Henry Franklin DeLong Jr. was born on April 6, 1919, in Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa. He was the son of Henry Franklin DeLong and Maye Jensen DeLong. He served in the 21st Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit 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 DeLong 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 DeLong was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 31, 1942. He is now buried in the Keokuk National Cemetery, Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com