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Frederick Franklin Bair, Jr.

Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Bair served as a corpsman with Headquarters Company, 4th Marines.
He was killed in action at Corregidor on 6 May 1942.

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

Branch

US Navy Regular
Service Number 385 93 98

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

Current Status

Remains not recovered.

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

February 1, 1918
at Caney, KS

Parents

Frederick Franklin Bair, Sr.
Rosa Avis (Williams) Bair

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Bonneville Power Administration

Service Life

Entered Service

December 7, 1940
at Seattle, WA

Home Of Record

106 Laurel Avenue
Raymond, WA

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Rosa Bayer

Military Specialty

Hospital Corpsman

Primary Unit

HQ/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Corregidor

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Pharmacist’s Mate Fred Bair served as a junior hospital corpsman attached to the 4th Marines during the campaign for the Philippine Islands. He was attached to the regiment’s First Battalion for part of his service, and during the siege of Corregidor was stationed with the units defending Monkey Point.

On the night of 5 May 1942, Japanese troops staged an amphibious assault on Corregidor. The garrison put up a determined defense, but were simply overwhelmed and finally capitulated at 1200 hours on 6 May. Casualties on both sides were heavy; among the dead was Pharmacist’s Mate Bair. No specifics of his final moments are currently known.

Burial Information or Disposition

After the battle, Bair’s body was spotted lying beside a lumber pile near a water tower at Monkey Point. Multiple witnesses submitted affidavits confirming the fact, which served to confirm Bair’s death in action. However, it is not known where – or whether – the remains were actually buried.

One of the witness statements, taken at Cabanatuan POW Camp in 1943. Philippine Archive Collection.

Next Of Kin Address

Home address of mother, Mrs. Rosa Bair.
Today, the location is occupied by The Barge Restaurant.

Location Of Loss

Bair was last seen on Monkey Point, Corregidor.

Related Profiles

Members of the 4th Marines lost at Corregidor, 6 May 1942.
Headquarters and Service Companies
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