Jack Wilpers of Saratoga Springs: The Man Who Captured Tojo

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Join the Saratoga Springs History Museum Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Canfield Casino in Congress Park for special program titled Jack Wilpers of Saratoga, NY: The Man Who Captured Tojo as part of the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust Program Series. 

Nine days after the end of World War II, U.S. Army Lt. Jack Wilpers found himself literally on the doorstep of the world’s most infamous living war criminal. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. The 25-year-old Wilpers, a bookie’s son from Saratoga Springs was about to change history. Former Associated Press reporter Chris Carola uses Wilpers’ family photographs and the veteran’s own wartime letters, along with contemporary news articles and his own interviews with Wilpers, to tell how the Saratoga-raised intelligence officer played key role in the capture of former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. Carola’s presentation also reveals how he finally was able to get Wilpers to talk about that eventful day.

This event is free and open to the public, reservations not required.  For more information visit www.saratogahistory.org