Claire Phillips

Spy in the Japanese-occupied Philippines during World War II; recipient of the Medal of Freedom[21]

What is Claire Phillips known for?

Born Claire Maybelle Snyder on December 2, 1907, in Michigan, United States, Claire Phillips, later known as Clara Fuentes, Clara Phillips, Dorothy Fuentes, and most notably "High Pockets," led a life filled with daring exploits and significant contributions to the fight against the Japanese occupation during World War II. She moved to Portland, Oregon during her early childhood, where she attended the Franklin High School.

Before the war, Phillips was an entertainer and club owner. She worked in night clubs across the Northwest USA and also joined a musical stock company that toured East Asia, including Hong Kong and Manila. While in Manila, she got married to Filipino sailor Manuel Fuentes, and they had a daughter together. After their marriage ended, Phillips returned to the Philippines and continued her career as a club singer.

During the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, her second husband, Sgt. John V. Phillips of the 31st Infantry Regiment, was captured and later died in a prison camp. Phillips, thereafter, was persuaded to help the resistance and thus began her journey as a spy. She adopted a new identity as a Philippine-born Italian dancer named Dorothy Clara Fuentes and, along with a Filipino dancer, established a club that became popular with Japanese officers in Manila. Given the name "High Pockets," she collected information from Japanese officers who frequented the club and passed it on to American forces in the Pacific. This intelligence was used to predict and counter Japanese military activities. She also worked extensively to smuggle necessary supplies and information to the prisoners of the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp.

Phillips was eventually arrested by the Kenpeitai, the Japanese military police, but her efforts were not in vain. She was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1951 for her contributions. Additionally, despite some of her claims being determined to be without foundation, the United States Court of Claims awarded her monetary compensation in 1957 for the assistance she provided to American prisoners of war and Filipino resistance movements.

Apart from her remarkable wartime exploits, Phillips was also an author. She documented her experiences in her book titled 'Manila Espionage.' Her life was also portrayed by Ann Dvorak in the 1951 movie "I Was an American Spy." Claire Phillips passed away on May 22, 1960, in Portland, Oregon.