World War II Honoree

Herschel R. Gardner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Portales, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 42 MONTHS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY APRIL 4, 1941 AT SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, HOTEL BATTERY, 515TH 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 #1 CABANATUAN, NUEVA PROVINCE LUZON. ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ TAGA MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR JAPAN VIA FORMOSA. ARRIVED MOJI, JAPAN OCTOBER 9, 1943 AND TRANSFERRED TO THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, OSAKA MAIN CAMP, CHIKKO OSAKA WHERE HE WAS USED AS A FORCED LABORER UNTIL HIS LIBERATION, OCTOBER 24, 1945. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 3 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION.