World War II Honoree

Earleen Allen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

SHE WAS AN ARMY NURSE ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AND AROUND MANILA, LUZON OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 8, 1941. IN JANUARY 1942 SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO BATAAN AND IN APRIL 1942 TRANSFERRED TO THE ISLAND OF CORREGIDOR. DURING THESE TIMES AND UNDER DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS SHE TREATED HER PATIENTS WHILE UNDER THE CONSTANT ATTACK OF THE JAPANESE. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO EVACUATE HER FROM CORREGIDOR ON APRIL 29, 1942 BY A PBY. THE PBY WAS DAMAGED AND SHE WAS CAPTURED MAY 10, 1942 ON MINDANAO AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP IN MANILA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1942. WHILE HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR IN SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP SHE ADMINISTERED TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED UNDER BARBARIC CONDITIONS INCLUDING LONG HOURS OF WORK AND BARELY ENOUGH FOOD TO SUSTAIN LIFE, WHICH RESULTED IN EXTREME LOSS OF WEIGHT AND VARIOUS ILLNESS AND DISEASES. ON FEBRUARY 3, 1945 SHE WAS LIBERATED FROM SANTO TOMAS INTERNMENT CAMP AND PROMOTED ONE GRADE IN RANK. AWARDED BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH TWO BATTLE STARS, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL WITH ONE BATTLE STAR, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE RIBBON WITH ONE BATTLE STAR, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH ONE BATTLE STAR AND SIX HASH MARKS FOR YEARS OF OVERSEAS MILITARY SERVICE.