World War II Honoree

Elmer L. Hice

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Randolph, West Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Master Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army June 4, 1939 at Huntington, West Virginia. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he attended the Flight Aviation Training Program. Following the completion of this training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. Served as a member of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force, and stationed at Clark Airfield, Luzon Island. Assigned to Headquarters Squadron, Fifth Bombardment Group a subordinate of the V-Bomber Command. 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). Captured on 9 April in the Battle of Bataan, 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 #4 O’Donnell, Luzon Island. He died of unknown causes June 2, 1942, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. Succeeding 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, Philippines. The family of this Airman requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.