World War II Honoree

Carl J. Wittfeld, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Merritt Island, Florida

Honored By

Carl J. Wittfeld, Jr.

MEMBER OF THE 27TH BOMB GROUP. CAPTURED ON BATAAN IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY JAPANESE ARMY ON APRIL 9, 1942. SURVIVED THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND 46 MONTHS OF DISEASE, STARVATION AND BRUTALITY. SHIPPED TO JAPAN ON HELL SHIP NISSYO MARU JULY 1944 AND SENT TO FUKUOKA CAMP 3 ON THE ISLAND OF KYUSHU. WORKED IN STEEL MILL AT YAWATA UNTIL ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON NAGASAKI. RETURNED TO THE U.S. VIA OKINAWA BY SHIP. FLOWN TO MANILA AND MEDICALLY EVACUATED BY PLANE TO THE U.S. OCTOBER 1945. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE STARS, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON WITH BRONZE STAR,PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.