William David Sparrow, Jr.
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sgt. William David Sparrow, Jr. (Harrodsburg Tankers Survivor, WW II) 1915–1952 BIRTH 20 MAY 1915 • Boyle County, Kentucky, United States of America DEATH 5 MAY 1952 • Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA; MEMORIAL ID, 117400180 Highest Grade Completed; College, 2nd year Class of Worker; Wage or salary worker in Government work (in the National Guard) (He was not married)
-- ReferenceWilliam David Sparrow
BIRTH, 20 May 1915, Boyle County, Kentucky, USA
DEATH, 5 May 1952 (aged 36)
BURIAL, Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA
MEMORIAL ID, 117400180
Sgt. William D. Sparrow was a member of D Company, 192nd Tank Battalion. He was
stationed in the Philippine Islands when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He fought the
Japanese for four months and when Bataan was surrendered to the Japanese. He, with
other members of his battalion, escaped to Corregidor. On May 7, 1942, he became a
Prisoner of War when American forces in the Philippines were surrendered to the
Japanese. As a POW, he was held at Cabanatuan on Luzon. He was sent to Japan on a
"hell ship" and was held as a POW at Tanagawa #4-B and Osaka #5. He was liberated at
the end of the war.
Sergeant William D. “Doc” Sparrow, Jr. joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit
some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. When Bataan fell, he escaped
to Corrigedor where he was put on beach defense facing Bataan with the attached to the
Fourth Marine Division. They were taken prisoner and eventually moved to Bilibid
Prison and on to Cabanatuan Camp #3.He was later sent to Cabanatuan Camp #1. He was put aboard the Nagato Maru sailed
Moji, Japan and taken to Tanagawa #4-B where he worked building a dry dock. He was
later sent to a graphite factory. He was sent Tsuruga POW Camp on a work detail as
stevedores unloading ships.
When the POWs were finally liberated, they were returned to
the Philippines. He remained there until it was determined that he was healthy enough to
return home to Harrodsburg. He died on May 5, 1952.
Read more information on Doc Sparrow on BataanProject.com