Harrison Lee McCrary Jr. was born on April 23, 1915, in Royston, Franklin County, Georgia. He was the son of Harrison Lee McCrary and Delina Brown McCrary. He served in the Chemical Warfare Service as a Private during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Pvt McCrary 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.

Pvt McCrary was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 27, 1942. He is now buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Royston, Franklin County, Georgia, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com