Kenneth A. Rasmussen was born on September 27, 1916, in Humboldt County, California. He was the son of Claus Nissen Rasmussen and Anne Jorine "Annie" Ehlers Rasmussen. He enlisted in the service on August 8, 1940. He served in the US Army Air Corps as a Technician 4th Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T4 Rasmussen 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.

T4 Rasmussen was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on December 8, 1942. He is now buried in the Sunset Memorial Park, Eureka, Humboldt County, California, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com