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.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 280445
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.
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.
| Name | Rank | Service Number | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoskins, Earl C. | PFC | 20842513 | 23 | Unaccounted |
| Lawson, John H. | Private | 13035022 | 20 | Unaccounted |
| Edwards, Leo H. | Corporal | 6938050 | 23 | Identified |
| Flecken, Paul L. | Sergeant | 6943303 | 22 | Identified |
| Muse, Lindsey E. | Sergeant | 6258683 | 36 | Identified |
| Ingram, Loren R. | Private | 19014683 | 21 | Unaccounted |
| Bishop, Shiell R. | Private | 14027440 | 20 | Identified |
| Swain, Richard B. | PFC | 20843978 | 21 | Identified |
| Bunn, Virgil S. | PFC | 280445 | 24 | Unaccounted |
| Farren, Charles T. | Private | 6139694 | 34 | Identified |
| Rich, Dorrel E. | Sergeant | 19011440 | 27 | Identified |
| Hynes, George J. | Corporal | 20843940 | 24 | Identified |
| Inman, Herman R. | Private | 19045956 | 19 | Unaccounted |
| Bogden, Felix | Staff Sergeant | 6080044 | 36 | Identified |
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.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Anna G. Bunn.
Location Of Loss
PFC Bunn died at Cabanatuan Camp #1.
