John Finzer Presnell, Jr., was born in Portland, Maine, November 2, 1914, the son of John F. and Fannye Farwell Presnell. He attended the local schools, graduating as salutatorian of his class from Portland High School in 1932.
He entered Bowdoin College that fall.
In 1936 he obtained his degree of Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, having in the meantime won the Goodwin French Prize, the Smyth Mathematical Prize, the Brown Memorial and Kling Scholarships, and having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also acted as undergraduate assistant in Mathematics and Chemistry.
In college he was quiet, modest, popular. For two or three years he was a member of the National Guard, so deeply did he feel his obligations to his country.
Appointed to the United State Military Academy at West Point by Senator Hale in 1936 he continued there as a high ranking student; upon graduation he was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Cup for military efficiency, the General Pershing sword as a Cadet Captain and regimental commander, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial sword presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the highest rating in mathematics. It is perhaps well to emphasize the really distinguished scholastic record of Presnell both at Bowdoin College and at West Point because it is evidence of a line mind, of unusual industry and of a strong character. When he received word of his appointment to West Point, with characteristic modesty he wrote, "I hope that I may be able in small part to reflect the fine training in scholarship that I have received at Bowdoin."
That he graduated third in his class at West Point is proof that this ambition of his was well fulfilled.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, Presnell sailed for the Philippines in August 1940. He was assigned to the 14th Engineering Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts.
John was captured by the Japanese Army 9 April 1942 while defending the Bataan Peninsula. He was one of thousands of prisoners that were marched in the Bataan Death March. Destination PW Camp #1 near Cabanatuan, Luzon, Philippines where thousands of other American POWs were held. John's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942.
Based on these two reports, John was imprisoned for at least 988 days (2 years and ~9 months), one of the longest duration's of captivity recorded. After surviving the attack on the Oryoko Maru, John died aboard the Brazil Maru on January 19, 1945.
This is an interview with a man who served with John, LTC Melvin Rosen USA Ret.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=rosen&GSfn=melvin&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=49305019&df=all&
(The late Col. Mel Rosen, was kind enough to talk at length with us about Johnny as he referred to him. He apparently knew him quite well and told us he was liked by all who knew him.
Mel told us that Johnny was instrumental in designing a systems of ditches to help the water and waste drain more effectively from Camp O'Donnel. This helped to make life a bit better for those interred there. And must have saved many lives.
He said although sick and weak as they all were, Johnny was always trying to find something of the lighter side of life to help other spirits. We guess maybe he had a sense of humor, even among the deplorable conditions and treatment.
Col. Rosen also confirmed that Johnny died while aboard the Brazil Maru, he was indeed in the forward hold and deathly sick. Other prisoners stole the remnants of what clothing he had on and Johnny froze to death. His body was throw unceremoniously overboard into the East China Sea the next day. The time line for his death was two days before the ship docked in Japan.)
See the Actual Burial here
He entered Bowdoin College that fall.
In 1936 he obtained his degree of Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, having in the meantime won the Goodwin French Prize, the Smyth Mathematical Prize, the Brown Memorial and Kling Scholarships, and having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also acted as undergraduate assistant in Mathematics and Chemistry.
In college he was quiet, modest, popular. For two or three years he was a member of the National Guard, so deeply did he feel his obligations to his country.
Appointed to the United State Military Academy at West Point by Senator Hale in 1936 he continued there as a high ranking student; upon graduation he was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Cup for military efficiency, the General Pershing sword as a Cadet Captain and regimental commander, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial sword presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the highest rating in mathematics. It is perhaps well to emphasize the really distinguished scholastic record of Presnell both at Bowdoin College and at West Point because it is evidence of a line mind, of unusual industry and of a strong character. When he received word of his appointment to West Point, with characteristic modesty he wrote, "I hope that I may be able in small part to reflect the fine training in scholarship that I have received at Bowdoin."
That he graduated third in his class at West Point is proof that this ambition of his was well fulfilled.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, Presnell sailed for the Philippines in August 1940. He was assigned to the 14th Engineering Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts.
John was captured by the Japanese Army 9 April 1942 while defending the Bataan Peninsula. He was one of thousands of prisoners that were marched in the Bataan Death March. Destination PW Camp #1 near Cabanatuan, Luzon, Philippines where thousands of other American POWs were held. John's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942.
Based on these two reports, John was imprisoned for at least 988 days (2 years and ~9 months), one of the longest duration's of captivity recorded. After surviving the attack on the Oryoko Maru, John died aboard the Brazil Maru on January 19, 1945.
This is an interview with a man who served with John, LTC Melvin Rosen USA Ret.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=rosen&GSfn=melvin&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=49305019&df=all&
(The late Col. Mel Rosen, was kind enough to talk at length with us about Johnny as he referred to him. He apparently knew him quite well and told us he was liked by all who knew him.
Mel told us that Johnny was instrumental in designing a systems of ditches to help the water and waste drain more effectively from Camp O'Donnel. This helped to make life a bit better for those interred there. And must have saved many lives.
He said although sick and weak as they all were, Johnny was always trying to find something of the lighter side of life to help other spirits. We guess maybe he had a sense of humor, even among the deplorable conditions and treatment.
Col. Rosen also confirmed that Johnny died while aboard the Brazil Maru, he was indeed in the forward hold and deathly sick. Other prisoners stole the remnants of what clothing he had on and Johnny froze to death. His body was throw unceremoniously overboard into the East China Sea the next day. The time line for his death was two days before the ship docked in Japan.)
