World War II Honoree

Reynolds Henry Watkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tribbey, Oklahoma

Honored By

Friend

HE WAS AN ENGINEER WITH 27TH MATERIAL SQUADRON, 20TH AIR BASE GROUP, WHEN CORREGIDOR FELL TO THE JAPANESE IN MAY 1942. HE WAS HELD IN POW CAMPS IN THE PHILIPPINES UNTIL THE FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES IN 1944 WHEN THE PRISONERS WERE BEING MOVED, MOSTLY TO MAINLAND JAPAN, BECAUSE OF THE ADVANCING ALLIED FORCES IN THE PACIFIC. THEY WERE PUT ABOARD UNMARKED SHIPS THAT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS HELLSHIPS. HIS SHIP, THE ARISAN MARU, WAS TORPEDOED BY AN UNSUSPECTING U.S. SUBMARINE AND SUNK ON OCTOBER 24, 1944. WATKINS AND NEARLY 1,800 OTHERS DIED; ONLY NINE SURVIVED.