Marksberry

Pfc. Marvin Marksberry was the third son of six sons born to Lilia & James Marksberry. He was born on April 12, 1919, and raised in Grant County, Kentucky. He was the couple's third oldest son.

Like many young men of the day, Marvin only completed a grammar school education. He enlisted in the U. S. Army and was inducted on March 3, 1941 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky

Marvin was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he was assigned to D Company, 192nd Tank Battalion. After training for eight months he participated in maneuvers in Louisiana. In the late summer of 1941, Marvin took part in maneuvers at Camp Polk, Louisiana. After the maneuvers, with the other members of the 192nd, he learned he was being sent overseas.

Traveling west by train, Marvin arrived in San Francisco. From there, he and the other soldiers were ferried to Angel Island. On the island they received inoculations and physicals. They boarded ships and sailed for the Philippine Islands.

Marvin arrived in the Philippines and was sent to Ft. Stotsenburg. The 192nd was housed in tents along the main road between the fort and Clark Airfield. The morning of December 8, 1941, just ten hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the airfield and destroyed the American Army Air Corps.

During the Battle of the Philippines, D Company fought with the 194th Tank Battalion but was never officially transferred to the battalion. The evening of April 8, 1942, Marvin and the other members heard the news of the Filipino and American surrender to the Japanese.

On April 9, 1941, Marvin became a Prisoner of War. He took part in the death march and was held as a POW at Camp O'Donnell. He was also held at Cabanatuan. On July 23, 1943, Marvin was taken to the Port Area of Manila and boarded onto the Clyde Maru for a 15 day trip to Japan. He arrived there at Moji on August 7, 1943.

In Japan, Marvin was held at Fukuoka #3. The POWs in the camp were used as slave labor at the Yawata Steel Mills. Marvin remained in the camp until he was liberated in September 1945.

Marvin returned to Kentucky and later resided in Lexington. He passed away in May 23, 1981. He is buried in Keefer Cemetery in Corinth, Grant County, Kentucky.