World War II Honoree

Robert I. Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Technician 4th Class. Deployed to the Philippine Islands, Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations where he served with Able Company, 194th Tank Battalion attached to the Provisional Tank Group. His unit 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. The Japanese captured him April 9, 1942 on Luzon while retreating to the Bataan Peninsula in the Battle of Bataan. His captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March and held captive at the Prisoner of War Camp #4 O’Donnell Tarlac, Luzon. Friday, May 1, 1942 he died of unknown causes on the 22nd day of his incarceration and buried in the Prisoner of War Cemetery at Camp O’Donnell. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his remains were transferred to the American Cemetery at Fort Bonifacio in Manila, Philippine Islands. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life in defense of his country.