Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Eaton
Chandler
POW (WWII)
1908-10-28

–

2005-10-07

Born:

, 

Vermont

Home:

, 

New York

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

William Chandler graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1931. He was captured during the fall of the Philippine Islands in 1942, and held by the Japanese as a Prisoner of War. He survived the sinking of the Oryoku Maru “Hell Ship” on December 15, 1944, and was subsequently transferred to the Enoura Maru, surviving when it was bombed in Formosa on January 9, 1945, killing many of his fellow POWs. He finally reached Japan on January 29, 1945, where he was interned until the end of the war. He retired in 1961 as a U.S. Army Colonel.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands & Japan)

    Action Date:

    1942 – 1945

    Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) William Eaton Chandler (ASN: 0-18431), United States Army, was captured by the Japanese after the fall the Philippine Islands in 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until his return to U.S. Military control at the end of hostilities in August 1945.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry)

    Regiment:

    26th Cavalry Regiment (PS)

    Action Date:

    1942
    Volume 4: PC1, General Orders No. 6 (1942)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) William Eaton Chandler (ASN: 0-18431), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), during the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Chandler, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry)

    Regiment:

    26th Cavalry Regiment (PS)

    Action Date:

    1942
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel (Cavalry) William Eaton Chandler (ASN: 0-18431), United States Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States with the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), in the Philippine Islands, in 1942.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Colonel (Cavalry)

    Action Date:

    1956 – 1961
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Cavalry) William Eaton Chandler (ASN: 0-18431), United States Army, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 1956 to 1961.