Hullihan

T/4 William Patrick Hullihan was born on April 2, 1916, to John A. Hullihan and Mary A. Gately-Hullihan in Cicero, Illinois. He was one of eight children born to the couple.

William was raised at 603 South 8th Avenue in Maywood, Illinois, and attended St. James Catholic School and Proviso Township High School. He graduated from Proviso Township High School as a member of the Class of 1934. After high school, he attended the University of Illinois for one year before being employed in the family's business.

In 1940, William, or "Bill" as he was known by his friends, joined the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Tank Company in Maywood just before it was called to federal duty. He was inducted into federal service in November of 1940 and went through training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In January, 1941, he was reassigned to the Headquarters Company of the 192nd Tank Battalion.

In the late summer of 1941, Bill took part in the Louisiana maneuvers of 1941. With the rest of the Battalion, he was sent to the Philippine Islands arriving two weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Bill lived through the Japanese attack on Clark Field and fought the Japanese after they invaded the Philippines. During the Battle for the Philippines, his parents heard from him once in a telegram at Christmas time and once in a letter that they received on April 3, 1942. It said he was "doing well" and was dated January 16th.

When the Filipino and American Forces on Bataan were surrendered to the Japanese, Bill became a Prisoner of War. He took part in the death march experiencing and witnessing the brutality shown to the prisoners by their Japanese captives. He was finally interred as a POW at Camp O'Donnell. He was later transferred to Cabanatuan POW Camp #1 when the new camp opened.

It was at Cabanatuan that Tec 4 William P. Hullihan died of dysentery and malaria on June 25, 1942, at the age of 26. He was posthumously awarded the good conduct medal and the Purple Heart.

After the war, the family of Tec 4 William P. Hullihan requested that his remains be returned to Illinois. He was reburied at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, on October 19, 1948.