William Earl Rorie was born on June 15, 1906, in Texas. He was the son of George Terrell Rorie and Mary Etta Griggs Rorie. He enlisted in the service on March 18, 1941. He served in the US Army as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Rorie 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 Rorie was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 1, 1942. He is now buried in the Elida Cemetery, Elida, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com