World War II Honoree

Calvin E. Whitley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Curry, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. Inducted into the United States Army March 25, 1941 at Santa Fe, New Mexico, with recruit and combat training at Fort Bliss, Texas. Following infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Fort Stotsenburg, Luzon Island. He served as a member of Alpha Battery a subordinate unit of the 200th Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment, the Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bays. 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. Reported missing in action or buried at sea June 3, 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.