Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Kenneth
F.
Lathrop
POW (WWII) KIA
1917

–

August 11, 1942

Born:

, 

Washington

Home:

Lincoln County

, 

Oregon

Buried: 

Manila

, 

Philippine Islands

Cemetery:

A.B.M.C. Manila

On 11 August 1942, Kenneth Lathrop was one of the 60,000 Prisoners of War being held at Camp O’Donnell, a former Philippine Army camp designed to accommodate 10,000 men. There was little running water, sparse food, no medical care, and only slit trenches for sanitation. The heat was intolerable, flies rose out of the latrines and covered the prisoner’s food, and malaria, dysentery, beriberi and a host of other diseases swept through the crowds of men. They began to die at the rate of four hundred per day and Sergeant Lathrop died on this day.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Sergeant

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    31st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    Philippine Division

    Action Date:

    April 5, 1942
    Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 256 (October 14, 1945)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Kenneth F. Lathrop (ASN: 6555289), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Division, in action against enemy forces on the Bataan Peninsula, Philippine Islands, on 5 April 1942. Sergeant Lathrop’s extraordinary heroism, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.