World War II Honoree

Douglas Wayne Egelston

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oakland, California

Honored By

Dwila R. Gilbert

Relationship

Sister

SERVED ON THE THE USS HOUSTON FLAGSHIP OF THE ASIATIC FLEET. CAPTURED IN JAVA MARCH 1, 1942 IN THE WATERS OF SUNDRA STRAITS AND HELD AS A POW IN BURMA THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF WAR. WHEN THE SHIP WENT DOWN, ONLY 403 OUT OF 1,100 WERE CAPTURED. AS A POW HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING OF THE BURMA RAILROAD AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER REFINERIES. WALKED FROM BANGKOK, THAILAND TO MOULMEIN, BURMA IN THE DEATH MARCH. BY THE TIME THEY WERE LIBERATED THERE WERE ONLY 87 MEN OF THE ORIGINAL 403 STILL LIVING.