USS HOUSTON CA 30

“The galloping Ghost of the Java Coast”

William Charles Batchelor JR.

December 14^th 1921 – October 1^st 1943

80 kilo Camp

William Batchelor survived many things during the war including the sinking of the USS Houston (CA 30) in which 700 crew members died. He was captured in Java, while he worked he was beaten and starved by his Japanese captors until he died at the age of 23 in the 80 Kilo Camp in the mountains of Burma on the infamous Death Railroad. Mr. Batchelor was a graduate of Fork Union Military Academy. He his interned at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Medals Received:

PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE DEFENSE MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL