World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John F. Ray
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Washington
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 41 MONTHS. SERVED WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION U.S. 4TH MARINE REGIMENT ON THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR ‘THE ROCK’, LOCATED ACROSS THE BAY FROM MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE WAS CAPTURED MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. TRANSFERRED TO THE MAINLAND BY BARGE AND HELD CAPTIVITY AT AN UNKNOWN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP ON LUZON. SHIPPED TO JAPAN ON A JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS, INTERNED AT THE TOKYO PRISONER OF WAR CAMP SHINJUKU, TOKYO BAY, JAPAN. HE WAS USED AS A FORCED LABORER DURING HIS INTERNMENT AND REPATRIATED BACK TO U.S. MILITARY CONTROL SEPTEMBER 14, 1945. DECORATIONS: HE WAS AWARDED ALONG WITH HIS UNIT A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.