Joseph Riley Anness, Jr. – Harrodsburg Tanker

Joseph Riley Anness, Jr.

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sgt. Joseph Riley Anness, Jr. (Harrodsburg Tankers, Survivor, WW II) 1914–1976 BIRTH 9 MAR 1914 • Kentucky DEATH 1 MAY 1976 • He died in in Louisville, Kentucky, from a heart attack. He had been visiting his sister there. He is buried at Springhill Cemetery, Harrodsburg. Sixteen members of the 192nd served as his pallbearers. Find A Grave Memorial #211348578 Highest Grade Completed; High School, 1st year Occupation: Farmer (He was not married)

He was retired after 30 years in the military.

Joe R Anness, Jr BIRTH, 9 Mar 1914, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA DEATH, 1 Jul 1976 (aged 62), Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA BURIAL, Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA MEMORIAL ID, 211348578 During World War II, he was a member of D Company, 192nd Tank Battalion and fought on Bataan during the opening months of the war. He spent over three years as a Japanese Prisoner of War in the Philippines and Japan.

Joseph Riley Anness, Jr. joined the Harrodsburg unit in 1934. His nephew Elzie Annes was also a member of the unit. At Fort Knox he was assigned to supplies for Company D. He escaped to Corregidor when they learned of the order to surrender. He volunteered to go to Ft. Drum where he was assigned to load the big gun. He was captured on May 6, 1942. He was taken by boat to Manila and eventually to Bilibid Prison and later sent to Cabanatuan Camp #3. He was on a work detail at Nichols Field. He was later sent to Camp Murphy and again building runways. He was put aboard the Hell Ship Noto Maru and sent to Moji, Japan and on to camp Sendai #6 where he worked in a copper mine belonging to Mitsubishi. He was liberated in September 1945. He remained in the military after World War II and retired as a Staff Sergeant. He died on 1 July 1976.