World War II Honoree

Adriano S. Olivar, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Culasi Antique, Philippine Islands

Honored By

Therese Olivar, Carrie, Robert & Stephen

Relationship

Wife, Daughter & Sons

HE WAS A JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR AND A SURVIVOR OF THE INFAMOUS BATAAN DEATH MARCH. WHILE ENGAGED WITH THE JAPANESE FORCES AT BATAAN, PHILIPPINES, HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AND AT A FIELD HOSPITAL, HIS RIGHT LEG WAS AMPUTATED. WHEN THE U.S. FORCES IN THE FAR EAST SURRENDERED ON BATAAN, HE WAS TAKEN CAPTIVE AND FORCED TO JOIN THE MARCH AS AN AMPUTEE. AT THE END OF THE MARCH, HE WAS INCARCERATED IN A POW CAMP FROM APRIL THROUGH JULY 1942 AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO A JAPANESE FIELD HOSPITAL IN MANILA. HE REMAINED THERE UNTIL HIS RELEASE IN MARCH OF 1943 AS PART OF THE JAPANESE PACIFICATION PROGRAM. A YEAR LATER, HE ALONG WITH A SMALL GROUP OF FILIPINOS AND DOWNED AMERICAN PILOTS WERE EVACUATED BY SUBMARINE TO AUSTRALIA. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL.