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.
Branch
US Navy Regular
Service Number 385 93 98
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.
Memorials
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.
![Detail of Corregidor's "Tailside." Note arrows indicating the direction of Japanese attack, and "defence [sic] position taken after landing." Philippine Archives Collection.](https://i0.wp.com/missingmarines.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/corregidor_map_monkey_point_detail.jpg?fit=1522%2C900&ssl=1){kind=link}
