World War II Honoree

Lawrence Ehlers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lubbock County, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 144 DAYS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AUGUST 23, 1941 AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA. SERVED WITH F-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT STATIONED 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 WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN AN UNKNOWN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP ON LUZON WHERE HE DIED MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 1942. HE WAS BURIED IN A PRISONER OF WAR CEMETERY ON LUZON, AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO MANILA, WITH INTERMENT IN THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.