Louis M. Eaton
MCSN: 191772
Entered Service From: Kansas
Rank: Corporal U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: M Company, 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marines
Date of Death: 01 December 1942, from dysentery in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Status: Missing in Action. Most likely buried as an "Unknown" in the Manila American Cemetery
Memorialized: Manila American Cemetery – Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps.
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1910 United States Federal Census (09 May 1910): Otoe Township, Noble County, Oklahoma (sheet 11B, family 187, Fard & Bliss Road) – Louis M. Eaton (3 Kansas).
1920 United States Federal Census (14 January 1920): Hooker Township, Texas County, Oklahoma (sheet 2B, family 44) – Merle Eaton (14 Kansas).
Louis M. Eaton enlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the United States Marine Corps on 09 October 1923.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1923 to 04 December 1923
Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Battalion ''A'' on 09 October 1923 "by enlistment at this post." On 04 December 1923 he was transferred to the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 05 December 1923 to 10 February 1925
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, U.S. Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Anti-aircraft Company on 05 December 1923 from Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was given a furlough from 15 to 23 March 1924. He was given another furlough from 24 to 04 January 1925. On 10 February 1925 he was transferred to the First Provisional Battalion Post, same station.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 10 February 1925 to 31 May 1925
Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company "B" on 10 February 1925 from Anti-aircraft Company, same post. He was on detached duty on board U.S.S. MEDUSA from 14 to 27 April 1925. Then went on board the U.S.S. HENDERSON, at sea. On 31 May 1925 he was transferred back to Anti-Aircraft Company, post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 May 1925 to 16 February 1927
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. He joined Anti-Aircraft Company on 31 May 1925 from Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, post.
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). In August 1925 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 02 October 1925 he qualified as a marksman. He was given a furlough from 24 to 03 January 1926. In February 1926 Louis was promoted to Corporal. He was sick in hospital from 05 to 25 July 1926. He was sent to temporary duty at Marine Corps Scoring Detachment, Sea Girt, Camp Moore, New Jersey, from 02 August to 16 September 1926. He was given a furlough from 15 October to 03 November 1926 and another furlough from 23 December 1926 to 03 January 1927. On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 February 1927 to 18 June 1927
Seventeenth Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Western Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment from Anti-Aircraft Company. They were loaded aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON and sent to Nicaragua. He was sick in quarters from 01 to 24 June 1927. On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 June 1927 to July 1927.
Eighteenth Company Second Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company from Seventeenth Company and sent back to Quantico, Virginia. He was transferred to Casual Detachment in July 1927, same post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1927 to 29 October 1927
Casual Detachment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 12 to 13 July he was sick at sick quarters and again from 01 to 12 August 1927. On 29 October 1927 he was discharged at the end of his term of service. Character - Excellent. Home Address, General Delivery, Fowler, Kansas. He was retained for 21 days.
1930 United States Federal Census (09 April 1930): Baltimore (Ward 26), Maryland (sheet 15A, family 252, 606 Rappolla St) – Merle Eaton (25 Kansas, operator, Steel Mill).
Louis M. Eaton reenlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the U.S. Marine Corps on 03 August 1932 at RS Baltimore, Maryland. He was sent to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1932 to 04 February 1933
Barracks Detachment, Post Service Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was given duty at the Post Prison from 04 August 1932 thru 04 February 1933. He was transferred on that date, 04 February 1933, to Marine Barracks, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 February 1933 to 07 February 1933
Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was assigned to the Fourth Marines, in Shanghai, China and sailed on 08 February 1933 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
The U.S.S. HENDERSON arrived in in Shanghai, China on 29 April 1933 and he disembarked for duty on that day.
