Thomas was the son of Italian immigrants Tony and Catherine Abruzzino. Identified siblings were Pasco, Rose, Sam, John, and Tony.
On 6 Dec 1938, Joseph enlisted in the US Navy in Baltimore. On 8 May 1939, Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Thomas J. Abruzzino was mustered on the USS Henderson in San Diego, California. On 30 June and 31 Aug 1940, Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class (AM3C) Thomas J. Abruzzino mustered at US Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On 6 to 31 Dec 1940, AM3C Thomas J. Abruzzino was sailing from Pearl Harbor to Cavite, Philippines on board the USS William B Preston. Aviation Metalsmith 1st Class (AM1C) Thomas Joseph Abruzzio was with Patrol Wing 10 when he was among American and Filipino forces that were compelled to surrender on the Bataan Peninsula. He became a POW and survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was on the the "Hell Ship" Arisan Maru that was transporting him and other POWs to Japan to be used as slave labor. The Hell Ship was unmarked as carrying POWs when it was sunk by American torpedoes in the Bashi Channel on 24 Oct 1944. Weakened POWs were beaten off of the Imperial Japanese rescue ships. Joseph was among 1,777 POWs that perished that day. Among Thomas' military awards are: Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Another cenotaph was erected for Thomas in West Virginia National Cemetery.
On 6 Dec 1938, Joseph enlisted in the US Navy in Baltimore. On 8 May 1939, Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Thomas J. Abruzzino was mustered on the USS Henderson in San Diego, California. On 30 June and 31 Aug 1940, Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class (AM3C) Thomas J. Abruzzino mustered at US Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On 6 to 31 Dec 1940, AM3C Thomas J. Abruzzino was sailing from Pearl Harbor to Cavite, Philippines on board the USS William B Preston. Aviation Metalsmith 1st Class (AM1C) Thomas Joseph Abruzzio was with Patrol Wing 10 when he was among American and Filipino forces that were compelled to surrender on the Bataan Peninsula. He became a POW and survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was on the the "Hell Ship" Arisan Maru that was transporting him and other POWs to Japan to be used as slave labor. The Hell Ship was unmarked as carrying POWs when it was sunk by American torpedoes in the Bashi Channel on 24 Oct 1944. Weakened POWs were beaten off of the Imperial Japanese rescue ships. Joseph was among 1,777 POWs that perished that day. Among Thomas' military awards are: Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Another cenotaph was erected for Thomas in West Virginia National Cemetery.
Thomas was the son of Italian immigrants Tony and Catherine Abruzzino. Identified siblings were Pasco, Rose, Sam, John, and Tony.
On 6 Dec 1938, Joseph enlisted in the US Navy in Baltimore. On 8 May 1939, Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Thomas J. Abruzzino was mustered on the USS Henderson in San Diego, California. On 30 June and 31 Aug 1940, Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class (AM3C) Thomas J. Abruzzino mustered at US Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On 6 to 31 Dec 1940, AM3C Thomas J. Abruzzino was sailing from Pearl Harbor to Cavite, Philippines on board the USS William B Preston. Aviation Metalsmith 1st Class (AM1C) Thomas Joseph Abruzzio was with Patrol Wing 10 when he was among American and Filipino forces that were compelled to surrender on the Bataan Peninsula. He became a POW and survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was on the the "Hell Ship" Arisan Maru that was transporting him and other POWs to Japan to be used as slave labor. The Hell Ship was unmarked as carrying POWs when it was sunk by American torpedoes in the Bashi Channel on 24 Oct 1944. Weakened POWs were beaten off of the Imperial Japanese rescue ships. Joseph was among 1,777 POWs that perished that day. Among Thomas' military awards are: Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Another cenotaph was erected for Thomas in West Virginia National Cemetery.
On 6 Dec 1938, Joseph enlisted in the US Navy in Baltimore. On 8 May 1939, Seaman 2nd Class (S2C) Thomas J. Abruzzino was mustered on the USS Henderson in San Diego, California. On 30 June and 31 Aug 1940, Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class (AM3C) Thomas J. Abruzzino mustered at US Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On 6 to 31 Dec 1940, AM3C Thomas J. Abruzzino was sailing from Pearl Harbor to Cavite, Philippines on board the USS William B Preston. Aviation Metalsmith 1st Class (AM1C) Thomas Joseph Abruzzio was with Patrol Wing 10 when he was among American and Filipino forces that were compelled to surrender on the Bataan Peninsula. He became a POW and survived the Bataan Death March that followed. However, he was on the the "Hell Ship" Arisan Maru that was transporting him and other POWs to Japan to be used as slave labor. The Hell Ship was unmarked as carrying POWs when it was sunk by American torpedoes in the Bashi Channel on 24 Oct 1944. Weakened POWs were beaten off of the Imperial Japanese rescue ships. Joseph was among 1,777 POWs that perished that day. Among Thomas' military awards are: Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Defense Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Another cenotaph was erected for Thomas in West Virginia National Cemetery.
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