World War II Honoree

Irvin Penvose

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Inducted into the United States Army January 10, 1940 at Los Angeles, California. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Camp John Hay Baguio City, Luzon Island. Served as a Rifleman assigned to Baker Company, First Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment attached to the Philippine Army Division. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippines 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. Captured on 9 April in the Bataan Battle, while retreating to the Bataan Peninsula. As a prisoner, his captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, incarcerated at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. On June 26, 1942 he died of unknown causes, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. Succeeding cessation of hostilities with Japan personnel from a Graves Registration Company disinterred his remains from the camp cemetery, and was laid to rest in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery Location: Manila #2 Manila, Philippine Islands. The family of this Soldier requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.