World War II Honoree

Ralph A. Plate

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 54 DAYS. SERVED WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY 45TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, PHILIPPINE SCOUTS 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 WAS CAPTURED THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 1942. HE WAS FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP O’DONNELL, TARLAC LUZON. HE DIED TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1942 AND WAS BURIED IN A JAPANESE BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE CAPTAIN WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED THE 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.