Donald A. Campfield was born on March 6, 1917, in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York. He was the son of Arthur H. Campfield and Ruth I. Creighton Sprague. He enlisted in the service on November 21, 1939. He served in the 28th Bomber Squadron, 4th Composite Group (now 19th Bomber Group), as a Sergeant during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Sgt Campfield was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Sgt Campfield was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 8, 1942, due to malaria. He is now buried in the Oneonta Plains Cemetery, Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, USA.

Source of information:www.livescience.com