World War II Honoree

Robert B. Bence

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Army June 11, 1941 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Following the completion of this training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands Location: Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, and attached to Del Carmen Airfield, Luzon Island. He served with the 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, and Fifth Interceptor Command a subordinate unit of the U. S. Far East Fifth Air Force. 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). While retreating to the Bataan Peninsula, he was captured on 9 April during the ensuing Battle of Bataan. 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. He died of unknown causes July 7, 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 were laid to rest in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery Location: Manila #2 Manila, Philippine Islands. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Mount Union Cemetery Mount Union, Pennsylvania. The family of this Airman 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.