World War II Honoree

Francis Cronin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. On October 9, 1940, he entered the United States Army at Boston, Massachusetts. Deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, where he experienced combat in the Philippine Islands Campaign. Served with the 330th Signal Company, Aviation Signal Corps, attached to the Far East Fifth Air Force stationed at Nichols Field on the Island of Luzon. Assigned to a Provisional Infantry Company, he participated in the Battle of Bataan (Battle Dates: January 7-April 9, 1942) the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces. On April 9, 1942, the Japanese captured him on Luzon while his unit was in retreat to the Bataan Peninsula, and subjected to participate in the Bataan Death March. On Sunday, October 11, 1942, he died of unknown causes during his captivity of 6 months at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan Nueva Province, Luzon. He and three other prisoners were buried in a common grave in the United States Armed Forces Temporary Cemetery, Manila #2 Philippine Islands. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the four prisoners were reinterred February 16, 1950 in a group burial at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. This Airman, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his live for his country.