World War II Honoree

John C. Cotten

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jefferson County, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CORPORAL. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY MARCH 19, 1941 AT HOUSTON, TEXAS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, HOTEL BATTERY, 515TH COASTAL ARTILLERY REGIMENT 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. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #4 O’DONNELL TARLAC, LUZON AND THE LAS PINAS PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, LUZON. ON OCTOBER 1, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ HOKUSEN MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR HONG KONG, TAKAO HARBOR, FORMOSA. HE DIED MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1944 WHILE EN ROUTE TO FORMOSA AND WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION. HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 3 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.