Enlisted USMC July, 1933. After boot training at Paris Island, SC., he was stationed at MCRD, San Diego, CA. Stationed in Cavite, Philippine Islands from Sept 1939 until sent to Corregidor, Jan 1942.
Taken prisoner May 6, 1942 when the "Rock" fell. Interned 92nd Garage, Bilibid Prison and Prison Camp 11 (Yamamoto Butai) Manila port terminal. Boarded "Nissyo Maru" July 17, 1944 and ended unforgettable voyage on the "hell ship" upon arrival at Kenushe, Japan on Aug 6, 1944. Worked in lead mines in Kamioke until liberation.
After 42 months as POW, home to Philadelphia and Naval Hospital for intestinal worms and beriberi. Commissioned warrant officer in 1947 and served at: Camp LeJuene, NC, Camp Pendleton, California. Overseas in the Korean conflict, Marine barracks, Honolulu, HI and Cherry Point, NC, from where CWO Dean retired from the Marine Corp on Aug 8, 1957.
He then worked for the city of Oceanside, Calif. until 1974 and was enjoying the golden years in Palm Springs, CA. until Lothaire, his beloved wife of 52 years, died.
Dean now resides in Slidell, LA. and lives near his youngest daughter, Marion McCoy and her husband John and two grandchildren Travis and Beci McCoy. His first great-grandchild, by Travis and his wife Stacy, is due in January. His oldest daughter, Janice Dean, resides in San Antonio, TX.
Dean
has lifetime memberships in The American Defenders of Bataan and
Corregidor, Inc. (1945), Al Bahr Shiners (Hawaii 1955), Retired
Officers Club (1957) and the Oceanside, California Elks Lodge (1964).
Through out his life he has been an avid body builder and weight
lifter and still practices Yoga.
In the pictures below, Dad is the handsome one in the bright green/blue
shirt, big smile, on the right. The gentleman on the left is Jim
Carrington, who according to Don Versaw: . . .
"Jim Carrington did not make the Bataan Death March; he became a POW when Corregidor fell. He successfully escaped from Bilibid Prison in Manila, April of 1944. That was two years after the fall of Bataan. He and his buddy "Parker" crawled over the high walls and under the electric wires atop them. Parkers body touched the wires and was knocked unconscious. Carrington made good his escape. Parker was executed by the Japanese for his efforts some time later."
Jim Carrington also lives in Slidell, LA. Let
me know if anyone wants to correspond with him.
Sincerely,
Marion McCoy
e-Mail
jmccoy5@bellsouth.net
Click here to enlarge Marine Club Photo