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Heroic Grad, Still Receives Honors. • ■ •' * • (Alumnus Of *36, Who Died In Jap Prison, Has Record Of» '• ' * ■Courage And SacrificeThe war is over, but news still comes of honors conferred upon Capt. Howard Humphreys, Class ’3G, one of Western's great heroes and most beloved graduates. One of the first to go across, the commanded a native■ i'company in the Philippines and was• lt;captured by the Japanese when theislands were forced to surrender ear-• . » * •ly in the war. He suffered the rigors of prison life but still found opportunity to perform heroic service. In April, 1945, shortly before the war ended, he died of amoebic dysenteryat Camp Fukioka, Japan.§ .Bronze Star Citation: , • .His father, Maj. Rogers Humphrey,himself a Western graduate, recently wrote Col. Jackson from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where he is on duty as Commander of the USMC Air Station. He sent copies of the citations1 awarding the Bronze Star Medal and the Silver Star Medal to Capt. Hum-i •phreys.i:tThe citation for the Bronze Star said: - “Captain Howard Humphreys• irendered meritorious service on 15 December 1944. While a prisoner of war of the Japanese, a ship in which he was confined was attacked and beached at Olongapo Harbor, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands. He assisted in organizing and directed rescue operations of those caught beneath the-4 .falling beams and advancing flames. Though suffering from malnutrition and in imminent danger of further attacks, he succeeded in saving thelives of many of his comrades/9.Silver Star Citation*The Silver Star citation said: “For gallantry in action while S-3 of the Agusan Sector of the Visayan-Min-danao Force, 3 May to 9 May, 1942. During the hostile landings on theNorth Coast of Mindanao, Captain»Howard Humphreys, while destroying bridges in front of the enemy, on his own initiative proceeded with his detail of five soldiers to Balingasag, about forty kilometers outside his sector and in close proximity to the enemy, removed stores of food and other supplies to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. This was accomplished while the enemy was advancing along the coast and threatening to cut off his retirement. Moving out of Balingasag as the enemy entered* V, 4the town, he destroyed all bridges behind him, thereby preventing the enemy from securing valuable food supplies. For this gallant conduct Captain Humphreys is awarded the Silver Star.”4Other HonorsMaj. General William F. Sharp has also recommended that Capt. Hum-phreys be granted the rare award, the Medal of Honor, for conspicuous gallantry and interpidity.Maj. Rogers Humphreys also stated that “we are building a memorial for Humphy down here on one of the little islands he loved so well”. It willbe a Light House.Capt. Humphreys’s record of heroism and sacrifice, both as commanderof troops and as a prisoner of war, can hardly be equaled. It bore out the promise of his cadet days, for at Western he was loyal and active in every phase of school life. He was a company commander, captain of the football team, captain of the baseball team, a diver of national rating on the swimming team, an honor student, and co-editor of the “Shrapnel”.
Newspaper Details
Alton Western Military Academy Shrapnel
Alton, Illinois, US
Thu, May 08, 1947
Page 1
Full Page
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IL, 10 Mar 2022
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