World War II Honoree

Wilfred R. Willis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Beallsville, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank Technician 5th Grade. On January 9, 1941, he entered the United States Army at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio, later deployed to the Philippine Islands, Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations where he served with Charlie Company, 192nd Tank Battalion an element of the Provisional Tank Group. He participated in the Philippine Islands Campaign (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942), the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval forces. While his unit was retreating to the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon in the Battle of Bataan, the Japanese captured him April 9, 1942. His captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March and incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #4 O’Donnell Nueva Province, Central Luzon Philippine Islands for 23 days. On May 2, 1942, he died of unknown causes and buried in the O’Donnell Prisoner of War Cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were returned to his family for burial, with interment at the Beallsville Cemetery in Beallsville, Ohio. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life in the defense of his country.