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Mason Frank Chronister

First Lieutenant Mason F. Chronister served with Baker Company, First Battalion, 4th Marines.
He was captured at Corregidor and died while a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan Camp #3, 17 June 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number O-6617

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

December 31, 1917
at Baltimore, MD

Parents

Franklin Young
Christiana “Anna” (Ripper) Young
later Mrs. Anna Chronister

Education

Baltimore City College (1936)
University of Maryland College Park (1940)

Occupation & Employer

Commissioned from college

* Born as Mason Frank Young; name changed to Chronister before 1930.

Service Life

Entered Service

July 20, 1940 (officer)

Home Of Record

1212 North Montford Avenue
Baltimore, MD

Next Of Kin

Mother, Mrs. Anna Chronister

Military Specialty

Platoon leader

Primary Unit

B/1/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Corregidor

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart
Prisoner of War Medal

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss
Mason F. Chronister, a well-known collegiate track star, served as a platoon leader with Company B, 4th Marines in the defense of the Philippine Islands and the siege of Corregidor. He was captured on 6 May 1942 and held as a POW at 92nd Garage before being shipped to “Camp #3” outside the barrio of Cabanatuan. There, hundreds of prisoners adapted to a life of imprisonment: little food, random punishments, and heavy labor. Chronister was assigned as the ranking officer of a lumber detail.
 
On 16 June 1942, Chronister’s group was riding through the town of Cabanatuan aboard a Japanese military truck. Gunfire rang out, and bullets punched through the sides of the vehicle. Filipino guerillas had sprung an ambush, thinking the truck carried Japanese supplies or more soldiers. Unfortunately, the attack wounded four prisoners – including Mason Chronister. He was taken to the Cabanatuan hospital, but died of his wounds the following day.
 
While wartime newspapers reported that Chronister was beaten to death by sadistic camp guards, prisoner records recovered after the liberation of Cabanatuan told the story of the ambush and provided the 17 June 1942 date of death. Chronister was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.
Philippine Archives Collection.
Burial Information or Disposition

Primary sources offer differing accounts of Chronister’s burial; he may have been buried in the main Cabanatuan camp cemetery, on the Cabanatuan hospital grounds, or somewhere within the barrio itself. The DPAA writes that Chronister was “buried across a creek from the Cabanatuan city dump in a grave reportedly marked by a cross.”

The location was never found after the war, and Chronister’s remains have not been accounted for.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of mother, Mrs. Anna Chronister.

Location Of Loss

Chronister died and was reportedly buried at a hospital in Cabanatuan.

Related Profiles

Non-recovered 4th Marines held at Cabanatuan Camp #3
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