US Army Air Corps Staff Sergeant / Crew Chief 14th Bomber Squadron. Was at Clark Airfield when bombed Dec 8, 1941 then sent to Mindanao Dec 25, 1941 to support military resistance. Refused General Sharp's May 9, 1942 order to surrender with Beverly "Ben" Farrens, Lowell "Bit" Holder, Bill Johnson, John Spruill, and 7 others. Listed as "missing" for 18 months and within 10 months only 6 of the original 14 were still alive. Later was joined by Donald "Herb" Wills who had jumped from POW ship and swam ashore. In July 1942 in Kapai, met civilian engineers Jordan Hamner and Athol Y. "Chick" Smith, then risked his life to provide a cover story to help them pass through the territory of a local Chief (Fugitives, 2001 by Bob Stahl). Commissioned in the field to 2nd then 1st Lieutenant under Fertig. Directed a radio station and was coast watcher on the Zamboanga peninsula at Dipolog and Illigan in the Lanao province, moved about through Kapai Valley. Discovered a deserted six-thousand foot civilian airfield and directed Filipino troops under his command to renovate for landing of US planes; known as "Nick's Tower". Was involved in several fire-fights against Japanese attempts to take the airfield. According to personal letters from "Ben" Farrens, saved the lives of several pilots, saved and repaired numerous planes, helped aid escapees from Davao POW camp, and rescued ship wrecked soldiers. His accurate reports of Japanese ships were credited for US forces to sink or disabling of several enemy vessels. Often met and was counseled by Jesuit priest Father J. Edward Haggerty, per Haggerty's letter to his family. Returned to US in 1945. Retired in 1960 as Major. Interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
From Find a Grave:
Nicholas D. Pociluyko, 64, of 5837 Oakland Road, Halethorpe, Maryland, formerly of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, a retired Army major who served behind the Japanese lines in the Philippines during World War II, died Feb. 4 in Kimbrough Army Hospital, Fort Meade, Maryland. He was the husband of Delphina (Aranjo) Pociluyko.
Pociluyko enlisted in the Army in 1939 and was serving in the Army Air Corps when the Japanese overran the Philippines. Missing in action 1941-45, Pociluyko helped establish an airstrip for Allied use on the island of Mindanao, working with Filipino guerrillas. He operated a radio station there and served as a coast watcher, alerting Allied forces about Japanese ship movements. He was awarded a battlefield commission and the Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters.
He was a salesman for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co., 1960-82.
Born in Palmerton,PA, he was a son of the late Peter and Irene Pociluyko.
Source: Find a grave