The 4th Regiment had been sent to China in 1927. They were tasked wtih protecting the lives and property of American citizens in the International Settlement of Shanghai.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 May 1933 to 31 August 1936
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, Shanghai, China
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company ''D'' on 01 May 1933 from MB, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia vis U.S.S. HENDERSON. He was sick in the Regimental Hospital, Shanghai, China for 07-24 November 1933. He was hospitalized again (sick) from 21-25 March 1934 in the Regimental Hospital. Louis was back sick in the Regimental Hospital from 05-11 March 1935. On 31 August 1936 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Mare Island, California, via the USS HENDERSON. It sailed from Shanghai on 01 September 1936.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1936 to 20 October 1936
Casual Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Casual Company from Company ''D'', Shanghai, China via the USS HENDERSON which arrived at Mare Island on 09 October 1936. On 20 October he was transferred to FMF, MCB, San Diego, California on furlough.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 24 October 1936 to 31 March 1938
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, MCB, San Diego, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 24 October 1936 he joined Company ''D'' from Casual Company, Mare Island, California. On 31 March 1938 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia via the USS CHAUMONT.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 May 1938 to 24 May 1938
Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Louis arrived NOB Norfolk, Virginia on 16 May 1938 aboard the USS CHAUMONT. He was sent to MB, Quantico, Virginia on 24 May 1938.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 May 1938 to 06 June 1940
Service Detachment, Post Service Battalion, MB, Quantico, Virginia
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Service Detachment on 25 May 1938 from MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia. He worked as a laborer and maintenance. On 20 August 1938 he was discharged at the end of his enlistment. Character - Very Good. He reenlisted the next day 21 August 1938, same post. In October 1938 he began work as the assistant chief fireman in addition to maintenance. Louis was given a furlough from 19-28 December 1938. He was sick in the USNH, Washington, D. C. from 13 March to 28 April 1939 (while on liberty). On 29 April 1939 he returned to work as the assistant chief fireman and maintenance.
1940 United States Federal Census (10 April 1940): Marine Reservation (Quantico), Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia (sheet 45B, line 63) – Corporal Louis M. Eaton (32 Kansas), U.S.M.C. He had lived in Shanghai, China in 1935. Louis had completed 8th grade.
On 11 May 1939 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 22 November 1939 he was promoted to Corporal. In November 1939 he also received Expeditionary Medal #8691 for service in Shanghai, China, 1933-34. He was given a furlough from 28 December 1939 to 05 January 1940. He came back as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOinC) Fireman Section, Maintenance. On 06 June 1940 he was transferred to MBNYd, Mare Island, California, FFT to MD, Tientain, China, via U.S.S. CHAUMONT.
He arrived at MBNYd, Mare Island, California on 10 June 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and on 19 June 1940 embarked back aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT. She sailed from San Francisco, California on 21 June 1940 for Tientsin, China. The U.S.S. CHAUMONT arrived at Chinwangtao, China on 31 July 1940 where CPL Eaton disembarked and joined Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 July 1940 to 03 August 1940
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He arrived on 31 July 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and was assigned to Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China as Assistant Outside Overseer. On 03 August 1940 he was transferred to Headquarters Detachment, MDAE, Peiping, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1940 to 25 September 1941
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 03 August 1940 he was assigned to Headquarters Detachment at the American Embassy, Peiping, China where he served as a mechanic at the Post Power Plant. By April 1941 he was NCOinC of the Post Water Softening Plant. On 25 September 1941 he was transferred to Cavite, Philippine Islands. He embarked and sailed from Chinwangtao, China aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 October 1941 to 20 December 1941
Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands
Corporal/Private First Class Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Private First Class Eaton arrived at Manila, P.I. aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON on 04 October 1941. He disembarked the same day and was assigned to Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Cavite. With the transition he went from Corporal to Private First Class.
He was one of 700 Marines that was organized as a defense and infantry battalion. The First Separate Marine Battalion at Cavite was trained to function either as infantry or antiaircraft artillery.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On 28 November 1941, all the rest of the Fourth Marines were pulled out of China and sent to the Philippines, where they were to prepare the islands for defense against a Japanese invasion.
War broke out on 08 December 1941 and on 10 December, Cavite was bombed. Private First Class Thomas L. Wetherington was killed by bomb fragments, becoming the first Marine to lose his life in defense of the Philippines. Japanese forces began a full-scale invasion of Luzon on 22 December. In response, General Douglas MacArthur, ordered the withdrawal of the American and Filipino forces to the Bataan peninsula to be a part of the Bataan Defense Force. On 26 December the First Separate Marine Battalion were moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles." Over the next couple of days they were moved to Fort Mills, Corregidor Island. The Marines moved from the dock by narrow-gauge electric railway to their new quarters in Middleside Barracks, a modern concrete, and supposedly bombproof, structure. On 01 January 1942 the First Separate Marine Battalion was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Corporal Eaton was assigned to Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines as part of the beach defenses in the middle sector including the beaches of Bottomside and most of Middleside up to a line including Morrison Hill and Government Ravine (1st Battalion took the east sector, from Malinta Hill to Hooker Point. The 2nd Battalion moved to the west sector). Work began immediately on construction of beach defenses.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 January 1942 to 06 May 1942
Company M, Third Battalion, 4th Marines, Corregidor, Philippine Islands
Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 18 April 1942 he was promoted back to Corporal.
