World War II Honoree

Anthony A. Gutierrez

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Providence, Rhode Island

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CHIEF ELECTRICIAN’S MATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. SERVED AS A BOATSWAIN’S MATE ON THE MINESWEEPER, USS PIGEON, ASR-6, ASSIGNED TO THE SUBMARINE SQUADRON-20 STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE AND HIS CREW WHERE ON SHORE WHEN A JAPANESE DIVE-BOMBER, BOMBED AND SANK HIS SHIP AND WAS CAPTURED MAY 4, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #1 CABANATUAN, NUEVA PROVINCE, 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 OCTOBER 24, 1944 BY A U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE. HE WAS LATER REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION OR BURIED AT SEA AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.