World War II Honoree

Basil C. Friend

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dewey County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Corporal. He was a Japanese Prisoner of War for 36 days. Inducted into the United States Army November 4, 1940 Dewey, Oklahoma. Deployed to the Philippine Islands after completing his Basic Combat Infantry Training and served with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment attached to the Philippine Army Division. He participated in the Philippine Islands Campaign (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942), the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Japanese Imperial Forces. Thursday, April 9, 1942 the invaders captured him on the Island of Luzon during the Battle of Bataan, while his unit was in retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. As a prisoner of war, his captors forced him to participate in the Bataan Death March and held captive in the Prisoner of War Camp #4 O’Donnell Tarlac, Luzon, Philippine Islands. On Friday, May 15, 1942, he died of unknown causes and was buried in a Japanese Prisoner of War Cemetery on Luzon. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were moved to the American Cemetery located at Fort Bonifacio in Manila, Philippine Islands. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life for his Country.