World War II Honoree

Joe M. Williams

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Luna, New Mexico

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. A member of the New Mexico Army National Guard, who was inducted into Federal Service, January 6, 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 Headquarters 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, detained at the Prisoner of War Camp #10 Batanges, Luzon Island. On October 11, 1944 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Arisan Maru, destined for Japan. Reported Missing in Action or buried at sea October 24, 1944 when the transport was torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. Submarine. 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 was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.