Allison

Pfc. Elkoney A. Allison was the son of David & Etta Allison. He was born on November 11, 1916, in Baxter, Tennessee. He was one of the couple's three children. As a young man, Elkoney joined the Tennessee National Guard and was assigned to a cavalry unit.

Elkoney was most likely became a member of the B Company, 192nd Tank Battalion after the maneuvers of 1941. At the time, the battalion was preparing for duty in the Philippine Islands and was looking for soldiers to fill vacancies created when soldiers 29 years and older were released from federal service.

While a POW, Elkoney was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was also sent out on a work detail to rebuild bridges that had been destroyed by the Americans as they retreated into the Bataan Peninsula. The detail was under the command of Col Ted Wickord the commanding officer of the 192nd. Elkoney remained on this detail until he became ill. He was then returned to Cabanatuan.

According to Elkoney's cross, he died on June 21, 1943. But, the official report on the battalion written by 1st Lt. Jack Merrifield puts his date of death on January 29, 1943 from beriberi at Cabanatuan Camp #1.

Pfc. Elkoney A. Allison now rests in the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila.