Pvt. Robert J. Nank


Born: 1918 - Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Parents: Carl Nank & Bertha Wenzel-Nank

Siblings: 2 brothers, 3 sisters

    - grew up at 1426 East 116th Street - Cleveland, Ohio 

Home: 648 East 82nd Street - Cleveland, Ohio

    - living with sister and brother-in-law - 1940 

Occupation: automobile manufacturing

Inducted: 

    - U. S. Army 

        - 27 March 1941 - Cleveland

Training: 

    - Fort Knox, Kentucky

    - Camp Polk, Louisiana

Overseas Duty: 

    - Philippine Islands

Engagements: 

    - Battle of Luzon

        - 8 December 1941 - 6 January 1942

    - Battle of Bataan

        - 7 January 1942 - 9 April 1942 

POW:

    - 9 April 1942

Guerilla:

     - escaped into jungle

     - it is not known if he escaped at the surrender or while on a work detail from Camp

        O'Donnell

Captured: 

     - June 1944

         - taken to Santo Thomas

             - a woman and old man were dropped off there

         - Robert, 1st Sgt. James Beebee, and Sgt. Edgar Stevens taken to Fort Santiago

POW Camp:

    - Fort Santiago

        - POWs tortured for information

    - Bilibid Prison

        - put on trial

        - found guilty

    - Far East University

        - POWs were drained of as much blood as possible

        - POWs taken to the Chinese Cemetery

            - shot or beheaded

Executed by Japanese: 

    - 17 July 1944 - Chinese Cemetery - Manila, Philippine Islands

Memorial:

    - Tablets of the Missing - American Military Cemetery - Manila, Philippine Islands

Declared Dead: 1 February 1946


 

 

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