Sgt. Joe B. Chastain was part of the 4th Marines. He was captured by the japanese and taken to Mukden, Manchuria and imprisoned in the Hoten prisoner of war camp. He and two others escaped, were recaptured and executed by the japanese. "June 21st, 1943 - Corporal Victor Paliotti USMC, Frederick Merringola USN and Sgt. Joe B. Chastain all escaped. July 12th, 1943 - Re-captured and brought back. July 31st, 1943 - The ones who escaped were shot."
Sgt. Joe B. Chastain was part of the 4th Marines. He was captured by the japanese and taken to Mukden, Manchuria and imprisoned in the Hoten prisoner of war camp. He and two others escaped, were recaptured and executed by the japanese. "June 21st, 1943 - Corporal Victor Paliotti USMC, Frederick Merringola USN and Sgt. Joe B. Chastain all escaped. July 12th, 1943 - Re-captured and brought back. July 31st, 1943 - The ones who escaped were shot."
Inscription
Joe Bill Chastain was living in Waco, McLennan County, Texas when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served during WWII. Joe B. Chastain was a Sgt who served with the 4th Marines.
He had fought on Bataan against the Japanese during the early war days. He served 2 years in the Marine Corp before the Pearl Harbor attack on 12-7-1941.
Sgt. Chastain was captured by the Japanese. and was imprisoned in Mukden, Manchura in the Hoten prisoner of war camp. He and two others (Corporal Victor Paliotti, USMC, and Frederick Merringola, USN) escaped Hoten POW camp on June 21, 1943. They were all recaptured and brought back to Hoten on 7-12-43. On July 31, 1943 Sgt Chastain was executed by the Japanese In the Hoten P.O.W. camp.
He is laid to rest in Rosemound Cemetery in Waco, Mclennan County, Texas beside his parents and his 2 brothers, Pat Chastain, and S.E. Chastain Jr. Both Pat & S.E. Jr also served in the USMC in WWII.
Note: I visited his grave site this Memorial Day (5-28-2018) in thankfulness & honor of his supreme sacrifice and service to our great country. I left a patriotic bouquet of flowers and small American flags as a token of my appreciation for his service & sacrifice. His ,and his family members headstones and grave sites were in good order and appeared to be well taken care of.
All the best,
JMG
