World War II Honoree

Russell D. Patterson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cook County, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, 45TH INFANTRY DIVISION, PHILIPPINE SCOUTS, STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE 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 WAS INCARCERATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #1 CABANATUAN, LUZON. ON OCTOBER 11, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’, THE ARISAN MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR JAPAN, WHICH WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE OCTOBER 24, 1944. HE WAS REPORTED BURIED AT SEA AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR, AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.