World War II Honoree

George W. Baldwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

La Junta, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 8, 1940 at Denver, Colorado, with recruit training assigned to the Ninth Recruit Battalion Training Regiment; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. Following basic and advanced infantry training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. Served as a Rifleman with Mike Company, Third Battalion and Fourth Marine Regiment. His unit participated in the Battle of Corregidor against the Imperial Japanese forces (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). When his Commander, General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy, he was captured on the second day of the invasion. As a prisoner, he was 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.