World War II Honoree

Albert B. Fitzgerald

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Essex County, New Jersey

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 29 MONTHS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MAY 29, 1939 AT COSHOCTON, OHIO. SERVED AS A MEDICAL TECHNICIAN ‘MEDIC’ WITH THE U.S. ARMY, MEDICAL DETACHMENT, FORT MILLS HOSPITAL. HE WAS CAPTURED MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES. TRANSFERRED TO THE MAINLAND BY BARGE AND 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 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944 BY A U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE. 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. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.