I noticed an article in the Southeast Missourian (Cape Girardeau daily) of August 28, 1943. The headline read: "Jackson Soldier is Prisoner of Japanese." Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Biri of Jackson, Mo., had received a postcard bearing the signature of their son, Henry F. Biri. It was the first time they had heard from him since he shipped out on September 8, 1941. His name appears on this Pacific Roster of Americans in Asian Camps. And his death is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines as October 24, 1944. That is within the time frame of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
There are 17, 206 America military dead buried at Manila. If the actual death date was not known, the date used was one year and one day from the time the member was reported as missing in action. In Pfc. Biri's case he was reported as missing twice. And you imagine he died a thousand deaths in camp.
There are 17, 206 America military dead buried at Manila. If the actual death date was not known, the date used was one year and one day from the time the member was reported as missing in action. In Pfc. Biri's case he was reported as missing twice. And you imagine he died a thousand deaths in camp.