World War II Honoree

William J. Byran Duncan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pelahatchie, Mississippi

Honored By

Ms. Catherine D. Gibb & Elizabeth A. Duncan

Relationship

Daughters

FIRST LIEUTENANT. MEMBER OF THE 48TH MATERIAL SQUADRON, 27TH BOMBER GROUP OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIRFORCE. STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOUGHT AT BATAAN. ON APRIL 9, 1942, MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD P. KING SURRENDERED HIS TROOPS TO THE JAPANESE. HONOREE, ALONG WITH 11,796 AMERICANS WERE FORCED BY THE JAPANESE TO WALK 100 MILES ON WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE 'DEATH MARCH'. ONLY 9,300 REACHED PRISON CAMP MCDONNELL. THEY WERE MOVED IN JUNE, 1942 TO CAMP CABANATUAN. HONOREE REMAINED THERE FOR 3-1/2 YEARS. THEY WERE RESCUED IN JANUARY, 1945 BY MUCCI'S 5TH RANGERS. ONLY 511 MEN HAD SURVIVED. RECEIVED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER.