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Walter Pat Andersen

PFC Walter P. “Wallie” Andersen served with Mike Company, Third Battalion, 4th Marines.
He was captured at Corregidor and died while a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan, Philippine Islands, on 1 October 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 273370

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains not recovered.

Pursuit Category

This case is under Active Pursuit by the DPAA.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

June 22, 1921
at Condon, OR

Parents

Harry Peter Andersen
Erma H. (Thurston) Andersen
later Erma Bate

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Details unknown

Service Life

Entered Service

August 1, 1939
at Portland, OR

Home Of Record

3324 North Minnesota
Portland, OR

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Erma Bate

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

M/3/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Corregidor

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Walter Andersen was stationed at Cavite, Philippine Islands, when the United States entered World War II. His unit was re-designated as the Third Battalion, 4th Marines, and Andersen served with Mike Company during in the defense of the Philippines and the siege of Corregidor in the spring of 1942. “Wallie” was wounded on 25 March 1942 during a Japanese bombing attack on Fort Mills; while the exact nature and severity of his injuries are not known (different sources say Andersen was “slightly” or “seriously” wounded), they were enough to hospitalize him for a brief period, and earned him a Purple Heart.

PFC Andersen was captured in the fall of Corregidor on 6 May 1942, and held as a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan Camp #1, Nueva Ecija province. Unsanitary living conditions, harsh treatment by guards, and a starvation diet took a rapid toll on the prisoners of war. Wallie was unfortunate; he contracted diphtheria, and reported to the Cabanatuan camp hospital on 20 September for treatment. While there, he was also diagnosed with an inoperable brain abscess. There was little the doctors could do, and Andersen died in the early morning hours of 1 October 1942.

Cabanatuan hospital ledger recording the deaths of three POWs, including Andersen. Philippine Archive Collection.
Burial Information or Disposition

Andersen was buried in Grave 502 of the Cabanatuan cemetery, along with six other prisoners – all members of the United States Army.

NameRankService NumberAgeStatus
Sapp, James A.Private2093718620Unaccounted
Watson, DonSergeant3801193327Identified
Bryant, Francis E.Private629008927Unaccounted
Andersen, Walter P.PFC27337021Unaccounted
Fuller, Harold A.Master Sergeant1901634430Identified
Golinski, Leo J.Sergeant690606025Identified
Arnone, ArthurPrivate3306187224Identified

Grave 502 was exhumed in 1946, and the remains sent to Manila for examination. Four of the seven men – Arnone, Fuller, Golinski, and Watson – were quickly identified. Attempts to account for Andersen, Bryant, and Sapp were all rejected; today, these three are buried in Manila as unknowns.

The unknowns listed above are associated with X-4132, 4133, and 4134, Manila Mausoleum #2.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Erma Bate.
Andersen’s alternate next of kin was “Miss I. Andersen” of 825 Jones Street, San Francisco, California. Eliza Christina Andersen – his aunt – lived here.

Location Of Loss

PFC Andersen died at Cabanatuan Camp #1.

Gallery

Related Profiles

Members of the 4th Marines non-recovered from Cabanatuan Camp #1.
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