World War II Honoree

Walter E. O'Brien, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ingham County, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 29 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, SERVICE COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE FIGHTING AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE WAS INCARCERATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP CABANATUAN, LUZON. ON AUGUST 20, 1944 NEAR LASANG, MINDANAO, HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ TATEISHI MARU, ARRIVING AT ZAMBOANGA, MINDANAO SEPTEMBER 5, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 7, 1944 AFTER BOARDING ANOTHER JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, THE SHINYO MARU DESTINED FOR JAPAN WHEN IT WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY THE SUBMARINE, USS PADDLE. WAS REPORTED BURIED AT SEA AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS: BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AWARDED FOR HEROIC AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.