World War II Honoree

Roy D. Gregory

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Washington, District Of Columbia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: LIEUTENANT COLONEL. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. HE WAS A WEST POINT, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY GRADUATE AND SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, HEADQUARTERS, VISAYAN-MINDANAO FORCE STATIONED IN THE 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 #2 DAVAO MINDANAO, 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: SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE COLONEL FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.