World War II Honoree

John M. Neary

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Crested Butte, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. He was inducted into the United States Army January 11, 1941 at Denver, Colorado. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Camp John Hay in Baguio City, Luzon Island. Served in Headquarters Detachment, Second Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment attached to the Philippine Division. 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). Soldiers of the Thirty-First covered the withdrawal of American and Philippine forces to the Bataan Peninsula in the Battle of Bataan. He was captured 9 April, and subjected to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. On June 16, 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 was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.