World War II Honoree

John B. Hamilton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cedarvale, New Mexico

Honored By

Richard E. Manzer

WAS SERVING WITH THE U.S. ARMY IN BATAAN, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED BY THE JAPANESE. WAS PART OF A DIVISION OF BOYS MOSTLY FROM NEW MEXICO. THEY TOOK PART IN THE RETREAT TO CORREGIDOR AND AFTER THEIR SURRENDER, WERE FORCED TO MAKE THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH. HE WATCHED MANY OF HIS FELLOW NEW MEXICANS DIE WHILE ON THIS FORCED MARCH. HE WAS SENT TO PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN JAPAN WHERE HE WITNESSED MORE OF HIS FELLOW U.S. PRISONERS DIE FROM MALNUTRITION, ABUSE AND LACK OF MEDICAL ATTENTION. HE WAS DETERMINED TO SURVIVE SO HE WORKED EXTRA HARD WHILE AS A POW, HE QUICKLY LEARNED THAT HARD WORK WAS THE ONLY WAY TO INSURE TO BE FED BY THE JAPANESE. HE SERVED A TOTAL OF 42 MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY AND WAS RELEASED AFTER JAPAN SURRENDERED.