World War II Honoree

Kenneth E. Fleming

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Fresno, California

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Pharmacist’s Mate First Class. He served in the United States Navy in the Philippine Islands as a Medical Corpsman, assigned to the Canacao Hospital. His unit was based at the U.S. Naval Station, Sangley Point Location: Cavite City, Luzon Island. Evacuated to the Island of Corregidor AKA: the Rock, linking up with the Fourth Marine Regiment, after the Imperial Japanese Forces had invaded the Philippines Friday, January 2, 1942. When his Commander, General Wainwright capitulated to the enemy, he was captured on the second day of the invasion during his units’ participation in the Battle of Corregidor (Battle Dates: May 5-6, 1942). As a prisoner, he was detained at the Prisoner of War Camp #3 Old Bilibid Rizal Manila, 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.