MSGT Johnny S. Meyers
Son of
Cicero Jacob Meyers and Florence Duncle
Born on October 10, 1918
Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Died on January 19, 1977
Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas
Buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
After graduating from Sicily Island High School, Johnny Meyers enrolled in Northwestern College in Natchitoches before transferring to an aeronautics school in Algiers.
United States Air Force
Enlisted/Stationed at Barksdale Field, Louisiana
August 7, 1940
16th Bomb Squadron, 27th Bomb Group
Record of Service
Barksdale Field, Louisiana
Savannah, Georgia
Angel Island, San Francisco, California
Philippine Island
Bataan Prison Camp, Camp O'Donnell
Discharged - June 21, 1945
Re-enlisted - June 22, 1945
Camp Shelby, Mississippi
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi
Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, Texas
Awards
American Theater Operations
Asiatic-Pacific with two Bronze Stars
American Defense with one Bronze Star
Philippine Liberation
Good Conduct
Victory Ribbon
Distinguished Unit Citation
Unit Badge
Two Oak Leaf Clusters
Presidential Citation
Prisoner of War
Johnny Meyers was captured along with approximately 70,000 Americans and Filipinos on Bataan by the Japanese when the Philippines fell on April 9, 1942. Prisoners were forced to march the "Bataan Death March"; a 65 mile walk from Bataan to Camp O'Donnell. An estimated 7,000-10,000 Americans and Filipinos died from beatings, starvation and diseases.
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| American Heroes of Bataan Death March - National Archives |
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| Bataan Death March - National Archives |
The photograph above shows American prisoners using improvised litters to carry comrades who fell along the road during the Bataan Death March.
Johnny Meyers remained a Prisoner of War at Camp Fukuoka #17 for three and a half years.
Tombstone photograph by LKat at FindAGrave.com
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