World War II Honoree

David E. Hardin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Relationship

Friend

WAS SERVING WITH THE 60TH COAST ARTILLERY AT FORT MILLS, PHILIPPINES WHEN CORREGIDOR WAS SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE. HE WAS HELD AS A POW IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR 2 YEARS AND THEN WAS BEING SENT TO A PRISON CAMP IN JAPAN WHEN THE SHIP HE WAS ABOARD, THE ARISAN MARU, WHICH WAS UNMARKED, WAS SUNK BY A U.S. SUBMARINE ON OCTOBER 24, 1944. NEARLY 1,800 ALLIED PRISONERS DIED WITH ONLY 9 SURVIVING.