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Virgil Sceburn Bunn

PFC Virgil S. Bunn served with Love Company, Third Battalion, 4th Marines.
He was captured at Bataan and died while a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan, Philippine Islands, on 7 August 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 280445

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

July 18, 1918
at Glenmary, TN

Parents

Virgil Clemens Bunn (d. 1921)
Anna G. (Choate) Bunn

Education

Details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Junk peddler

Service Life

Entered Service

January 9, 1940
at Portland, OR

Home Of Record

1312 East 2nd Street
Dayton, OH

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Anna G. Bunn

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

L/3/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Bataan

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

PFC Virgil Bunn 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 Bunn served with Love Company in the defense of the Philippines. After spending several weeks in the defenses of Corregidor, Bunn was transferred for temporary duty with United States Army Forces, Far East (USAFFE) on the Bataan peninsula.

Bunn was among thousands of men captured when Allied forces on Bataan surrendered on 9 April 1942. He marched into captivity, and ultimately wound up at Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija province. Unsanitary living conditions, harsh treatment by guards, and a starvation diet took a toll on the prisoners of war; Bunn contracted dysentery and inanition – a state of physical and mental exhaustion caused by malnutrition. The combined ailments killed him on the morning of 7 August 1942.

The Cabanatuan hospital ledger recorded the date and details of Bunn's death. Philippine Archives Collection.
Burial Information or Disposition

Bunn was buried in Grave 112 of the Cabanatuan cemetery, along with thirteen other prisoners – all members of the United States Army.

NameRankService NumberAgeStatus
Hoskins, Earl C.PFC2084251323Unaccounted
Lawson, John H.Private1303502220Unaccounted
Edwards, Leo H.Corporal693805023Identified
Flecken, Paul L.Sergeant694330322Identified
Muse, Lindsey E.Sergeant625868336Identified
Ingram, Loren R.Private1901468321Unaccounted
Bishop, Shiell R.Private1402744020Identified
Swain, Richard B.PFC2084397821Identified
Bunn, Virgil S.PFC28044524Unaccounted
Farren, Charles T.Private613969434Identified
Rich, Dorrel E.Sergeant1901144027Identified
Hynes, George J.Corporal2084394024Identified
Inman, Herman R.Private1904595619Unaccounted
Bogden, FelixStaff Sergeant608004436Identified

Grave 112 was exhumed in 1946, and the remains sent to Manila for examination. In the years after the war, nine of the fourteen were positively identified. One set of remains – alternately designated Cabanatuan C-1321, Unknown X-1862, and finally X-2667 – was specifically investigated as a match for Virgil Bunn. However, despite an almost perfect dental match, the identification was disapproved on the basis of estimated age.

The unknowns listed above are associated with X files number 2658, 2664, 2665, 2666, and 2667, Manila Mausoleum #2.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Anna G. Bunn.

Location Of Loss

PFC Bunn died at Cabanatuan Camp #1.

Related Profiles

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