CPL Harold Whitmer
biography
Whitmer served in the Army and fought at Corregidor when World War II began. When Corregidor and the Philippines fell on May 6th, 1942, he was in the Bataan Death March. Surviving that, he spent over three and a half years in a Japanese prison camp in Manchuria. In August of 1945, with the surrender of Japan, he returned home and moved from his hometown of Chicago to become an ophthalmologist in Pontiac for many years.
Decorations
Badges-left Breast: Combat Infantryman Badge
Right Breast: World War II Honorable Discharge Badge
Medals-Left Breast, Top Row (L-R): Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart
Middle Row (L-R): Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row (L-R): Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Defense Medal
Right Breast (L-R): Army Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Patches: Philippine Department Patch
Stripes: Overseas Service Bars (7), Service Stripe (1)
