World War II Honoree

Paul E. Pearson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Concordia, Kansas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 32 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY, ASSIGNED TO G-4 SECTION, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY AS ASSISTANT SUPPLY OFFICER, PHILIPPINE II CORPS, 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. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP CABANATUAN, NUEVA PROVINCE, TARLAC, LUZON. ON DECEMBER 13, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ORYOKU MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR JAPAN VIA FORMOSA. WHILE ANCHORED IN THE SUBIC BAY HARBOR, THE TRANSPORT WAS ATTACKED AND SUNK DECEMBER 15, 1944 BY UNITED STATES NAVAL FIGHTERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS HORNET. UPON SURVIVING THE ATTACK, HE AND OTHER SURVIVORS WERE LOADED ON THE ‘HELL SHIP’ ENOURA MARU ON CHRISTMAS DAY, ARRIVING TAKAO (FORMOSA) ON NEW YEAR’S EVE. HE WAS REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1945 WHEN THE TRANSPORT WAS ATTACKED AND BOMBED BY FIGHTERS FROM THE USS HORNET. HIS NAME APPEARS IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE CAPTAIN WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE. BRONZE STAR AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT. THIS AMERICAN PATRIOT RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, WHO SO GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.