World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William M. Ball
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
San Mateo, California
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Army from California. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands. Served as a member of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force, and stationed at Clark Airfield, Luzon Island. Assigned to the 89th Quartermaster Battalion (Aviation), Fifth Air Base Group a Branch of the V-Bomber 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). Captured on 9 April in the Battle of Bataan, while retreating to the Bataan Peninsula, and subjected to participate in the Bataan Death March. Incarcerated at an unstated Prisoner of War Camp, Luzon Island. On August 20, 1944 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Shinyo Maru, destined for a Prisoner of War camp in Japan. Reported Missing in Action or buried at Sea Thursday, September 7, 1944, when the transport was torpedoed and sunk by the USS Submarine, Paddle off the northwest coast of Mindanao. In remembrance of the Brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the Tablets of the Missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.