World War II Honoree

William Judson Moore, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Austin, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 30 MONTHS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY APRIL 4, 1941 AT HOUSTON, TEXAS. SERVED WITH ECHO BATTERY, 200TH COASTAL ARTILLERY ANTIAIRCRAFT REGIMENT, THE HARBOR DEFENSE OF MANILA AND SUBIC BAYS, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT DURING THE DEFENSE OF LUZON AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND INCARCERATED AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #10 BATANGAS, LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. ON OCTOBER 11, 1944 HE WAS FORCED TO BOARD THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ARISAN MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS WHOSE DESTINATION WAS A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN JAPAN. ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1944 HE WAS REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION, LOST AT SEA WHEN THE TRANSPORT WAS TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY A UNITED STATES SUBMARINE. HE IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE TABLETS OF THE MISSING AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, LOCATED AT FORT BONIFACIO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. DECORATION AND CITATION: PURPLE HEART. THIS AMERICAN PATRIOT WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, WHO SO GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 3 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE ARMED FORCES.