Ira Francis Lambert was born on October 20, 1922, in Illinois. He was the son of Ira Percival Lambert and Genevieve Herzog Lambert. He served in the 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), as a Private First Class during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, PFC Lambert 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.

PFC Lambert was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on October 10, 1944. He is now buried in Saint James at Sag Bridge Church Cemetery, Lemont, Cook County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com