Paul H. Hammer was born on July 27, 1918, in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. He was the son of Frank Joseph Hammer and Florence Humbert Hammer. He enlisted in the Army on January 4, 1940. He served in the US Army as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Hammer 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 Hammer was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on June 10, 1942. He is now buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com