World War II Honoree

Eugene Richard Barnes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Salinas, California

Honored By

Nancy Phillips

Relationship

Great Niece

He was a member of C Company, 194th Tank Battalion. In September 1941, his tank battalion was sent to the Philippine Islands. On December 8, 1941, just ten hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked, he lived through the Japanese attack on Clark Airfield. From December 1941 until April 9, 1942, he fought to slow the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Japanese. On April 9, he became a Prisoner of War when Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese. He took part in the Death March and was held as a Prisoner of War at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan, and Bilibid Prison. He was sent to Japan on a 'hell ship' and held at Fukuoka #4. He was liberated in September 1945 and returned to Salinas, California.