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Harold Cyril Thomure

Corporal Harold C. Thomure served with King Company, Third Battalion, 4th Marines.
He was captured at Corregidor and died while a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan, Philippine Islands, on 15 September 1942.

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

Branch

Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 294979

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

November 14, 1915
at Bonne Terre, MO

Parents

Augustus Edward Thomure, Sr.
Susan Marie (Gidley) Thomure

Education

Bonne Terre High School

Occupation & Employer

Foundry Labor
Valley Dolomite Corporation

Service Life

Entered Service

September 13, 1940
at St. Louis, MO

Home Of Record

17 Mill Street
Bonne Terre, MO

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. Augustus Thomure

Military Specialty

Primary Unit

K/3/4th Marines

Campaigns Served

Philippine Islands / Corregidor

Individual Decorations

Prisoner of War Medal

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Harold Thomure 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; Thomure served with King Company in the defense of the Philippines and the siege of Corregidor during the spring of 1942. He began the war as a private first class, and received a field promotion to corporal during the campaign.

Thomure 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. Thomure, who contracted dysentery while still on Corregidor, found no relief for his ailment. He grew weaker over the summer months, and finally died early in the morning of 15 September 1942.

The Cabanatuan hospital ledger made an entry for Corporal Thomure. Philippine Archives Collection.
Burial Information or Disposition

Thomure was buried in Grave 426 of the Cabanatuan cemetery, along with twelve other prisoners – all members of the United States Army.

NameRankService NumberAgeStatus
Hecker, John F.PFC684060132Identified
King, Ronald J.Sergeant2064526322Identified
Merrill, Barton G.Private1101434224Identified
McLaughlin, Jack H.Private1901360819Unaccounted
Zam, JosephCorporal2050075320Identified
Williams, David A.T/41403946727Identified
Gloria, AndresPrivate1030065524Unaccounted
Chester, James W.PFC1902408121Unaccounted
Thomure, Harold C.Corporal29497926Unaccounted
McCrea, Joseph F.PFC2064526922Identified
Pickens, James V.PFC2084273222Identified
Yacob, GeorgePrivate3907662331Unaccounted
Stoltz, William H.First LieutenantO-39428224Identified

Grave 426 was exhumed in 1946, and the remains sent to Manila for examination. Interestingly, instead of the thirteen bodies reported by prison records, Graves Registration noted only twelve at their laboratory.

In the years that followed, eight of the thirteen men on the original burial record were positively identified. The rest – including Corporal Thomure – are almost certainly buried as unknowns in the Manila American Cemetery.

The unknowns listed above are associated with X-2494 and X-2495, Manila Mausoleum #2.
X-2490 through 2493 may also be related to Grave 426.

Next Of Kin Address

Address of father, Mr. August Thomure.

Location Of Loss

Corporal Thomure died at Cabanatuan Camp #1.

Related Profiles

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