Staff Sergeant Bruce Wayne Klinekole
Comanche/Apache
New Mexico Army National Guard, World War II
Battery A, 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft)
Captured on April 9, 1942
Liberated on September 1, 1945

SSG Klinekole was from the Apache area. He service began on March 26, 1941. His regiment arrived in Manila, Philippines in September 1941. From December 8, 1941 until the end of the Battle of Bataan, the 515th downed eighty-six enemy planes and held off the 14th Japanese Army until April 9, 1942 when 9300 American forces were surrendered. SSG Klinekole was forced to march 65 miles, in six days, from Mariveles to Camp O' Donnell during the infamous "Bataan Death March." Between 650-1000 American prisoners died during the march. He survived Bataan, the Death March, the prison camps, malnutrition, diseases, exhaustion, atrocities committed by the Japanese soldiers and the "hell" ships. He was held prisoner for 1240 days. The Russian Army liberated his prison camp in Mukden, Manchuria. SSG Klinekole was sent to the United States from the Harbor of Darien, Manchuria arriving on American soil on October 16, 1945. His awards include: the Bronze Star Medal; the Purple Heart Medal; the Prisoner of War Medal; the American Defense Medal w/1 Bronze Service Star; the Good Conduct Medal; the Army Campaign Medal; the Asiatic Pacific Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars; the World War II Victory Medal; the Philippine Defense Medal w/1 Bronze Service Star the Philippine Liberation Medal; the Special MacArthur Service Medal; the Presidential Unit Citation w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters; the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, seven Overseas Bars and one Service Strip. He died on August 30, 1981 and is buried on his family's homeplace near Three Rivers, New Mexico. SSG Klinekole was 64 years old (DOB February 14, 1917).