Clyde Erwin Pressley was born on March 7, 1920, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was the son of Flossie Mae Keziah Griffin and Flossie Mae Keziah Pressley. He enlisted in the service on March 18, 1941. He served in the 7th Chemical Company, Aviation, as a Private during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Pvt Pressley 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 Pressley was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on April 28, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.livescience.com