World War II Honoree

Earl Kenneth Akers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Eastport, Maine

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Army August 1, 1939 at Portland, Maine. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. Following the completion of his aircraft schooling, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Iba Airfield on Luzon Island. Served as a member of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force, assigned to the Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group a Branch of the V-Interceptor Command. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Army and Naval Forces (Battle Dates: December 8, 1941-May 6, 1942). He was captured on 9 April in the Battle of Bataan, while retreating to the Bataan Peninsula. As a prisoner, he was subjected to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #4 O’Donnell on Luzon. On May 7, 1942 he died of unknown causes, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, personnel from an American Graves Registration Company disinterred his remains from the camp cemetery, and were laid to rest in the Manila American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Silver Star and the Purple Heart. Silver Star was awarded for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in the face of the enemy, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.