Herbert R. Owens
Service #: 6564662
Rank: Technician Fourth Grade U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: Air Corps
Entered Service From: Colorado
Date of Death: 01 August 1942, from dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Awards: Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of ? Owens (? Illinois - bet 1931-1934 South Dakota) and Georgia S. Owens Reese (abt 1892 Massachusetts - aft 1950).
The family moved to South Dakota in about 1931. His father was killed about 1934.
Herbert Owens (17 New York) is found in the 1935 South Dakota State Census (1935) for Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota (Card 118) along with his mother, Georgia Reese (43 Massachusetts) (Card 117) and her husband Geo. Reese (43 Michigan, blacksmith) (Card 116). The family was affiliated with the Methodist Church. Herbert and his mother had lived in South Dakota for four years. Georgia had remarried in 1934.
1934-1935 School Census: Wasta Independent School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (17, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1936 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (18, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1937 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (19, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1938 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (20, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
BUT Herbert R. Owens had enlisted in the service in October 1936 and was in California and Colorado from October 1936 thru October 1939. So how could he have been in school??? I think somebody was padding enrollment numbers ....hmmm.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 17 October 1936 to 22 June 1938.
Detachment Medical Department, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, California
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Joined from Fort MacArthur, California on 17 October 1936. He was transferred to Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado on 22 June 1939.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 20 July 1938 to 14 October 1939.
Detachment Medical Department, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Transferred from MD, Letterman GH, San Francisco, California, DS enroute to join with 30 days delay since 23 June. Joined 20 July 1938. He was given a furlough from 03-09 January 1939. He was given a 20 day furlough starting 21 April 1939 thru 11 May 1939. He was honorably discharged (ETS) on 14 October 1939.
Herbert R. Owens re-enlisted as a Private (ASN: 6564662) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 10 November 1939.
He was sent to the Philippine Islands. On 08 December 1941 Japan attacked the Philippines. PFC Owens became a prisoner of war when the Philippine Islands fell in April/May 1942. He was taken to the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, approximately 8 kilometers northeast of the town by the same name.
Corporal Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662), age 24, Air Corps, died at 12:15 p.m. on 01 August 1942, of dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in Barracks 28, Hospital Area. His death was recorded on a condensed milk can label. Home address: Wasta, South Dakota; Next of kin: Mrs. G. Owens, mother. Herbert had no belongings. He was one of 19 men to die that day, the 1299th prisoner to die in the camp since in opened in June. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. 90% of the POW deaths in Cabanatuan were men who were captured on Bataan. He was buried in a communal grave No. 211 in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs who died that day.
Announce Names Of Jap Prisoners
Washington, July 1 – (AP) – The war department made public the names of 789 United States soldiers who are held as prisoners of war by Japan. The list is based upon prior notification sent to the next of kin. Today's list includes: U.S. Army personnel interned by Japan: ... Pfc. Herbert R. Owens – Mrs, Georgia Reese, mother, Owanka... Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 01 July 1943, page 2.
Sadly Corporal Herbert R. Owens was already dead by then.
War Department Is Unable To Locate Soldier's Next Of Kin
Washington, October 7 – (AP) – The war department said today it has been unable to locate the next of kin of Pfc. Herbert R. Owens, held prisoner of war by the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands.
Pfc. Owens had listed his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese, Owanka, South Dakota, as beneficiary and emergency addressee.
All efforts to locate the mother have been unsuccessful the war department said.
Owens' name appeared in a list of 16 army personnel and civilian employees for which the department said it was unable to locate emergency addressees, next of kin or beneficiaries.
A member of the air corps, serial number 6 564 662, Pfc. Owens was born August 17, 1917, at Utica, New York. He is white and single. His home address was given as general delivery, Denver.
Mr. and Mrs. Reese left Owanka under mysterious circumstances the night of July 4, 1941, Deputy Sheriff Joe Wilson of Owanka recalled, without telling anyone of their plans.
It was later learned that they had gone to Big Stone Lake, and later to the West Coast.
He operated a blacksmith shop and cafe in Owanka for about two years, and previously had worked at Wasta, where Mrs. Reese's first husband was killed about eight years ago. Pfc. Owens resided in Wasta before enlisting in the army, but had never lived at Owanka. Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 4. and Lead Daily Call (Lead, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 1.
The War Department was able to track his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese down. She was living in McGregor, Minnesota. They informed her of his death.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. He was reburied in Block 3, Row 19, Grave 2422 (D-D 9486). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese), Technician 4th Grade Herbert R. Owens was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Service #: 6564662
Rank: Technician Fourth Grade U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: Air Corps
Entered Service From: Colorado
Date of Death: 01 August 1942, from dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Awards: Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of ? Owens (? Illinois - bet 1931-1934 South Dakota) and Georgia S. Owens Reese (abt 1892 Massachusetts - aft 1950).
