World War II Honoree

Huey Astas Biggers

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Atlanta, Georgia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 15, 1940 at Los Angeles, California, completing basic training with the Fourth Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. Following 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 Fox Company, Second Battalion, a subordinate unit of the 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 #4 O’Donnell, Luzon Island. Wednesday, October 11, 1944 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Arisan Maru, destined for Japan. Reported Missing in Action or buried at sea Tuesday, October 24, 1944 when the transport was torpedoed, and sunk in the Bashi Channel, South China Sea 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 Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.