World War II Honoree

Menandro B. Parazo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Gerona, Tarlac, Philippine Islands

Honored By

Wm. Steven Stegall

DURING FEBRUARY 1941, LEFT COLLEGE IN MANILA AND VOLUNTEERED FOR THE U.S. ARMY. HONOREE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 26TH CAVALRY REGIMENT, PHILIPPINE SCOUTS AT FORT STOTSENBURG IN THE PHILIPPINES. AFTER THE JAPANESE BOMBINGS BETWEEN DECEMBER 8-16, 1941 SENT TO STOP THE JAPANESE LANDING AT THE BEACHES OF LINGAYEN GULF. FOUGHT THE ENEMY FROM DECEMBER 22, 1941 AND THROUGHOUT LUZON UNTIL ENTERING BATAAN ON JANUARY 9, 1942. WAS WOUNDED APRIL 7, 1942 AND TAKEN PRISONER IN THE FALL OF BATAAN. FORCED TO JOIN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH, EVADED AND ESCAPED FROM HIS CONCENTRATION CAMP AND JOINED THE GUERRILLA RESISTANCE FORCES. WAS RECAPTURED IN MANILA ON HIS BIRTHDAY MARCH 4, 1943 WHILE ON A GUERRILLA INTELLIGENCE MISSION. RETURNED AND BROUGHT TO FORT SANTIAGO INSIDE THE WALLED CITY OF INTRAMUROS AND WAS SEVERELY TORTURED. CONFINED WITH MANY AMERICANS AND FILIPINOS WHO WHERE ALSO CAPTURED INSIDE THE DARK DUNGEON OF THIS FORT. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF INTENSE INTERROGATION AND PUNISHMENT, ANOTHER ESCAPE WAS MADE. REJOINED THE GUERRILLAS AND FOUGHT WITH THEM JANUARY 1945 IN MANILA AND REPORTED TO THE U.S. ARMY JOINING THEM DURING THE FINAL LIBERATION OF MANILA. WAS SENT TO JAPAN WITH THE FIRST OCCUPATION FORCES. DECORATIONS: THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR ATTACHMENT, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE BATTLE STAR, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE GUERRILLA CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT BADGE, THE U.S. ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. SERVICE NUMBER: 0 1896459.