The family moved to South Dakota in about 1931. His father was killed about 1934.
Herbert Owens (17 New York) is found in the 1935 South Dakota State Census (1935) for Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota (Card 118) along with his mother, Georgia Reese (43 Massachusetts) (Card 117) and her husband Geo. Reese (43 Michigan, blacksmith) (Card 116). The family was affiliated with the Methodist Church. Herbert and his mother had lived in South Dakota for four years. Georgia had remarried in 1934.
1934-1935 School Census: Wasta Independent School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (17, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1936 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (18, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1937 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (19, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1938 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (20, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
BUT Herbert R. Owens had enlisted in the service in October 1936 and was in California and Colorado from October 1936 thru October 1939. So how could he have been in school??? I think somebody was padding enrollment numbers ....hmmm.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 17 October 1936 to 22 June 1938.
Detachment Medical Department, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, California
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Joined from Fort MacArthur, California on 17 October 1936. He was transferred to Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado on 22 June 1939.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 20 July 1938 to 14 October 1939.
Detachment Medical Department, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Transferred from MD, Letterman GH, San Francisco, California, DS enroute to join with 30 days delay since 23 June. Joined 20 July 1938. He was given a furlough from 03-09 January 1939. He was given a 20 day furlough starting 21 April 1939 thru 11 May 1939. He was honorably discharged (ETS) on 14 October 1939.
Herbert R. Owens re-enlisted as a Private (ASN: 6564662) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 10 November 1939.
He was sent to the Philippine Islands. On 08 December 1941 Japan attacked the Philippines. PFC Owens became a prisoner of war when the Philippine Islands fell in April/May 1942. He was taken to the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, approximately 8 kilometers northeast of the town by the same name.
Corporal Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662), age 24, Air Corps, died at 12:15 p.m. on 01 August 1942, of dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in Barracks 28, Hospital Area. His death was recorded on a condensed milk can label. Home address: Wasta, South Dakota; Next of kin: Mrs. G. Owens, mother. Herbert had no belongings. He was one of 19 men to die that day, the 1299th prisoner to die in the camp since in opened in June. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. 90% of the POW deaths in Cabanatuan were men who were captured on Bataan. He was buried in a communal grave No. 211 in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs who died that day.
Announce Names Of Jap Prisoners
Washington, July 1 – (AP) – The war department made public the names of 789 United States soldiers who are held as prisoners of war by Japan. The list is based upon prior notification sent to the next of kin. Today's list includes: U.S. Army personnel interned by Japan: ... Pfc. Herbert R. Owens – Mrs, Georgia Reese, mother, Owanka... Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 01 July 1943, page 2.
Sadly Corporal Herbert R. Owens was already dead by then.
War Department Is Unable To Locate Soldier's Next Of Kin
Washington, October 7 – (AP) – The war department said today it has been unable to locate the next of kin of Pfc. Herbert R. Owens, held prisoner of war by the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands.
Pfc. Owens had listed his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese, Owanka, South Dakota, as beneficiary and emergency addressee.
All efforts to locate the mother have been unsuccessful the war department said.
Owens' name appeared in a list of 16 army personnel and civilian employees for which the department said it was unable to locate emergency addressees, next of kin or beneficiaries.
A member of the air corps, serial number 6 564 662, Pfc. Owens was born August 17, 1917, at Utica, New York. He is white and single. His home address was given as general delivery, Denver.
Mr. and Mrs. Reese left Owanka under mysterious circumstances the night of July 4, 1941, Deputy Sheriff Joe Wilson of Owanka recalled, without telling anyone of their plans.
It was later learned that they had gone to Big Stone Lake, and later to the West Coast.
He operated a blacksmith shop and cafe in Owanka for about two years, and previously had worked at Wasta, where Mrs. Reese's first husband was killed about eight years ago. Pfc. Owens resided in Wasta before enlisting in the army, but had never lived at Owanka. Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 4. and Lead Daily Call (Lead, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 1.
The War Department was able to track his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese down. She was living in McGregor, Minnesota. They informed her of his death.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. He was reburied in Block 3, Row 19, Grave 2422 (D-D 9486). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese), Technician 4th Grade Herbert R. Owens was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Herbert R. Owens
Service #: 6564662
Rank: Technician Fourth Grade U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: Air Corps
Entered Service From: Colorado
Date of Death: 01 August 1942, from dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Awards: Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of ? Owens (? Illinois - bet 1931-1934 South Dakota) and Georgia S. Owens Reese (abt 1892 Massachusetts - aft 1950).
