Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Horace
John
Greeley
POW (WWII) KIA
February 10, 1914

–

January 31, 1945

Born:

Fort Leavenworth

, 

Kansas

Home:

Queens

, 

New York

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Horace Greeley graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1937. Captured after the fall of the Philippine Islands in 1942, he was a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. He survived the sinking of the unmarked Japanese “Hell Ship” Oryoku Maru transporting him to Japan in 1944, and the bombing of the “Hell Ship” Enoura Maru, only to die in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp in January 1945.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)

    Action Date:

    1942 – Died in Captivity

    Major (Air Corps) Horace John Greeley (ASN: 0-20749), 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 death in captivity on or about 31 January 1945.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron

    Regiment:

    24th Pursuit Group

    Division:

    Far East Air Forces

    Action Date:

    World War II
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Air Corps) Horace John Greeley (ASN: 0-20749), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, V Interceptor Command, Far East Air Force, in action against the enemy in the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. Fighting as an Infantryman after all airplanes and equipment were destroyed or gone, Major Greeley led a ground attack against Japanese landing parties on Bataan’s west coast, and successfully prevented the enemy from making a landing. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Greeley, 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.