World War II Honoree

Warren Anderson Montgomery

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Mesa, Arizona

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps August 4, 1939 at San Francisco, California, with recruit training assigned to the Sixth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California for combat training. Following the completion of infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. Assigned to Dog Company, First Battalion and Fourth Marine Regiment. 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 an unstated Prisoner of War Camp, Luzon Island. On August 12, 1942 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Nagato Maru moored in the Manila Harbor destination; Japan via Formosa. The transport arrived in the harbor of Moji, Japan on November 24, 1942, incarcerated at the Osaka Prisoner of War Camp Chikko Osaka. He died of unknown causes December 28, 1942, with burial in the camp cemetery. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the family of this Marine, received his remains for burial, laid to rest at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery Location: El Paso, Texas on November 8, 1948 with Military Honors. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.