Mark Edison
The 1920 US Census shows a 17 year old Mark Edison as living in a group home in Maryland with numerous other boys aged 14 through 19.
The 1940 US Census shows Mark was single and working as an orderly at the Hebrew Home for the Aged and Un-firm in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in Washington, D.C. on 5/17/1941. This was not his first enlistment as he is shown on the 1930 US Census as being a Private in the Army at that time. Records show when he enlisted in 1941, he was still a Private in the Infantry and signed up for duty in the the Philippine Department. He was deployed to the Philippines and assigned as a member of Company "I", 31st Infantry Regiment (IR).
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Empire of Japan, the Philippines went on alert as it was suspected that they would also attack the Philippine Islands, which they did on 12/8/1941, one day after Pearl Harbor. History shows that a Sergeant from the 31st IR who was on detail at Camp John Hay was the first victim of the battle. Preparations were made and when the attack came, the American and Filipino forces fought bravely and never lost a single battle. Food and medical supplies were of high demand and short supplied, largely due to the Pacific Fleet being virtually destroyed at Pearl Harbor (temporarily), Wake and Guam, and no Air Force support for air delivery of needed supplies or food. This problem was compounded by commanding generals not allowing the Quartermaster Corps to seize food stores located at various warehouses throughout the island, claiming the Quartermaster officers "did not have the authority" to seize those things. These food/medical supplies would later be seized by the Japanese and many times, destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the island defenders.
As the battles continued, the 31st IR was tasked to cover the retreat of the US forces to the Bataan Peninsula. Unfortunately, the peninsula had not been provisioned with food and medical supplies. The 31st IR went on line at Layac, with Philippine Army soldiers on its right and the well-trained Filipino 26th Cavalry on its left. The 31st fought at the Abucay Hacienda, where it launched a counterattack against a Japanese 65th Brigade penetration of the II Philippine Corps' left flank. The regiment fought bravely for eight days and continuously slow down their advance. Seeing that the counterattack had failed, General Douglas MacArthur withdrew the entire army into a reserve battle position. The 31st IR remained in reserve through February and March 1942. The men suffered continuously from wounds, illness and the beginnings of starvation, severely weakening the force. However, when orders were given in early April to counterattack Japanese penetrations of Filipino lines, the 31st answered the call. But the Americans were now so weak that many could not make the march into combat. With only 800 men remaining and both flanks open and threatened, the regiment was forced to retreat, with small groups of the healthiest soldiers left to cover their retreat.
Despite starvation, disease, no supplies, obsolete weapons (weaponry at this time was primarily World War One era), and often malfunctioning out-of-date ammunition, the peninsula's defenders fought the Japanese to a standstill for 4 months, thereby delaying Japan's plan for Asia's conquest as well as causing them to expend millions of Japanese Yen and thousands of lives. On 4/9/1942 Major General King announced he was going to surrender the Bataan Defense Force, the 31st Infantry buried its colors and their cherished "Shanghai Bowl" )a trophy they had won in China - the colors and bowl were recovered after the war) to keep them out of enemy hands. By that time, the 31st IR had virtually been destroyed. By their diligence and dedication to duty, they proved themselves worthy of their regimental motto, "Pro Patria", Latin for "For our Country".
It was inconceivable at the time of surrender how the Japanese would treat their American and Filipino captives.
Most endured brutal torture and humiliation on the Bataan Death March and nearly four years of captivity. Roughly half of the 1600 members of the 31st Infantry who surrendered at Bataan perished while prisoners of the Japanese.
Mark fought bravely during the Philippine Defense and survived the Bataan Death March. But like so many of his comrades, he lingered in sickness from disease and his wounds after arriving at Camp O'Donnell until finally succumbing on 5/3/1942. He was buried outside the camp in a mass burial area. His remains were recovered after the war and re-interred at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Corporal Mark Edison, Sn# 6787444, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal with device
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Philippine Defense Medal with on bronze campaign star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
The 1920 US Census shows a 17 year old Mark Edison as living in a group home in Maryland with numerous other boys aged 14 through 19.
