World War II Honoree

Sewell H. Peck

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Coalinga, California

Honored By

John M. Apple

Relationship

Friend

SURVIVOR OF THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 41 MONTHS. SERVED AS A SUPPLY NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER, ASSIGNED TO THE 21ST PURSUIT SQUADRON, 35TH PURSUIT GROUP, ATTACHED TO THE 24TH PURSUIT GROUP, 5TH AIR FORCE AT CLARK ARMY AIR FIELD, LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHEN THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES INVADED THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS DECEMBER 8, 1941, HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE PROVISIONAL INFANTRY COMPANY AFTER CLARK AIR FIELD; ONE OF THE JAPANESE PRIME TARGETS WAS ABANDONED. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF LUZON AND THE BATAAN PENINSULA, HE WAS CAPTURED AND BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR. HE WAS THEN FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND INTERNED AT BOTH PRISONER DEATH CAMPS, CAMP O’DONNELL AND CAMP CABANATUAN. LATER SHIPPED TO JAPAN ON A ‘HELL SHIP’ AND WAS DETAINED IN A PRISON CAMP NEAR HIROSHIMA. UNTIL HIS LIBERATION, SEPTEMBER 1945, HE WAS USED AS A SLAVE LABORER IN A COAL MINE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND A PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, A SHARP SHOOTER RIFLE BADGE AND THE HONORABLE LAPEL BUTTON. HE ENTERED THE SERVICE APRIL 1, 1941 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED APRIL 11, 1946 AT CAMP BEALE, CALIFORNIA.