John H. Bennett was born on March 23, 1908, in Stanley County, South Dakota. He was the son of Harry Benjamin Bennett and Alma F. Bennett. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 20, 1939. He served in the 7th Material Squadron, 5th Air Base Group, as a Technician 3rd Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T3 Bennett 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.

T3 Bennett was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 20, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.livescience.com