World War II Honoree

John E. Haskin

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Collingdale, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE WHO SERVED WITH HEADQUARTERS SERVICE COMPANY, FOURTH MARINE REGIMENT STATIONED AT THE MANILA CAVITE NAVY YARD IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND IN RETREAT TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA DURING THE INVASION OF THE ISLANDS (DECEMBER 8, 1941) BY THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES, HE ESCAPED TO THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR ‘THE ROCK’, LOCATED ACROSS THE BAY FROM MANILA. THE JAPANESE CAPTURED HIM, WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER TO THE INVADERS AND WAS KILLED ON THE DAY OF HIS CAPTURE. HE WAS BURIED ON CORREGIDOR AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE VALLONIA CEMETERY, VALLONIA, INDIANA. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE MARINE POSTHUMOUSLY FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST THE JAPANESE FORCES ON CORREGIDOR. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.