World War II Honoree

Charles H. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New York County, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MAJOR. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 32 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, MEDICAL CORPS ON LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINES. 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 DECEMBER 13, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ORYOKU MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR JAPAN VIA FORMOSA. WHILE ANCHORED IN THE SUBIC BAY HARBOR, IT WAS ATTACKED AND SUNK DECEMBER 15, 1944 BY U.S. NAVAL AIRCRAFT FIGHTERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS HORNET. HE SURVIVED THE ATTACK AND WAS LATER TRANSFERRED THE ENOURA MARU ANOTHER ‘HELL SHIP’ ON CHRISTMAS DAY. HE WAS BURIED AT SEA WHEN HE DIED JANUARY 9, 1945 WHILE EN-ROUTE TO JAPAN AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.