World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Edward Gorman Free
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private 1st Class. Japanese Prisoner of War for 199 days. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps November 6, 1940 and received is Basic Combat Infantry Training at the Marine Corps Depot, San Diego, California. Served with Delta Company, 1st Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment stationed at Fort Mills located on the Island of Corregidor ‘The Rock’, Philippine Islands. He participated in the Battle of Corregidor (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942) and captured by the Japanese Imperial forces on the second day of the invasion, when his Commander, General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy forces on May 6, 1942. Evacuated by barge to the Manila area and incarcerated in the Old Bilibid Prisoner of War Camp and the Cabanatuan #1 Prisoner of War Camp on Luzon. Boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Nagato Maru, an unmarked transport on November 7, 1942 along with hundreds of other prisoners destined for a Prisoner of War Camp in Moji, Japan. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Saturday, November 21, 1942 and memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing at the American Cemetery at Fort Bonifacio located in Manila, Philippine Islands. Decorations and Citations: Silver Star and Purple Heart. The Silver Star, awarded for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against the Japanese Imperial forces on Corregidor. This Marine, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.