John Stephen Zebrowski was born on September 24, 1911, in Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the service on December 26, 1940. He served in the 17th 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 Zebrowski 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 Zebrowski was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on April 28, 1942. He is now buried in the Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com