George Kappes was born on July 19, 1914, in Pennsylvania. He was the son of David B. Kappes and Lula G. Kappes. He was married to Ruth V. Hicks Halman. He entered West Point in 1934 after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Muskingum College and graduated in 1938, 73rd in his class. After initial duty with the Air Corps at Randolph Field, he transferred to the Coast Artillery, serving at Fort Scott and then Corregidor, where he joined the 92nd Coast Artillery Regiment.

Captured after the fall of the Philippines in 1942, he was taken as a prisoner of war at PW Camp #1 in Cabanatuan. He died at sea while being transported to Japan on a “Hell Ship” on October 24, 1944, when it was sunk by a United States submarine that did not know the ship contained American Prisoners of War.

Cpt Kappes' 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 Greenwood Cemetery, Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
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 Captain (Coast Artillery Corps) George Kappes (ASN: 0-21124), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 92d Coast Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts), in action against the enemy in the defense of the Philippine Islands in 1942. Captain Kappes displayed outstanding gallantry and leadership in leading his battery in an infantry-night action against attacking Japanese troops on Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 5 – 6 May 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Kappes, 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, alumni.westpointaog.org, valor.militarytimes.com