World War II Honoree

Lawrence K. Hanscom

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Augusta, Maine

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. He was inducted into the United States Army April 1, 1940 at Portland, Maine. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Camp John Hay in Baguio City, Luzon Island. Served in Easy Company, 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 in the Battle of Bataan covered the withdrawal of American and Philippine forces to the Bataan Peninsula. 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 November 19, 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. The family of this Soldier received his remains for burial. He was laid to rest with Military Honors October 23, 2019 at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star was awarded for Heroic and Meritorious Achievement, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.