28 January 2004
    Bernadette Hair wrote:

    My grandfather, Hershel Lee Covey was a prisoner of war and died during WWII at Camp Cabanatuan after surviving the Death March and Camp O'Donnell.   For years, I have been looking for any information on my grandfather or anyone who might have known him.

    Hershel Lee Covey was born in Bedford, Indiana.   He had two children, William Lee Covey and Michael Hershel Covey (two years apart).   They were orphaned at a very young age (my father was 5) when his mother died soon after his father (05/24/45), in the Phillippines.

    He had one sister - Dorothy Irene Covey/McGill/Stone.   Dorothy collected all life insurance for Hershel after he died.   She is survived by a daughter, Norma Lee.   I tried tracking her down, but discovered that Dorothy passed away a few years ago.   I believe they both grew up in an orphanage in Indiana, but I can not find it.  He first entered service in Indiana on January 18, 1933 and reenlisted last on October 15th, 1937.   Then in 1940 (October 15th), he reenlisted last.

    My father has hardly any information or pictures of his father.   Through years of research, I discovered that not too many people know about this part of WWII.   No one knows about what these soldiers went through and what actually happened. It's not taught in schools and in universities.

    I have tried, unsuccessfully to find anyone that knew Hershel.   I may run across a lead, only to find out that a survivor has passed away.   I am guessing that he was 5' 7.5" tall and weighed approx. 143 lbs according to a document I found.   We do know that Hershel was married to an Ellen Galliher - her father was an American GI by the name of Robert Franklin Galliher - her mother, Juana De La Serna.   (Angela M. Galliher also listed.)   Her mother was half Filipino; they were married in Pasay, Rizal, P.I. on 06/02/39 - present were Policarpo G. Almeda and Anatolia Walker.   Marriage performed by Ignacio Santos Diaz.   They lived in barrio San Rocque, Rizal at one point.   His residence also shows Clark Field as his residence a/o 02/05/42.

    Michael was born at her residence, 69 Mercedes, Makati, Rizal.   He was Protestant, she was Catholic.   His son (my father), William was baptized there and godparents were Francis S. Fausey and Mercedes Shorter, according to documentation.

      Subject: Hershel Lee Covey
      (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action – Philippine Islands)
      Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces 06656424
      File number: XC 03758467
      Headquarters Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group
      (Hq & Hq Squadron 4th Comp Gp,
      Nichols Fld, Rizal, P.I.)
      Entered the Service from: (? Greencastle), Indiana
      Born: 09 Jan 1915
      MIA: 07 My 1942 in the SW Pacific Area, Philippine Islands
      (POW camp Cabanatuan)    Died: ? 17 July 1942

    According to the document issued by the Adjutant General’s Office at the War Department, Hershel suffered “in a beleaguered status” (from that first week in December, when Bataan fell)” from 08 Dec 1941 to and including 6 May 1942, and absent in “missing in action status” on and subsequent to 07 May 1942 and until such absence was terminated on 11 May 1945 on which date evidence considered sufficient to establish the fact that he died, on 17 July 1942 in a prisoner of war camp in the Philippine Islands, received by the Secretary of War from a Commander in the Southwest Pacific Area.

    It has been virtually impossible to retrieve any of that documentation.   The paperwork that I did receive indicates that Hershel suffered and died from “Cerebral Malaria”.   Am trying to get any information possible - what the evidence was or names of fellows in his group  -  ANYONE that might have known him.   He may have been a crewchief/mechanic.

    Any, any shred of information helps.   If you or anyone you know, can help me, I'd greatly appreciate it.
    Thank you
    Bernadette Hair
    hairbernadette@hotmail.com

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