World War II Honoree

Jose B. Cunanan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Masantol Pampanga

Honored By

Family

Relationship

Children

He was a Philippine Scout for two years prior to enlisting in the United States Army on May 27, 1941 when he was just 17 years old. He served in the 45th Infantry during WWII. Shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed, he was taken prisoner on April 9, 1942 and forced to march 65 miles to Bataan with no food, water, or rest. He became extremely ill and malnourished. The Japanese were not able to provide basic humane care, which resulted in the release of Filipino prisoners to their families. His mother was waiting at the train station to meet him. She nursed him back to health, and he joined a Philippine Guerrilla group and fought in the jungle until the end of the war and the Philippine Islands were liberated. He was honorably discharged on August 19, 1946 and awarded the following medals for his bravery and heroism: Presidential Unit Citation with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters, American Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Independence Ribbon, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with one bronze star, Distinguished Unit Badge with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.