World War II Honoree

Manton Leon Fleming

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Commanche, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 26 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. MARINE CORPS, 1ST DEFENSE BATTALION, 4TH MARINES ON WAKE ISLAND, SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE WAS CAPTURED DECEMBER 24, 1941 DURING THE JAPANESE INVASION OF WAKE ISLAND. DEPARTED WAKE JANUARY 12, 1942 ON THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ NITTA MARU AND TRANSPORTED TO YOKOHOMA, JAPAN. INCARNATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP OSAKA MAIN CAMP, CHIKKO, OSAKA, JAPAN WHERE HE DIED FEBRUARY 26, 1944. WHEN HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO OKLAHOMA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. THE 4TH MARINES 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.