World War II Honoree

John R. Wilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Technical Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army January 13, 1939 with induction at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designate to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. Deployed to the Philippine Islands Location: Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, and based at Del Carmen Airfield, Luzon Island. He served with the 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, V-Interceptor Command, an element of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force. 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 Bataan Battle. As a prisoner, his captors subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, detained at the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. He died of unknown causes Wednesday, July 22, 1942, with burial in the Prisoner Cemetery. Succeeding hostilities with Japan, personnel from a Graves Registration Company disinterred his remains from the camp cemetery, and were laid to rest in the United States Armed Forces Cemetery Location: Manila #2 Manila, Philippine Islands. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Manila American Cemetery Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.