World War II Honoree

Donald J. Garrett

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Mosca, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private First Class. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps December 16, 1939 at Denver, Colorado. Following his Basic Military Training at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, California and infantry training at Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California. And with any additional training, he was deployed to the Philippine Islands, and based at Fort Mills Location: Corregidor Island AKA: the Rock. He served with Company India as a Rifleman, Third Battalion and an element of the Fourth Marine Regiment. His unit participated in the Battle of Corregidor against the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces. Wednesday, May 6, 1942 he became a captive, when Corregidor was seized by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces, and transferred to the Prisoner of War Camp #1 Cabanatuan, Luzon Island. Wednesday, October 11, 1944 he boarded the Japanese ‘Hell Ship’ Arisan Maru Destination: Japan via Formosa. Tuesday, October 24, 1944 he was reported “Missing-in-Action” or buried at sea, when the transport was torpedoed, and sunk in the Bashi Channel, South China Sea by a United States 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, Philippines. In His Memory, this American Patriot received the following Decorations posthumously: Silver Star, Purple Heart. The Silver Star was awarded to this Marine for Distinguished Gallantry in Action and Valor in Combat against an enemy force. The Purple Heart was awarded for his Heroism, and ultimate sacrifice. He served his Country with Pride and Honor.