Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Morgan County, Alabama
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES FAR EAST COMMAND, CHEMICAL WARFARE DETACHMENT, 4TH CHEMICAL AVIATION COMPANY STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINES. WHILE FIGHTING AS AN INFANTRYMAN DURING THE BATTLE OF BATAAN AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH, BECOMING A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS, INCARCERATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #1 CABANATUAN, LUZON FOR THE DURATION OF HIS CAPTIVITY. HE WAS KILLED OCTOBER 24, 1944 WHILE EN ROUTE TO JAPAN ON THE ARISAN MARU, A JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, WHICH WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY THE SUBMARINE, USS SNOOK. LATER DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.