On 09 April 1942, Filipino and U.S. forces on Bataan were surrendered and the Japanese were able to mass artillery for an all-out attack of the Rock from just 2 miles away.
"It took no mental giant," wrote Wainwright, "to figure out, that the enemy was ready to come against Corregidor." On the night of 05-06 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island. Despite heavy resistance by the defenders and severe losses to the Japanese, the enemy was able to push forward. The situation grew more perilous and feeling that further resistance was useless and fearing a possible massacre of 1,000 sick and wounded personnel in Malinta Tunnel, General Wainwright decided to surrender. At 1200, 06 May 1942 the surrender went into effect.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton became a prisoner of war. The prisoners were held in the Kindley Field Garage area. Roughly twelve thousand POW's were crowded into this area. All the wounded who could walk also were ordered to go there, many with broken bones or serious injuries. For seven days they were kept there without food, except for that which could be scavenged by the few POW's who were formed into work parties, to clear away the dead and to remove the rubble caused by Jap artillery. Most of the prisoners got nothing to eat during those seven days. There was only one water spigot for the twelve thousand. A twelve-hour wait to fill one canteen was the usual rule.
On the afternoon of 22 May 1942, the Japanese loaded the prisoners onto three merchant ships and the next day they were transported to Manila. There the POW's were marched down Dewey Boulevard and through the streets in a Japanese "victory" parade to Bilibid Prison. Afterwards prisoners were crammed into boxcars and taken to the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Most of the POWs imprisoned at Cabanatuan were assigned to work details and farm labor.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton was carried on U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls as "Missing in Action" through March 1943 when official word from the Japanese government reached the War Department that he was among 952 U.S. Marine Corps personnel "In Hands of the Enemy".
PFC Louis Merle Eaton, son of J.W. Eaton of Fowler, is a prisoner of war in the Manila area, where he served with the marines. Source: The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas), Wednesday, 31 March 1943, page 10.
Sadly he was already dead by then.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772), U.S. Marine Corps, was stricken with dysentery in October 1942. He died at 10:00 pm, 01 December 1942, while being treated for the disease in the prison hospital. Louis was one of 11 men to die that day. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. He was buried in communal Grave 823 in the camp cemetery along with eleven other deceased American POWs. To see a list of the men he was buried with go to Virtual Cemetery: Cabanatuan Prison Cemetery - Grave 823.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1943
PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING PERSONS DETACHMENT, HQ., U.S. MARINE CORPS
Corporal Louis M. Eaton. On 09 July 1943, his status was changed from "In Hands of the Enemy" to dead. A "letter from CMC reports Easton died of dysentery in a prison camp." Character Excellent.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948 for positive identification. Seven of the 12 men in Grave 823 were identified. Unfortunately, no clothing, personal effects nor any other means of identification were found for him and his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan. He is most likely buried in the Manila American Cemetery as a "Known but to God". The five unknowns are associated with X-517, 518, 521, 524, and 526, Manila Mausoleum #2. There are 953 men like CPL Eaton who were not identified after the war, "unknowns", permanently interred in the Manila American Cemetery from Cabanatuan.
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD"
Corporal Louis Merl Eaton is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marines at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph in Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Meade County, Kansas.
MCSN: 191772
Entered Service From: Kansas
Rank: Corporal U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: M Company, 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marines
Date of Death: 01 December 1942, from dysentery in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Status: Missing in Action. Most likely buried as an "Unknown" in the Manila American Cemetery
Memorialized: Manila American Cemetery – Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps.
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1910 United States Federal Census (09 May 1910): Otoe Township, Noble County, Oklahoma (sheet 11B, family 187, Fard & Bliss Road) – Louis M. Eaton (3 Kansas).
1920 United States Federal Census (14 January 1920): Hooker Township, Texas County, Oklahoma (sheet 2B, family 44) – Merle Eaton (14 Kansas).
