World War II Honoree

Samuel Wesley Freeny

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Annapolis, Maryland

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel. A United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer, who served in the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. His Commander appointed him as the Executive Officer of his regiment, assigned to Headquarters Company, First Battalion and Fourth Marines. His unit participated in the Battle of Corregidor against the Imperial Japanese forces (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). Captured on the second day of the invasion, when his Commander General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy. As a prisoner, he was transferred to the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. On December 23, 1944 he died of an unknown cause, with burial in a 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 Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. The family of this Marine received his remains for burial, laid to rest at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery Location: Annapolis, Maryland. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart with a Gold Star posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.