Walter W. “Buddy” Kean was born on November 28, 1923, in Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois. He was the son of Walter Winfred Kean and Lillie Maud Bandy Kean. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Technician 5th Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T5 Kean 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.

T5 Kean was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 22, 1942. He is now buried in the Macedonia Cemetery, Rolla, Phelps County, Missouri, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com