World War II Honoree

Martin Eisenman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Wilmington, New Jersey

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army Air Corps August 8, 1940 with induction at Wilmington, New Jersey. After completing the required phases of his training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands. His unit was based at Nichols Airfield, Luzon Island Location: Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. He served as a Mechanic, assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, V-Interceptor Command, an element of the U.S. Far East Fifth Air Force. Stationed at: Nichols Airfield, Luzon Island. His unit participated in the Battle of the Philippines, the conquest of the Philippine Islands by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. While retreating to the Bataan Peninsula, he was captured Thursday, April 9, 1942 during the ensuing Bataan Battle. The enemy subjected him to participate in the Bataan Death March, and detained at an unstated Prisoner of War Camp. Sunday, August 20, 1944 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Shinyo Maru Destination: Japan via Formosa. Reported Missing in Action or buried at sea Thursday, September 7, 1944, when the transport was torpedoed and sunk by the USS Submarine Paddle (SS-263), off the northwest coast of Mindanao Island. 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. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial as been placed at the Jewish Community Cemetery in Wilmington, New Jersey. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.