The family moved to South Dakota in about 1931. His father was killed about 1934.
Herbert Owens (17 New York) is found in the 1935 South Dakota State Census (1935) for Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota (Card 118) along with his mother, Georgia Reese (43 Massachusetts) (Card 117) and her husband Geo. Reese (43 Michigan, blacksmith) (Card 116). The family was affiliated with the Methodist Church. Herbert and his mother had lived in South Dakota for four years. Georgia had remarried in 1934.
1934-1935 School Census: Wasta Independent School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (17, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1936 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (18, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1937 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (19, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1938 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (20, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
BUT Herbert R. Owens had enlisted in the service in October 1936 and was in California and Colorado from October 1936 thru October 1939. So how could he have been in school??? I think somebody was padding enrollment numbers ....hmmm.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 17 October 1936 to 22 June 1938.
Detachment Medical Department, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, California
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Joined from Fort MacArthur, California on 17 October 1936. He was transferred to Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado on 22 June 1939.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 20 July 1938 to 14 October 1939.
Detachment Medical Department, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Transferred from MD, Letterman GH, San Francisco, California, DS enroute to join with 30 days delay since 23 June. Joined 20 July 1938. He was given a furlough from 03-09 January 1939. He was given a 20 day furlough starting 21 April 1939 thru 11 May 1939. He was honorably discharged (ETS) on 14 October 1939.
Herbert R. Owens re-enlisted as a Private (ASN: 6564662) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 10 November 1939.
He was sent to the Philippine Islands. On 08 December 1941 Japan attacked the Philippines. PFC Owens became a prisoner of war when the Philippine Islands fell in April/May 1942. He was taken to the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, approximately 8 kilometers northeast of the town by the same name.
Corporal Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662), age 24, Air Corps, died at 12:15 p.m. on 01 August 1942, of dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in Barracks 28, Hospital Area. His death was recorded on a condensed milk can label. Home address: Wasta, South Dakota; Next of kin: Mrs. G. Owens, mother. Herbert had no belongings. He was one of 19 men to die that day, the 1299th prisoner to die in the camp since in opened in June. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. 90% of the POW deaths in Cabanatuan were men who were captured on Bataan. He was buried in a communal grave No. 211 in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs who died that day.
Announce Names Of Jap Prisoners
Washington, July 1 – (AP) – The war department made public the names of 789 United States soldiers who are held as prisoners of war by Japan. The list is based upon prior notification sent to the next of kin. Today's list includes: U.S. Army personnel interned by Japan: ... Pfc. Herbert R. Owens – Mrs, Georgia Reese, mother, Owanka... Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 01 July 1943, page 2.
Sadly Corporal Herbert R. Owens was already dead by then.
War Department Is Unable To Locate Soldier's Next Of Kin
Washington, October 7 – (AP) – The war department said today it has been unable to locate the next of kin of Pfc. Herbert R. Owens, held prisoner of war by the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands.
Pfc. Owens had listed his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese, Owanka, South Dakota, as beneficiary and emergency addressee.
All efforts to locate the mother have been unsuccessful the war department said.
Owens' name appeared in a list of 16 army personnel and civilian employees for which the department said it was unable to locate emergency addressees, next of kin or beneficiaries.
A member of the air corps, serial number 6 564 662, Pfc. Owens was born August 17, 1917, at Utica, New York. He is white and single. His home address was given as general delivery, Denver.
Mr. and Mrs. Reese left Owanka under mysterious circumstances the night of July 4, 1941, Deputy Sheriff Joe Wilson of Owanka recalled, without telling anyone of their plans.
It was later learned that they had gone to Big Stone Lake, and later to the West Coast.
He operated a blacksmith shop and cafe in Owanka for about two years, and previously had worked at Wasta, where Mrs. Reese's first husband was killed about eight years ago. Pfc. Owens resided in Wasta before enlisting in the army, but had never lived at Owanka. Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 4. and Lead Daily Call (Lead, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 1.
The War Department was able to track his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese down. She was living in McGregor, Minnesota. They informed her of his death.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. He was reburied in Block 3, Row 19, Grave 2422 (D-D 9486). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese), Technician 4th Grade Herbert R. Owens was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Service #: 6564662
Rank: Technician Fourth Grade U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: Air Corps
Entered Service From: Colorado
Date of Death: 01 August 1942, from dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
Awards: Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of ? Owens (? Illinois - bet 1931-1934 South Dakota) and Georgia S. Owens Reese (abt 1892 Massachusetts - aft 1950).
The family moved to South Dakota in about 1931. His father was killed about 1934.
