World War II Honoree

Robert T. Patoile

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ramsey County, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 29 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, HEADQUARTERS, 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 #4 O’DONNELL TARLAC LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. ON OCTOBER 11, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, THE ARISAN MARU DESTINED FOR JAPAN WHICH WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A U.S. NAVAL SUBMARINE OCTOBER 24, 1944. HE WAS REPORTED BURIED AT SEA AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS: SILVER STAR MEDAL, AWARDED FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.