The 1940 US Census shows Mark was single and working as an orderly at the Hebrew Home for the Aged and Un-firm in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in Washington, D.C. on 5/17/1941. This was not his first enlistment as he is shown on the 1930 US Census as being a Private in the Army at that time. Records show when he enlisted in 1941, he was still a Private in the Infantry and signed up for duty in the the Philippine Department. He was deployed to the Philippines and assigned as a member of Company "I", 31st Infantry Regiment (IR).
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Empire of Japan, the Philippines went on alert as it was suspected that they would also attack the Philippine Islands, which they did on 12/8/1941, one day after Pearl Harbor. History shows that a Sergeant from the 31st IR who was on detail at Camp John Hay was the first victim of the battle. Preparations were made and when the attack came, the American and Filipino forces fought bravely and never lost a single battle. Food and medical supplies were of high demand and short supplied, largely due to the Pacific Fleet being virtually destroyed at Pearl Harbor (temporarily), Wake and Guam, and no Air Force support for air delivery of needed supplies or food. This problem was compounded by commanding generals not allowing the Quartermaster Corps to seize food stores located at various warehouses throughout the island, claiming the Quartermaster officers "did not have the authority" to seize those things. These food/medical supplies would later be seized by the Japanese and many times, destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the island defenders.
As the battles continued, the 31st IR was tasked to cover the retreat of the US forces to the Bataan Peninsula. Unfortunately, the peninsula had not been provisioned with food and medical supplies. The 31st IR went on line at Layac, with Philippine Army soldiers on its right and the well-trained Filipino 26th Cavalry on its left. The 31st fought at the Abucay Hacienda, where it launched a counterattack against a Japanese 65th Brigade penetration of the II Philippine Corps' left flank. The regiment fought bravely for eight days and continuously slow down their advance. Seeing that the counterattack had failed, General Douglas MacArthur withdrew the entire army into a reserve battle position. The 31st IR remained in reserve through February and March 1942. The men suffered continuously from wounds, illness and the beginnings of starvation, severely weakening the force. However, when orders were given in early April to counterattack Japanese penetrations of Filipino lines, the 31st answered the call. But the Americans were now so weak that many could not make the march into combat. With only 800 men remaining and both flanks open and threatened, the regiment was forced to retreat, with small groups of the healthiest soldiers left to cover their retreat.
Despite starvation, disease, no supplies, obsolete weapons (weaponry at this time was primarily World War One era), and often malfunctioning out-of-date ammunition, the peninsula's defenders fought the Japanese to a standstill for 4 months, thereby delaying Japan's plan for Asia's conquest as well as causing them to expend millions of Japanese Yen and thousands of lives. On 4/9/1942 Major General King announced he was going to surrender the Bataan Defense Force, the 31st Infantry buried its colors and their cherished "Shanghai Bowl" )a trophy they had won in China - the colors and bowl were recovered after the war) to keep them out of enemy hands. By that time, the 31st IR had virtually been destroyed. By their diligence and dedication to duty, they proved themselves worthy of their regimental motto, "Pro Patria", Latin for "For our Country".
It was inconceivable at the time of surrender how the Japanese would treat their American and Filipino captives.
Most endured brutal torture and humiliation on the Bataan Death March and nearly four years of captivity. Roughly half of the 1600 members of the 31st Infantry who surrendered at Bataan perished while prisoners of the Japanese.
Mark fought bravely during the Philippine Defense and survived the Bataan Death March. But like so many of his comrades, he lingered in sickness from disease and his wounds after arriving at Camp O'Donnell until finally succumbing on 5/3/1942. He was buried outside the camp in a mass burial area. His remains were recovered after the war and re-interred at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Corporal Mark Edison, Sn# 6787444, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal with device
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Philippine Defense Medal with on bronze campaign star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Mark Edison
The 1920 US Census shows a 17 year old Mark Edison as living in a group home in Maryland with numerous other boys aged 14 through 19.