Herbert Owens (17 New York) is found in the 1935 South Dakota State Census (1935) for Wasta, Pennington County, South Dakota (Card 118) along with his mother, Georgia Reese (43 Massachusetts) (Card 117) and her husband Geo. Reese (43 Michigan, blacksmith) (Card 116). The family was affiliated with the Methodist Church. Herbert and his mother had lived in South Dakota for four years. Georgia had remarried in 1934.
1934-1935 School Census: Wasta Independent School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (17, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1936 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (18, 27 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1937 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (19, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
1938 School Census: Wasta School District No. 1, Pennington County South Dakota – Herbert Owens (20, 07 August 1917), parent, Mrs. G. Reese, Wasta, South Dakota.
BUT Herbert R. Owens had enlisted in the service in October 1936 and was in California and Colorado from October 1936 thru October 1939. So how could he have been in school??? I think somebody was padding enrollment numbers ....hmmm.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 17 October 1936 to 22 June 1938.
Detachment Medical Department, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, California
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Joined from Fort MacArthur, California on 17 October 1936. He was transferred to Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado on 22 June 1939.
Monthly Roster of Troops – 20 July 1938 to 14 October 1939.
Detachment Medical Department, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver Colorado
Private Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662). Transferred from MD, Letterman GH, San Francisco, California, DS enroute to join with 30 days delay since 23 June. Joined 20 July 1938. He was given a furlough from 03-09 January 1939. He was given a 20 day furlough starting 21 April 1939 thru 11 May 1939. He was honorably discharged (ETS) on 14 October 1939.
Herbert R. Owens re-enlisted as a Private (ASN: 6564662) in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 10 November 1939.
He was sent to the Philippine Islands. On 08 December 1941 Japan attacked the Philippines. PFC Owens became a prisoner of war when the Philippine Islands fell in April/May 1942. He was taken to the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, approximately 8 kilometers northeast of the town by the same name.
Corporal Herbert R. Owens (S/N 6564662), age 24, Air Corps, died at 12:15 p.m. on 01 August 1942, of dysentery and inanition (exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment) in Barracks 28, Hospital Area. His death was recorded on a condensed milk can label. Home address: Wasta, South Dakota; Next of kin: Mrs. G. Owens, mother. Herbert had no belongings. He was one of 19 men to die that day, the 1299th prisoner to die in the camp since in opened in June. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. 90% of the POW deaths in Cabanatuan were men who were captured on Bataan. He was buried in a communal grave No. 211 in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs who died that day.
Announce Names Of Jap Prisoners
Washington, July 1 – (AP) – The war department made public the names of 789 United States soldiers who are held as prisoners of war by Japan. The list is based upon prior notification sent to the next of kin. Today's list includes: U.S. Army personnel interned by Japan: ... Pfc. Herbert R. Owens – Mrs, Georgia Reese, mother, Owanka... Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 01 July 1943, page 2.
Sadly Corporal Herbert R. Owens was already dead by then.
War Department Is Unable To Locate Soldier's Next Of Kin
Washington, October 7 – (AP) – The war department said today it has been unable to locate the next of kin of Pfc. Herbert R. Owens, held prisoner of war by the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands.
Pfc. Owens had listed his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese, Owanka, South Dakota, as beneficiary and emergency addressee.
All efforts to locate the mother have been unsuccessful the war department said.
Owens' name appeared in a list of 16 army personnel and civilian employees for which the department said it was unable to locate emergency addressees, next of kin or beneficiaries.
A member of the air corps, serial number 6 564 662, Pfc. Owens was born August 17, 1917, at Utica, New York. He is white and single. His home address was given as general delivery, Denver.
Mr. and Mrs. Reese left Owanka under mysterious circumstances the night of July 4, 1941, Deputy Sheriff Joe Wilson of Owanka recalled, without telling anyone of their plans.
It was later learned that they had gone to Big Stone Lake, and later to the West Coast.
He operated a blacksmith shop and cafe in Owanka for about two years, and previously had worked at Wasta, where Mrs. Reese's first husband was killed about eight years ago. Pfc. Owens resided in Wasta before enlisting in the army, but had never lived at Owanka. Source: The Rapid City Daily Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 4. and Lead Daily Call (Lead, South Dakota), Thursday, 07 October 1943, page 1.
The War Department was able to track his mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese down. She was living in McGregor, Minnesota. They informed her of his death.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. He was reburied in Block 3, Row 19, Grave 2422 (D-D 9486). The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (mother, Mrs. Georgia Reese), Technician 4th Grade Herbert R. Owens was buried in his final resting place in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot B, Row 14, Grave 3.
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