See the Actual Burial here
John Finzer Presnell, Jr., was born in Portland, Maine, November 2, 1914, the son of John F. and Fannye Farwell Presnell. He attended the local schools, graduating as salutatorian of his class from Portland High School in 1932.
He entered Bowdoin College that fall.
In 1936 he obtained his degree of Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, having in the meantime won the Goodwin French Prize, the Smyth Mathematical Prize, the Brown Memorial and Kling Scholarships, and having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also acted as undergraduate assistant in Mathematics and Chemistry.
In college he was quiet, modest, popular. For two or three years he was a member of the National Guard, so deeply did he feel his obligations to his country.
Appointed to the United State Military Academy at West Point by Senator Hale in 1936 he continued there as a high ranking student; upon graduation he was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Cup for military efficiency, the General Pershing sword as a Cadet Captain and regimental commander, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial sword presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the highest rating in mathematics. It is perhaps well to emphasize the really distinguished scholastic record of Presnell both at Bowdoin College and at West Point because it is evidence of a line mind, of unusual industry and of a strong character. When he received word of his appointment to West Point, with characteristic modesty he wrote, "I hope that I may be able in small part to reflect the fine training in scholarship that I have received at Bowdoin."
That he graduated third in his class at West Point is proof that this ambition of his was well fulfilled.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, Presnell sailed for the Philippines in August 1940. He was assigned to the 14th Engineering Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts.
John was captured by the Japanese Army 9 April 1942 while defending the Bataan Peninsula. He was one of thousands of prisoners that were marched in the Bataan Death March. Destination PW Camp #1 near Cabanatuan, Luzon, Philippines where thousands of other American POWs were held. John's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942.
Based on these two reports, John was imprisoned for at least 988 days (2 years and ~9 months), one of the longest duration's of captivity recorded. After surviving the attack on the Oryoko Maru, John died aboard the Brazil Maru on January 19, 1945.
This is an interview with a man who served with John, LTC Melvin Rosen USA Ret.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=rosen&GSfn=melvin&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=49305019&df=all&
(The late Col. Mel Rosen, was kind enough to talk at length with us about Johnny as he referred to him. He apparently knew him quite well and told us he was liked by all who knew him.
Mel told us that Johnny was instrumental in designing a systems of ditches to help the water and waste drain more effectively from Camp O'Donnel. This helped to make life a bit better for those interred there. And must have saved many lives.
He said although sick and weak as they all were, Johnny was always trying to find something of the lighter side of life to help other spirits. We guess maybe he had a sense of humor, even among the deplorable conditions and treatment.
Col. Rosen also confirmed that Johnny died while aboard the Brazil Maru, he was indeed in the forward hold and deathly sick. Other prisoners stole the remnants of what clothing he had on and Johnny froze to death. His body was throw unceremoniously overboard into the East China Sea the next day. The time line for his death was two days before the ship docked in Japan.)
See the Actual Burial here
He entered Bowdoin College that fall.
In 1936 he obtained his degree of Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude, having in the meantime won the Goodwin French Prize, the Smyth Mathematical Prize, the Brown Memorial and Kling Scholarships, and having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He also acted as undergraduate assistant in Mathematics and Chemistry.
In college he was quiet, modest, popular. For two or three years he was a member of the National Guard, so deeply did he feel his obligations to his country.
Appointed to the United State Military Academy at West Point by Senator Hale in 1936 he continued there as a high ranking student; upon graduation he was awarded the Sons of the American Revolution Cup for military efficiency, the General Pershing sword as a Cadet Captain and regimental commander, and the Robert E. Lee Memorial sword presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the highest rating in mathematics. It is perhaps well to emphasize the really distinguished scholastic record of Presnell both at Bowdoin College and at West Point because it is evidence of a line mind, of unusual industry and of a strong character. When he received word of his appointment to West Point, with characteristic modesty he wrote, "I hope that I may be able in small part to reflect the fine training in scholarship that I have received at Bowdoin."
That he graduated third in his class at West Point is proof that this ambition of his was well fulfilled.
Commissioned as Second Lieutenant, Presnell sailed for the Philippines in August 1940. He was assigned to the 14th Engineering Regiment (PS), Philippine Scouts.
John was captured by the Japanese Army 9 April 1942 while defending the Bataan Peninsula. He was one of thousands of prisoners that were marched in the Bataan Death March. Destination PW Camp #1 near Cabanatuan, Luzon, Philippines where thousands of other American POWs were held. John's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942.
Based on these two reports, John was imprisoned for at least 988 days (2 years and ~9 months), one of the longest duration's of captivity recorded. After surviving the attack on the Oryoko Maru, John died aboard the Brazil Maru on January 19, 1945.
This is an interview with a man who served with John, LTC Melvin Rosen USA Ret.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=rosen&GSfn=melvin&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=49305019&df=all&
(The late Col. Mel Rosen, was kind enough to talk at length with us about Johnny as he referred to him. He apparently knew him quite well and told us he was liked by all who knew him.
Mel told us that Johnny was instrumental in designing a systems of ditches to help the water and waste drain more effectively from Camp O'Donnel. This helped to make life a bit better for those interred there. And must have saved many lives.
He said although sick and weak as they all were, Johnny was always trying to find something of the lighter side of life to help other spirits. We guess maybe he had a sense of humor, even among the deplorable conditions and treatment.
Col. Rosen also confirmed that Johnny died while aboard the Brazil Maru, he was indeed in the forward hold and deathly sick. Other prisoners stole the remnants of what clothing he had on and Johnny froze to death. His body was throw unceremoniously overboard into the East China Sea the next day. The time line for his death was two days before the ship docked in Japan.)
See the Actual Burial here
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