World War II Honoree

William Franklin Oldaker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Vinita, Oklahoma

Honored By

Linda Mildren

Relationship

Daughter

MEMBER OF 192ND TANK BATTALION, U.S. ARMY AS PRIVATE. AT SOME POINT, PROMOTED TO PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. TRAINED TO OPERATE AND WORK ON HALF-TRACK. SENT TO PHILIPPINE ISLANDS NOVEMBER 1941. HONOREE AND BATTALION ORDERED TO SURRENDER TO JAPANESE ARMY APRIL 9, 1942. SURVIVED 'BATAAN DEATH MARCH'; ENTERED CAMP O'DONNELL, THEN CAMP CABANATUAN, THEN TO MANILA AND FINALLY JAPAN. FORCED TO WORK ON BURIAL DETAIL WHILE POW IN THE PHILIPPINES; IN JAPAN, FORCED TO SLAVE IN RAILROAD YARD. LIBERATED AUGUST 16, 1945. OFFICIALLY DISCHARGED FROM U.S. ARMY 1946 WITH RANK OF SERGEANT.