World War II Honoree

Jeff W. Morris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Carlsbad, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank - Private 1st Class. A member of the New Mexico Army National Guard, he was inducted into Federal Service January 6, 1941 at Carlsbad, New Mexico. Served with Fox Battery, 200th Coastal Artillery Anti-aircraft Regiment, the Harbor Defense of Manila and Subic Bays, Philippine Islands. He participated in the Philippine Islands Campaign (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942), the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Japan Empire. 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 Japanese Prisoner of War, his captors forced to participate in the Bataan Death March and held captive in the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan Nueva Province Luzon, Philippine Islands for 142 days. On Tuesday, September 29, 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. In his memory at the Bataan Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, his name is engraved on one of the twelve granite columns.