Philip Gatch Lauman Jr. was born on August 1, 1915, in California. He was the son of Philip Gatch Lauman and Elizabeth Carter Lauman. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1937. He served in the Headquarters, Luzon Force, as a Major during World War II.

Captured after the fall of Bataan, he was held as a prisoner of war at PW Camp #1 in Cabanatuan until December 1944, when he was placed aboard the Oryoku Maru en route to Japan. The ship was bombed and sunk by American aircraft at Subic Bay on December 15, 1944, and he lost his life in the attack.

Maj Lauman's name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Major (Field Artillery) Philip Gatch Lauman, Jr. (ASN: 0-20674), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, FIRST Corps, in action against the enemy in the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Major Lauman, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, valor.militarytimes.com, weremember.abmc.gov