World War II Honoree

George Bernard Case

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

New Haven, Connecticut

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 51 DAYS. HE WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE, WHO SERVED AS THE SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER ASSIGNED TO H-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 4TH MARINE REGIMENT STATIONED AT OLONGAPO NAVAL STATION, 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. HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE JAPANESE WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1942 WHEN GENERAL WAINWRIGHT WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER CORREGIDOR TO THE INVADERS. AS A PRISONER OF WAR, HE WAS EVACUATED TO THE OLD BILIBID PRISONER OF WAR CAMP LOCATED IN THE MANILA AREA WHERE HE LATER DIED. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1942 AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART WITH A GOLD STAR, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, MARINE CORPS GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, MARINE CORPS RESERVE MEDAL, CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL. THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED TO THE MARINE FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.