World War II Honoree

James George Barna

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS JULY 2, 1940 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ASSIGNED TO M-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 4TH MARINE REGIMENT STATIONED AT THE MANILA CAVITE NAVY YARD. 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 TO THE INVADERS AND WAS KILLED ON THE DAY OF HIS CAPTURE. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1946 AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE AMERICAN MILITARY CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL. THE MARINE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.