World War II Honoree

Ralph P. Chavez

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JANUARY 6, 1941 AT ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. SERVED AS A MEDICAL TECHNICIAN ‘MEDIC’ ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 200TH COASTAL ARTILLERY ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENT, THE HARBOR DEFENSE OF MANILA AND SUBIC BAY, 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 HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP 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 BY A U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION OR BURIED AT SEA AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 3 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.