World War II Honoree

John T. Glotzbach

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. BATAAN JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 39 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES FAR EAST COMMAND, 5TH AIR FORCE, 5TH AIR BASE GROUP, HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON STATIONED AT MINDANAO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE PROVISIONAL INFANTRY COMPANY AND 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 INTERNED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #2 DAVAO, LUZON. EVENTUALLY TRANSPORTED TO JAPAN ON A JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS AND HELD CAPTIVITY AT THE NAGOYA MAIN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, NAGOYA, JAPAN AND USED AS A FORCED LABORER. HE DIED JULY 24, 1945 AND HIS REMAINS WERE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN FOR BURIAL. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.