John Arthur Mills Jr. was born on January 23, 1917. He was the son of John Arthur Mills Sr. and Mattie Clyde White Mills. He served in the US Army during World War II.

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

Mills was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on July 12, 1942. He is now buried in the Salem South Cemetery, Salem, Henry County, Iowa, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com