William Gustave Steele Jr. was born on November 7, 1918. He was the son of William Gustave "Skipper" Steele Sr. and Clayton Smith Steele. 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 Steele 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 Steele was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 11, 1942. He is now buried in the Highland Cemetery, Iowa Park, Wichita County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com