Japanese aggression. He envisioned a series of amphibious assaults, a concept that was anathema to post-WWI naval planners. (Extrapolating from the British WWI disaster at Gallipoli, contemporary strategists eschewed amphibious invasions as impractical). Regardless, Ellis’ vision was adopted in 1923 as USMC Operation Plan 712-H, “Advanced Base Force Operations in Micronesia.” Ultimately his plan became the foundation of amphibious warfare doctrine in WWII.
In 1921 (now) LCOL Ellis requested extended personal leave. His years of manic dedication and workaholic lifestyle had left the 41-year-old in poor health, plagued with headaches, insomnia, depression, and alcoholism. But despite his flagging health, the ever-motivated Ellis intended to gather first-hand reconnaissance of Micronesia by posing as a New York businessman. His subsequent trek through the Far East can be traced through hospital records. It is known he was treated in Manila and Syndey and twice at the US Naval Hospital Yokohama for “nephritis.”
In October 1922, he telegraphed from Japan requesting an extension of his leave. He cabled $1000 from an account in Kansas, then disappeared from Yokohama. He probably spent two months in the Marshalls and was next seen in April 1923 in the Carolines. From here he hopped a steamer to Koror in the Palau’s, his travels paralleling the three phases of the trans-Pacific sweep in his war plan. By now Ellis’ behavior had attracted the suspicions of Japanese authorities who were touchy about inquisitive Westerners and dubious of his transparent disguise. Then on May 12th came the surprising announcement that the Japanese had found (and hastily buried) Ellis’ body, a victim as they described of heavy drinking.
Navy Chief Pharmacist Lawrence Zembisch was sent from Naval Hospital Yokohama to investigate Ellis’ death. He returned from Palau with the colonel’s cremated ashes on August 14th. But Zembisch, himself, was physically broken, the victim of alleged mistreatment and probable drugging by the Japanese police. He was unable to give a statement and, sadly, died on September 1st when a devastating earthquake destroyed NH Yokohama. Whether foul play was involved in Ellis’ death remains a mystery to this day.
Watch for more “Today in Naval History” 17 MAY 23
CAPT James Bloom, Ret.
Ballendorf, Dirk A. and Merrill L. Bartlett. Pete Ellis: An Amphibious Prophet 1880-1923. Annapolis, MD, USNI Press, 1997.
Miller, Edward S. War Plan Orange: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan, 1897-1945. USNI Press, Annapolis, MD, pp. 173-74, 1991.
Millett, Allan R. Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps. Macmillan Pub Co., New York, NY, pp. 325-26, 1980.
Montross, Lynn. “The Mystery of Pete Ellis.” Marine Corps Gazette, Vol 38 (7), pp. 30-33, July 1954.
Weigley, Russell F. The American Way of War: A History of United States Military Strategy and Policy. Indiana Univ. Press, Bloomington, IN, pp. 255, 258, 1973.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Japan fortified her mandate islands in disregard to the requirements of international treaties. It was further observed the reluctance with which Japan acquiesced to the warship limitations imposed under the 1922 Disarmament Treaty. Indeed, the threat posed by Japan’s activities on her Mandates piqued US military concerns all the more in view of our adherence to treaty obligations prohibiting construction of military posts west of Hawaii. Lacking first-hand knowledge of Japanese preparations, our Office of Naval Intelligence pushed the State Department in 1923 to authorize espionage missions to Micronesia. Under what the State Department claimed was a routine shakedown and diplomatic mission to Australia, the newly-commissioned light cruiser MILWAUKEE (CL-5) conducted a quiet inspection of the Marshalls and Carolines.
Before departing on his personal espionage mission Ellis left a sealed envelope with the Marine Corps Commandant’s office. Upon his death the letter was opened and found to contain a signed resignation of his commission with the effective date left blank.
US possessions west of Hawaii in this day consisted of American Samoa and the territories wrested from Spain after the Spanish-American War, Guam and the Philippines. Following the defeat of Japan in WWII many of her mandate islands passed to the United States.