The 1940 US Census shows Mark was single and working as an orderly at the Hebrew Home for the Aged and Un-firm in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in Washington, D.C. on 5/17/1941. This was not his first enlistment as he is shown on the 1930 US Census as being a Private in the Army at that time. Records show when he enlisted in 1941, he was still a Private in the Infantry and signed up for duty in the the Philippine Department. He was deployed to the Philippines and assigned as a member of Company "I", 31st Infantry Regiment (IR).
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Empire of Japan, the Philippines went on alert as it was suspected that they would also attack the Philippine Islands, which they did on 12/8/1941, one day after Pearl Harbor. History shows that a Sergeant from the 31st IR who was on detail at Camp John Hay was the first victim of the battle. Preparations were made and when the attack came, the American and Filipino forces fought bravely and never lost a single battle. Food and medical supplies were of high demand and short supplied, largely due to the Pacific Fleet being virtually destroyed at Pearl Harbor (temporarily), Wake and Guam, and no Air Force support for air delivery of needed supplies or food. This problem was compounded by commanding generals not allowing the Quartermaster Corps to seize food stores located at various warehouses throughout the island, claiming the Quartermaster officers "did not have the authority" to seize those things. These food/medical supplies would later be seized by the Japanese and many times, destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the island defenders.
As the battles continued, the 31st IR was tasked to cover the retreat of the US forces to the Bataan Peninsula. Unfortunately, the peninsula had not been provisioned with food and medical supplies. The 31st IR went on line at Layac, with Philippine Army soldiers on its right and the well-trained Filipino 26th Cavalry on its left. The 31st fought at the Abucay Hacienda, where it launched a counterattack against a Japanese 65th Brigade penetration of the II Philippine Corps' left flank. The regiment fought bravely for eight days and continuously slow down their advance. Seeing that the counterattack had failed, General Douglas MacArthur withdrew the entire army into a reserve battle position. The 31st IR remained in reserve through February and March 1942. The men suffered continuously from wounds, illness and the beginnings of starvation, severely weakening the force. However, when orders were given in early April to counterattack Japanese penetrations of Filipino lines, the 31st answered the call. But the Americans were now so weak that many could not make the march into combat. With only 800 men remaining and both flanks open and threatened, the regiment was forced to retreat, with small groups of the healthiest soldiers left to cover their retreat.
Despite starvation, disease, no supplies, obsolete weapons (weaponry at this time was primarily World War One era), and often malfunctioning out-of-date ammunition, the peninsula's defenders fought the Japanese to a standstill for 4 months, thereby delaying Japan's plan for Asia's conquest as well as causing them to expend millions of Japanese Yen and thousands of lives. On 4/9/1942 Major General King announced he was going to surrender the Bataan Defense Force, the 31st Infantry buried its colors and their cherished "Shanghai Bowl" )a trophy they had won in China - the colors and bowl were recovered after the war) to keep them out of enemy hands. By that time, the 31st IR had virtually been destroyed. By their diligence and dedication to duty, they proved themselves worthy of their regimental motto, "Pro Patria", Latin for "For our Country".
It was inconceivable at the time of surrender how the Japanese would treat their American and Filipino captives.
Most endured brutal torture and humiliation on the Bataan Death March and nearly four years of captivity. Roughly half of the 1600 members of the 31st Infantry who surrendered at Bataan perished while prisoners of the Japanese.
Mark fought bravely during the Philippine Defense and survived the Bataan Death March. But like so many of his comrades, he lingered in sickness from disease and his wounds after arriving at Camp O'Donnell until finally succumbing on 5/3/1942. He was buried outside the camp in a mass burial area. His remains were recovered after the war and re-interred at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Corporal Mark Edison, Sn# 6787444, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal with device
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Philippine Defense Medal with on bronze campaign star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
The 1920 US Census shows a 17 year old Mark Edison as living in a group home in Maryland with numerous other boys aged 14 through 19.