Louis M. Eaton enlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the United States Marine Corps on 09 October 1923.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1923 to 04 December 1923
Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Battalion ''A'' on 09 October 1923 "by enlistment at this post." On 04 December 1923 he was transferred to the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 05 December 1923 to 10 February 1925
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, U.S. Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Anti-aircraft Company on 05 December 1923 from Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was given a furlough from 15 to 23 March 1924. He was given another furlough from 24 to 04 January 1925. On 10 February 1925 he was transferred to the First Provisional Battalion Post, same station.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 10 February 1925 to 31 May 1925
Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company "B" on 10 February 1925 from Anti-aircraft Company, same post. He was on detached duty on board U.S.S. MEDUSA from 14 to 27 April 1925. Then went on board the U.S.S. HENDERSON, at sea. On 31 May 1925 he was transferred back to Anti-Aircraft Company, post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 May 1925 to 16 February 1927
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. He joined Anti-Aircraft Company on 31 May 1925 from Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, post.
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). In August 1925 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 02 October 1925 he qualified as a marksman. He was given a furlough from 24 to 03 January 1926. In February 1926 Louis was promoted to Corporal. He was sick in hospital from 05 to 25 July 1926. He was sent to temporary duty at Marine Corps Scoring Detachment, Sea Girt, Camp Moore, New Jersey, from 02 August to 16 September 1926. He was given a furlough from 15 October to 03 November 1926 and another furlough from 23 December 1926 to 03 January 1927. On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 February 1927 to 18 June 1927
Seventeenth Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Western Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment from Anti-Aircraft Company. They were loaded aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON and sent to Nicaragua. He was sick in quarters from 01 to 24 June 1927. On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 June 1927 to July 1927.
Eighteenth Company Second Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company from Seventeenth Company and sent back to Quantico, Virginia. He was transferred to Casual Detachment in July 1927, same post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1927 to 29 October 1927
Casual Detachment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 12 to 13 July he was sick at sick quarters and again from 01 to 12 August 1927. On 29 October 1927 he was discharged at the end of his term of service. Character - Excellent. Home Address, General Delivery, Fowler, Kansas. He was retained for 21 days.
1930 United States Federal Census (09 April 1930): Baltimore (Ward 26), Maryland (sheet 15A, family 252, 606 Rappolla St) – Merle Eaton (25 Kansas, operator, Steel Mill).
Louis M. Eaton reenlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the U.S. Marine Corps on 03 August 1932 at RS Baltimore, Maryland. He was sent to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1932 to 04 February 1933
Barracks Detachment, Post Service Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was given duty at the Post Prison from 04 August 1932 thru 04 February 1933. He was transferred on that date, 04 February 1933, to Marine Barracks, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 February 1933 to 07 February 1933
Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was assigned to the Fourth Marines, in Shanghai, China and sailed on 08 February 1933 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
The U.S.S. HENDERSON arrived in in Shanghai, China on 29 April 1933 and he disembarked for duty on that day.
The 4th Regiment had been sent to China in 1927. They were tasked wtih protecting the lives and property of American citizens in the International Settlement of Shanghai.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 May 1933 to 31 August 1936
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, Shanghai, China
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company ''D'' on 01 May 1933 from MB, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia vis U.S.S. HENDERSON. He was sick in the Regimental Hospital, Shanghai, China for 07-24 November 1933. He was hospitalized again (sick) from 21-25 March 1934 in the Regimental Hospital. Louis was back sick in the Regimental Hospital from 05-11 March 1935. On 31 August 1936 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Mare Island, California, via the USS HENDERSON. It sailed from Shanghai on 01 September 1936.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1936 to 20 October 1936
Casual Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Casual Company from Company ''D'', Shanghai, China via the USS HENDERSON which arrived at Mare Island on 09 October 1936. On 20 October he was transferred to FMF, MCB, San Diego, California on furlough.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 24 October 1936 to 31 March 1938
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, MCB, San Diego, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 24 October 1936 he joined Company ''D'' from Casual Company, Mare Island, California. On 31 March 1938 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia via the USS CHAUMONT.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 May 1938 to 24 May 1938
Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Louis arrived NOB Norfolk, Virginia on 16 May 1938 aboard the USS CHAUMONT. He was sent to MB, Quantico, Virginia on 24 May 1938.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 May 1938 to 06 June 1940
Service Detachment, Post Service Battalion, MB, Quantico, Virginia
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Service Detachment on 25 May 1938 from MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia. He worked as a laborer and maintenance. On 20 August 1938 he was discharged at the end of his enlistment. Character - Very Good. He reenlisted the next day 21 August 1938, same post. In October 1938 he began work as the assistant chief fireman in addition to maintenance. Louis was given a furlough from 19-28 December 1938. He was sick in the USNH, Washington, D. C. from 13 March to 28 April 1939 (while on liberty). On 29 April 1939 he returned to work as the assistant chief fireman and maintenance.
