Prisoners of War
Nacogdoches County service members who were held captive by the enemy. We honor their endurance, and the families who waited for them to come home.
This honor roll recognizes service members with ties to Nacogdoches County, born here, raised here, laid to rest here, or honored by families who live in Nacogdoches, who were held as prisoners of war. Most came home. Some did not.
It was researched by the board of the Nacogdoches Hero Foundation from National Archives records, family accounts and memorials.
A San Antonio native, he went missing over Dülmen, Germany, on Feb. 21, 1945, and was held as a POW until May 6, 1945. He is honored here through his Nacogdoches County family: his son Jeff and grandson Heath Badders of Badders Law Firm, and Heath’s wife Mariko Badders, NHF board member and Army veteran from a military family.
- Jan 15, 1924Born in San Antonio, Texas
- Feb 21, 1945Reported missing in action after a mission over Dülmen, Germany
- Mar 3, 1945His commander wrote his mother that William was “a splendid radio operator and gunner”
- May 6, 1945Returned to military control and hospitalized in Europe
- June 1945The Army informed his mother he was being returned to the United States
They Came Home 12
Held by Germany, by Japan, and in Korea, and returned to their families.
Machine gunner, 31st Infantry Regiment. Captured at the fall of Bataan and held 3 years, 4 months in the Philippines and Japan. Liberated in 1945.
Born and lived in Nacogdoches · 1919–2008
Reported missing in action in January 1945, then confirmed a prisoner of war in Germany.
Laid to rest in Garrison · 1924–2001
Held at Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg, Germany, until liberated.
Laid to rest in Appleby · 1920–2008
B-24 gunner, shot down on his 13th mission over northern Italy. Held by Germany until liberated.
Lived in Nacogdoches · 1925–2013
35th Infantry Division. Wounded and captured Dec. 12, 1944 at Habkirchen, Germany; held at Stalag III-A until liberated Apr. 14, 1945. Purple Heart.
Lived in Nacogdoches · 1922–2011
Enlisted in 1940 and was held as a prisoner of the Japanese after the fall of the Philippines. Purple Heart.
Born in Appleby · 1917–1999
15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Reported missing near Wonju on Feb. 17, 1951; captured and marched north, he escaped and returned to U.S. control on Mar. 14, 1951.
Native of Nacogdoches · 1929–2004
Captured in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. Held at Stalag IV-A, Hohnstein, until liberated.
Born in Sacul · 1920–2018
B-17 crewman, 15th Air Force. Shot down over Germany and held 18 months at Stalag IV-B, Mühlberg. Purple Heart.
Born in Sacul · 1923–1987
Survived the Bataan Death March and years as a prisoner of the Japanese.
Laid to rest in Nacogdoches · 1917–1997
World War II prisoner of war, honored on the Nacogdoches County Veterans Memorial Wall.
Veterans Memorial Wall, Courthouse Plaza
Served in General Patton’s Third Army and survived captivity.
Born in Cushing · 1925–2019
Died in Captivity 2
Also honored on our Fallen Heroes roll.
Captured at the fall of the Philippines in 1942 and held at Camp O’Donnell. Lost in the sinking of the POW ship Arisan Maru, October 1944.
Medic, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Captured Dec. 1, 1950 while caring for the wounded; died in a prison camp Mar. 14, 1951.
Know of a POW We’ve Missed?
If someone from your family was held as a prisoner of war and has ties to Nacogdoches County, or you see something that needs correcting, please let our board know.
Sources
Researched by the NHF board from these records:
- National Archives: World War II Prisoners of War Data File
- Korean War Project: Army POWs (archived)
- Veterans of Nacogdoches County
- Find a Grave memorials, Nacogdoches County
- Nacogdoches County Veterans Memorial Wall
- The Badders family