Donald Frederick Yergey was born on July 29, 1916, in Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Charles Willis Yergey and Mary Ann Nagle Yergey. He served in the 91st Bomber Squadron, 27th Bomber Group, Light, as a Technician 5th Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T5 Yergey 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.

T5 Yergey was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 5, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Mount Zion Cemetery and Mausoleum, North Coventry Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com