1940 United States Federal Census (10 April 1940): Marine Reservation (Quantico), Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia (sheet 45B, line 63) – Corporal Louis M. Eaton (32 Kansas), U.S.M.C. He had lived in Shanghai, China in 1935. Louis had completed 8th grade.
On 11 May 1939 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 22 November 1939 he was promoted to Corporal. In November 1939 he also received Expeditionary Medal #8691 for service in Shanghai, China, 1933-34. He was given a furlough from 28 December 1939 to 05 January 1940. He came back as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOinC) Fireman Section, Maintenance. On 06 June 1940 he was transferred to MBNYd, Mare Island, California, FFT to MD, Tientain, China, via U.S.S. CHAUMONT.
He arrived at MBNYd, Mare Island, California on 10 June 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and on 19 June 1940 embarked back aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT. She sailed from San Francisco, California on 21 June 1940 for Tientsin, China. The U.S.S. CHAUMONT arrived at Chinwangtao, China on 31 July 1940 where CPL Eaton disembarked and joined Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 July 1940 to 03 August 1940
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He arrived on 31 July 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and was assigned to Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China as Assistant Outside Overseer. On 03 August 1940 he was transferred to Headquarters Detachment, MDAE, Peiping, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1940 to 25 September 1941
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 03 August 1940 he was assigned to Headquarters Detachment at the American Embassy, Peiping, China where he served as a mechanic at the Post Power Plant. By April 1941 he was NCOinC of the Post Water Softening Plant. On 25 September 1941 he was transferred to Cavite, Philippine Islands. He embarked and sailed from Chinwangtao, China aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 October 1941 to 20 December 1941
Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands
Corporal/Private First Class Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Private First Class Eaton arrived at Manila, P.I. aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON on 04 October 1941. He disembarked the same day and was assigned to Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Cavite. With the transition he went from Corporal to Private First Class.
He was one of 700 Marines that was organized as a defense and infantry battalion. The First Separate Marine Battalion at Cavite was trained to function either as infantry or antiaircraft artillery.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On 28 November 1941, all the rest of the Fourth Marines were pulled out of China and sent to the Philippines, where they were to prepare the islands for defense against a Japanese invasion.
War broke out on 08 December 1941 and on 10 December, Cavite was bombed. Private First Class Thomas L. Wetherington was killed by bomb fragments, becoming the first Marine to lose his life in defense of the Philippines. Japanese forces began a full-scale invasion of Luzon on 22 December. In response, General Douglas MacArthur, ordered the withdrawal of the American and Filipino forces to the Bataan peninsula to be a part of the Bataan Defense Force. On 26 December the First Separate Marine Battalion were moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles." Over the next couple of days they were moved to Fort Mills, Corregidor Island. The Marines moved from the dock by narrow-gauge electric railway to their new quarters in Middleside Barracks, a modern concrete, and supposedly bombproof, structure. On 01 January 1942 the First Separate Marine Battalion was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Corporal Eaton was assigned to Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines as part of the beach defenses in the middle sector including the beaches of Bottomside and most of Middleside up to a line including Morrison Hill and Government Ravine (1st Battalion took the east sector, from Malinta Hill to Hooker Point. The 2nd Battalion moved to the west sector). Work began immediately on construction of beach defenses.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 January 1942 to 06 May 1942
Company M, Third Battalion, 4th Marines, Corregidor, Philippine Islands
Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 18 April 1942 he was promoted back to Corporal.
On 09 April 1942, Filipino and U.S. forces on Bataan were surrendered and the Japanese were able to mass artillery for an all-out attack of the Rock from just 2 miles away.
"It took no mental giant," wrote Wainwright, "to figure out, that the enemy was ready to come against Corregidor." On the night of 05-06 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island. Despite heavy resistance by the defenders and severe losses to the Japanese, the enemy was able to push forward. The situation grew more perilous and feeling that further resistance was useless and fearing a possible massacre of 1,000 sick and wounded personnel in Malinta Tunnel, General Wainwright decided to surrender. At 1200, 06 May 1942 the surrender went into effect.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton became a prisoner of war. The prisoners were held in the Kindley Field Garage area. Roughly twelve thousand POW's were crowded into this area. All the wounded who could walk also were ordered to go there, many with broken bones or serious injuries. For seven days they were kept there without food, except for that which could be scavenged by the few POW's who were formed into work parties, to clear away the dead and to remove the rubble caused by Jap artillery. Most of the prisoners got nothing to eat during those seven days. There was only one water spigot for the twelve thousand. A twelve-hour wait to fill one canteen was the usual rule.
