Billie Ortiz was born on January 19, 1911. He was the son of Manuel Ortiz and Lucia Velasquez Ortiz. He was married to Juanita Ortiz. He served in the 200th Coast Artillery Regiment as a Private during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Pvt Ortiz 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 Ortiz was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 20, 1942. He is now buried in the Clayton Cemetery, Clayton, Union County, New Mexico, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com