Stanley Durgin, an 81-year-old American hero, is one such veteran. He joined the U. S. Army on December 2, 1940, at the age of 19, leaving behind his home and his high school sweetheart in western Maine. Stan found himself assigned to the Army Air Forces' highly trained 27th Bombardment Group, 48th Material Squadron.
A little less than one year later, and still well before his projected discharge date of May 1942, Stan and his fellow soldiers were dispatched to the Philippines. Their efficient and speedy mobilization found them on the ground in Manilla in late November 1941, arriving even before their planes! Indeed, the ships carrying their planes were diverted to Australia when Japan struck Pearl Harbor.
Air Corps units that had no planes, like Stan's, were formed into Provisional Infantry Battalions. Just 18 days after arriving, Private First Class Stanley Durgin was an Infantryman in the battalion calling itself "The Flying Infantry." They fought for 99 straight days as the Japanese pushed them further down the Bataan peninsula. Many of our servicemen were losing weight and suffered from malaria, dysentery, or both, because of the shortages of food, ammunition, supplies, and medicine. Stan received a shrapnel wound in his leg, and was unable to flee into the jungle or escape to other regions like some soldiers when his Group was ordered to retreat to the rear on April 8, 1942. On April 9, 1942, the American troops in the region surrendered to Japan, and on April 10, 1942, the infamous Bataan Death March began.
Stan was in one of the marching groups of about 100 men each. They were force-marched 65 miles to the railhead at San Fernando. Stan was held as a Prisoner of War at the Philippine Military Camp for two years, and then he and the others were transported to Japan under shocking and inhumane conditions onboard old cargo ships. Upon his arrival in Japan, he was imprisoned in a P.O.W. camp for about one year. Tragically, of the 36,000 Americans who surrendered in April, 1942, only about 3,600 lived to see the War's end on September 2, 1945. Thankfully, Stanley Durgin was one of the survivors.
Stan's original Army discharge papers, however, did not include his P.O.W. status. As a result, previous claims to be awarded the Purple Heart Medal, submitted on his behalf, were not approved. Despite his service and bravery on behalf of our nation, Stan did not receive the recognition that his heroism deserved.
I am pleased to report that I was able to make sure Stanley Durgin's military records now accurately reflect his courageous service to our country. Earlier this month, I was privileged to join Maine's Adjutant Major General Joe Tinkham in presenting Stan with his overdue Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Prisoner of War medals. Bert LaFrance, Maine's Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Jim Taylor, former Commander of VFW Post 72 in South Paris, also helped to secure all of the additional medals Stan was awarded.
The Durgin family has every reason to be proud of Stanley Durgin's military service some 60 years ago. Stan's sweetheart, Mary, waited patiently for the war to end and for Stan to return, and they've been blessed with a wonderful family ever since. In fact, I had the opportunity to serve with Stan's nephew, another distinguished military officer, Nelson Durgin, in Governor McKernan's Administration. I am glad, therefore, that we were able to recognize officially what Stan's family has known all along, and to pay this American soldier the proper tribute that his service in defense of freedom deserves.