Eugene Sims Dawson was born on July 22, 1914, in Mississippi. He was the son of Charles G. Dawson Sr. and Tululah DeLagarza Dawson. He enlisted in the Army on September 29, 1939. He served in the 48th Materiel Squadron as a Sergeant during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Sgt Dawson 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 Dawson was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on July 2, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Summit, Pike County, Mississippi, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com