Dean R. Chalk was born on March 27, 1922, in New Mexico. He was the son of Albert George Chalk and Lannie Orlea Roberts Chalk. He served in the 515th Coast Artillery Regiment as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Chalk 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.

Cpl Chalk was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 29, 1942. He is now buried in the Mission Garden of Memories Cemetery, Clovis, Curry County, New Mexico, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com