The 1940 US Census shows Mark was single and working as an orderly at the Hebrew Home for the Aged and Un-firm in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mark enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in Washington, D.C. on 5/17/1941. This was not his first enlistment as he is shown on the 1930 US Census as being a Private in the Army at that time. Records show when he enlisted in 1941, he was still a Private in the Infantry and signed up for duty in the the Philippine Department. He was deployed to the Philippines and assigned as a member of Company "I", 31st Infantry Regiment (IR).
With the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Empire of Japan, the Philippines went on alert as it was suspected that they would also attack the Philippine Islands, which they did on 12/8/1941, one day after Pearl Harbor. History shows that a Sergeant from the 31st IR who was on detail at Camp John Hay was the first victim of the battle. Preparations were made and when the attack came, the American and Filipino forces fought bravely and never lost a single battle. Food and medical supplies were of high demand and short supplied, largely due to the Pacific Fleet being virtually destroyed at Pearl Harbor (temporarily), Wake and Guam, and no Air Force support for air delivery of needed supplies or food. This problem was compounded by commanding generals not allowing the Quartermaster Corps to seize food stores located at various warehouses throughout the island, claiming the Quartermaster officers "did not have the authority" to seize those things. These food/medical supplies would later be seized by the Japanese and many times, destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the island defenders.
As the battles continued, the 31st IR was tasked to cover the retreat of the US forces to the Bataan Peninsula. Unfortunately, the peninsula had not been provisioned with food and medical supplies. The 31st IR went on line at Layac, with Philippine Army soldiers on its right and the well-trained Filipino 26th Cavalry on its left. The 31st fought at the Abucay Hacienda, where it launched a counterattack against a Japanese 65th Brigade penetration of the II Philippine Corps' left flank. The regiment fought bravely for eight days and continuously slow down their advance. Seeing that the counterattack had failed, General Douglas MacArthur withdrew the entire army into a reserve battle position. The 31st IR remained in reserve through February and March 1942. The men suffered continuously from wounds, illness and the beginnings of starvation, severely weakening the force. However, when orders were given in early April to counterattack Japanese penetrations of Filipino lines, the 31st answered the call. But the Americans were now so weak that many could not make the march into combat. With only 800 men remaining and both flanks open and threatened, the regiment was forced to retreat, with small groups of the healthiest soldiers left to cover their retreat.
Despite starvation, disease, no supplies, obsolete weapons (weaponry at this time was primarily World War One era), and often malfunctioning out-of-date ammunition, the peninsula's defenders fought the Japanese to a standstill for 4 months, thereby delaying Japan's plan for Asia's conquest as well as causing them to expend millions of Japanese Yen and thousands of lives. On 4/9/1942 Major General King announced he was going to surrender the Bataan Defense Force, the 31st Infantry buried its colors and their cherished "Shanghai Bowl" )a trophy they had won in China - the colors and bowl were recovered after the war) to keep them out of enemy hands. By that time, the 31st IR had virtually been destroyed. By their diligence and dedication to duty, they proved themselves worthy of their regimental motto, "Pro Patria", Latin for "For our Country".
It was inconceivable at the time of surrender how the Japanese would treat their American and Filipino captives.
Most endured brutal torture and humiliation on the Bataan Death March and nearly four years of captivity. Roughly half of the 1600 members of the 31st Infantry who surrendered at Bataan perished while prisoners of the Japanese.
Mark fought bravely during the Philippine Defense and survived the Bataan Death March. But like so many of his comrades, he lingered in sickness from disease and his wounds after arriving at Camp O'Donnell until finally succumbing on 5/3/1942. He was buried outside the camp in a mass burial area. His remains were recovered after the war and re-interred at the Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.
Corporal Mark Edison, Sn# 6787444, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Combat Infantryman's Badge
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
- Prisoner of War Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- American Defense Service Medal with device
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle/campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- Philippine Defense Medal with on bronze campaign star
- Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Maryland.
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