World War II Honoree

Paul E. Moser, III

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jeffersonville, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Technician 5th Class. Japanese Prisoner of War for 31½ months. Inducted into the United States Army March 29, 1941 in Louisville, Kentucky. Served in the Southwest Pacific Theater and experienced combat assigned to a Medical Detachment, 192nd Tank Battalion attached to the Provisional Tank Group. He participated in the Philippine Campaign (Battle Dates: December 8, 1942-May 6, 1942), the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Japan Empire. On Thursday, April 9, 1942, the invaders in the Battle of Bataan on the island of Luzon captured him, while his unit was in retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. Forced to participate in the Bataan Death March and incarcerated at a Civilian Prisoner of War Camp in the Manila area. Boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Arisan Maru, an unmarked transport October 11, 1944 along with hundreds of other prisoners destined for a Prisoner of War Camp in Japan. Reported Missing in Action, Lost at Sea when a United States Submarine torpedoed and sunk the transport Tuesday, October 24, 1944. In his memory, he is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing at the American Cemetery and Memorial at Fort Bonifacio located in Manila, Philippine Islands. Decoration and Citation: Purple Heart. This Soldier, an American Patriot, awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.