World War II Honoree

John C. Bingham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps from Virginia. Following his 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 Squad Leader with Echo 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 #1 Cabanatuan, 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.