Claude Len Yeast – Harrodsburg Tanker

Claude Len Yeast

Sergeant

Sgt. Claude Len Yeast Harrodsburg Tankers, survivor, WW II) 1917–1967 BIRTH 19 FEB 1917 • Mercer County, Kentucky, USA DEATH 17 NOV 1967 • Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA; MEMORIAL ID, 146243602 Highest Grade Completed; Elementary school, 7th grade. Occupation; Farm Labor. (He had a wife and 1 son and 1 daughter)

He was a painter.

Claude Len Yeast BIRTH, 19 Feb 1917, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA DEATH, 17 Nov 1967 (aged 50), Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA BURIAL, Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA MEMORIAL ID, 146243602 Claude Yeast was the father of a son and daughter. During World War II, he was a member of D Company, 192nd Tank Battalion and stationed in the Philippine Islands when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He spent over three years as a Japanese Prisoner of War. He returned to Harrodsburg after the war and spent the rest of his life there.

Claude L. Yeast Cpl. Claude L. Yeast joined the 38th Tank Company prior to the federalization in the fall of 1940 with his brother Willard. Made his way to Corregidor by boat. Taken prisoner May 6, 1942 when the island fortress was surrendered. Claude remained on the island for almost two weeks. then marched through Manila and on to Bilibid Prison for three days and then to Cabanatuan #3 for some five months and them moved back to Manila by train. Put on the ship Tottori Maru and onto Pusan, Korea. From Pusan, put on a train and taken north to Manchuria and camp at Mukden, Manchuria. Worked in a machine shop. After some 18 months sent to Japan and Kamioka #1-B POW Camp were he worked in the Zinc mine running a jackhammer. Claude returned to Harrodsburg.”