World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Benny D. Osecky
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Jere, West Virginia
Honored By
His Children & Grandchildren
AT CLARK FIELD, PHILIPPINES WITH THE 20TH PURSUIT SQUADRON, 24TH PURSUIT GROUP, AT THE BEGINNING OF WAR. FOUGHT IN BATTLE FOR BATAAN MAINTAINING THE REMAINING P-40 FIGHTER AIRCRAFT UNTIL THEY WERE LOST. SERVED AS INFANTRY DEFENDING THE COAST OF BATAAN. BATAAN MARCH SURVIVOR. POW FOR 42 MONTHS. IN PRISON CAMPS INCLUDING CAMP O'DONNELL, BILIBID, LOS PENAS, TAIWAN; KOSAKA (SENDAI CAMP #8) JAPAN. SURVIVED TWO BOMBINGS AND SINKINGS OF UNMARKED JAPANESE SHIPS CARRYING POW FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO WORK IN JAPANESE LABOR CAMPS. REPATRIATED IN SEPTEMBER 1945.