This Military Service Page was created/owned by
PFC James E. Franklin (Slim)
to remember
Marine PFC John Robert Himelrick.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Price
Last Address Seattle, Washington
Casualty Date Apr 26, 1944
Cause MIA-Died in Captivity
Reason Intentional Homicide
Location Japan
Location of Interment Golden Gate National Cemetery (VA) - San Bruno, California
PFC John Himelrick died as a POW of the Japanese at Fukuoka POW Camp #3, Japan. The prison was located at the northern end of Kyushu, known as Camp 3-B, Yahata Seitetsu.
He had manned a machine gun on Wake Island and was captured there.
He died of maltreatment, but is listed as "acute pneumonia".
He began his service 9 March 1938 with Comapny A, 11th Battalion, Fleet Marine Corps Reserves, Canadian National Dock, Seattle, Washington with rank of Pvt. Also with Company B, 11th Battalion, Organized Marine Reserve, Aberdeen, Washington. To active duty at MB, PSNY, Bremerton, Washington in September 1938. Boot at San Diego RD, 4 January 1940.
Following Field Signal School, joined with 2nd Defense Battalion, FMF In July 1940. Hq and Service Battery, 2nd Defense Battalion. In San DIego.
October 1941, on Oahu, 5" Artillery Group, 1st Defense Battalion, FMF, Pearl Harbor. PFC. Transferred to Wake Island, sailing aboard the USS Castor, 18 October 1941.
By January 1942, his entire unit was either killed in action or in the hands of the enemy.
Comments/Citation:
John R. Himmelrick, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps 1st Defense Battalion, Naval Air Station, Wake Island
Date of Action: December 8 - 23, 1941
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is presented to John Roberts Himelrick, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Telephone Lineman in a .50 caliber Anti-aircraft Machine-Gun Battery of Marine Detachment, First Defense Battalion, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Wake Island, from 8 to 23 December 1941.
Intrepid and steadfast in the discharge of his assigned duties during the epic defense of Wake Island, Private First Class Himelrick not only consistently exposed himself to intense enemy shellfire to maintain vital communications between his battery and the Island Command Post, but also voluntarily manned a perilous spotting post for artillery fire when the Japanese made their final desperate assault against the heroic garrison.
Continuing to call down fire dangerously close to his own position upon the Japanese troops who had gained the beaches, he unhesitatingly advanced over the fire-swept terrain to a more advantageous position where he immediately engaged the attacking force with savage fury, killing approximately fifteen with his blistering rifle fire. His gallant actions, indomitable fighting spirit and unselfish devotion to duty served as an inspiration to his comrades and reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Himelrick and the United States Naval Service.
Approved by the Secretary of the Navy on August 21, 1945
