World War II Honoree

Joe M. Chavez

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 33 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, D BATTERY, 60TH COASTAL ARTILLERY ANTIAIRCRAFT REGIMENT, THE HARBOR DEFENSES OF MANILA AND SUBIC BAYS. HE WAS STATIONED ON THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR ‘THE ROCK’, LOCATED ACROSS THE BAY FROM MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND WAS CAPTURED MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES. TRANSFERRED TO THE MAINLAND BY BARGE AND WAS HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #3, THE NEW BILIBID PRISON RIZAL MANILA. THE 37TH INFANTRY DIVISION LIBERATED HIM FEBRUARY 4, 1945 ALONG WITH 700 OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR. DECORATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, SILVER STAR MEDAL AWARDED FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.