World War II Honoree

James L. Aaron

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Knoxville, Tennessee

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Army February 13, 1941 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. Following his infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Camp John Hay in Baguio City, Luzon Island. Served as a Rifleman and assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment attached to the Philippine Army Division. 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). 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. Reported missing in action or buried at sea July 16, 1942. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. The Bronze Star awarded for Bravery, Act of Merit and Meritorious Service, and the Purple Heart for his ultimate sacrifice.