|
1st Sgt. Arthur G. Kendall
was born on March 16, 1900 in Franklin, Kentucky. He joined the Army when he
was 20 year old and eventually found himself in the Philippines a few years
before 194l. He served in the 60th Coast Artillery, Battery C
(part of which became Battery G) and was stationed in
Corregidor, until its fall on April 9, 1942. The Japanese Government,
through the Red Cross, reported him a prisoner of war on January 17, 1943.
The Japanese brought the American soldiers to Bilibid Prison in Manila for
"processing." From here, the Japanese decided where the
soldiers would be sent. My father was sent to Cabanatuan Prison Camp #1,
Barracks #8, (Group 1.)
My father stayed at this prison camp until October, 1944 when orders came for
him to be sent to Japan on the Arisan Maru. "A shipment of 1782
POWs were loaded on the Arisan Maru at Manila on October 11, 1944; that having
once left port, the vessel returned to Manila on October 20, 1944; that it
finally left Manila on October 21, 1944." Because the Japanese did not
mark their ships as carrying POWs, US submarines torpedoed the Arisan Maru
which sunk in the Bashi Straits, South China Sea. All of 1782 POWs
except 9 perished.. My father was one of them.
Because my father is considered "buried at sea," his name is
memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the
Philippines.
A Silver Star was awarded my father "For gallantry in action on
Corregidor, Philippines on April 29, 1942. During a heavy enemy bombing
attack, several hits were made on two ammunition dumps on a nearby battery
position, burying
several men alive. Exploding ammunition seriously threatened the rescue
of entombed men, but with complete disregard for his own.....voluntarily
assisted in scattering the burning ammunition and extinguishing the fire.
By his outstanding courage and resourcefulness in the face of grave
danger,.......at great risk to himself made possible the rescue of several
men, saved the valuable government property, and prevented possible damage to
nearby aircraft material."
He is also the recipient of a Purple Heart.
At an ADBC Reunion in Albuquerque, NM in 2003, my son and I met four men who
worked with my father. They remember him as a leader, a fair man, well
respected by the men who worked under him. He gave his ultimate
sacrifice.
We will always miss him
and remember him as a great soul.
****************************************
vkcopp@gis.net
|
