Howard Ardine “Barney” Doak was born on June 4, 1916, in Maine. He was the son of John Leslie Doak and Gladys L. Doak. He was employed as a Semiskilled Inspector before enlisting in the service on October 15, 1940. He served in the US Army Air Force as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Doak 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 Doak was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 22, 1942. He is now buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Rangeley, Franklin County, Maine, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com