World War II Honoree

William R. Bell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 32 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE 2ND PLATOON, C-COMPANY, 89TH AVIATION QUARTERMASTER BATTALION, 19TH BOMB GROUP, 5TH FAR EAST AIR FORCE STATIONED ON LUZON, 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, DAVAO PENAL COLONY, 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 REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION OR 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. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.