World War II Honoree

Ijanetos Poulimenos

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Nicollet County, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. BATAAN JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 31 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, D COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT DURING THE DEFENSE OF LUZON AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND INCARCERATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP # 4 O’DONNELL, LUZON. HE WAS PUT ABOARD THE HOKUSEN MARU, A JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, WHICH DEPARTED MANILA BAY, OCTOBER 3, 1944 AND THEN DIED OCTOBER 9, 1944 WHILE EN ROUTE TO FORMOSA. LATER DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION AND MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINES. DECORATIONS: BRONZE STAR MEDAL (AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT) AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.