Harry J. Spivey was born on June 17, 1922, in Georgia. He resided in Fulton County, Georgia, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on December 20, 1943, at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in miscellaneous occupations and also as Married.

Harry served as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner on B-24 #44-49432, 319th Bomber Squadron, 90th Bomber Group, during World War II. B-24 #44-49432 took off on February 18, 1945, with a crew of 12, from Mindoro, Philippines, on a bombing mission over Takao, Formosa (Taiwan). Over their target, they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and were seen to crash near their target. There were four parachutes seen leaving B-24 #44-49432.

Harry, being one of the four parachutes seen, became a POW of the Japanese and was held at the Taipei Prison, Taipei City, Taiwan. While a POW in Taipei, a mock trial was held. Merlin, along with 13 other American servicemen, were accused of being "war criminals" by the Japanese Army, sentenced to death, and executed. They were cremated and their ashes placed in a local Japanese Shinto temple. At the end of the war, the remains were turned over to the Allies for burial.

SSgt Spivey's ashes were interred at the Marietta National Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com