Elmer Pruitt was born on October 8, 1919, in McDowell County, West Virginia. He was the son of Henry Harvey Pruitt and Betty Lou Crockett Pruitt. He enlisted in the Army on May 4, 1940. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Pruitt 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 Pruitt was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on June 2, 1942. He is now buried in the Baltimore National Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com