World War II Honoree

Grover William Pool

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Austin, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 29 DAYS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS DECEMBER 21, 1939 AND COMPLETED BASIC COMBAT TRAINING AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. SERVED WITH I-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 4TH MARINE 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 HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP O’DONNELL, TARLAC, LUZON WHERE HE LATER DIED. REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1942 AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. A MEMORIAL MARKER HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE AUSTIN MEMORIAL PARK, AUSTIN, TEXAS IN HIS MEMORY AND HONOR. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PURPLE HEART, 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. 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.