On the afternoon of 22 May 1942, the Japanese loaded the prisoners onto three merchant ships and the next day they were transported to Manila. There the POW's were marched down Dewey Boulevard and through the streets in a Japanese "victory" parade to Bilibid Prison. Afterwards prisoners were crammed into boxcars and taken to the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Most of the POWs imprisoned at Cabanatuan were assigned to work details and farm labor.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton was carried on U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls as "Missing in Action" through March 1943 when official word from the Japanese government reached the War Department that he was among 952 U.S. Marine Corps personnel "In Hands of the Enemy".
PFC Louis Merle Eaton, son of J.W. Eaton of Fowler, is a prisoner of war in the Manila area, where he served with the marines. Source: The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas), Wednesday, 31 March 1943, page 10.
Sadly he was already dead by then.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772), U.S. Marine Corps, was stricken with dysentery in October 1942. He died at 10:00 pm, 01 December 1942, while being treated for the disease in the prison hospital. Louis was one of 11 men to die that day. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. He was buried in communal Grave 823 in the camp cemetery along with eleven other deceased American POWs. To see a list of the men he was buried with go to Virtual Cemetery: Cabanatuan Prison Cemetery - Grave 823.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1943
PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING PERSONS DETACHMENT, HQ., U.S. MARINE CORPS
Corporal Louis M. Eaton. On 09 July 1943, his status was changed from "In Hands of the Enemy" to dead. A "letter from CMC reports Easton died of dysentery in a prison camp." Character Excellent.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948 for positive identification. Seven of the 12 men in Grave 823 were identified. Unfortunately, no clothing, personal effects nor any other means of identification were found for him and his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan. He is most likely buried in the Manila American Cemetery as a "Known but to God". The five unknowns are associated with X-517, 518, 521, 524, and 526, Manila Mausoleum #2. There are 953 men like CPL Eaton who were not identified after the war, "unknowns", permanently interred in the Manila American Cemetery from Cabanatuan.
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD"
Corporal Louis Merl Eaton is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marines at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph in Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Meade County, Kansas.
Louis M. Eaton
MCSN: 191772
Entered Service From: Kansas
Rank: Corporal U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: M Company, 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marines
Date of Death: 01 December 1942, from dysentery in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Status: Missing in Action. Most likely buried as an "Unknown" in the Manila American Cemetery
Memorialized: Manila American Cemetery – Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1910 United States Federal Census (09 May 1910): Otoe Township, Noble County, Oklahoma (sheet 11B, family 187, Fard & Bliss Road) – Louis M. Eaton (3 Kansas).
1920 United States Federal Census (14 January 1920): Hooker Township, Texas County, Oklahoma (sheet 2B, family 44) – Merle Eaton (14 Kansas).
Louis M. Eaton enlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the United States Marine Corps on 09 October 1923.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1923 to 04 December 1923
Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Battalion ''A'' on 09 October 1923 "by enlistment at this post." On 04 December 1923 he was transferred to the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 05 December 1923 to 10 February 1925
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, U.S. Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Anti-aircraft Company on 05 December 1923 from Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was given a furlough from 15 to 23 March 1924. He was given another furlough from 24 to 04 January 1925. On 10 February 1925 he was transferred to the First Provisional Battalion Post, same station.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 10 February 1925 to 31 May 1925
Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company "B" on 10 February 1925 from Anti-aircraft Company, same post. He was on detached duty on board U.S.S. MEDUSA from 14 to 27 April 1925. Then went on board the U.S.S. HENDERSON, at sea. On 31 May 1925 he was transferred back to Anti-Aircraft Company, post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 May 1925 to 16 February 1927
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. He joined Anti-Aircraft Company on 31 May 1925 from Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, post.
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). In August 1925 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 02 October 1925 he qualified as a marksman. He was given a furlough from 24 to 03 January 1926. In February 1926 Louis was promoted to Corporal. He was sick in hospital from 05 to 25 July 1926. He was sent to temporary duty at Marine Corps Scoring Detachment, Sea Girt, Camp Moore, New Jersey, from 02 August to 16 September 1926. He was given a furlough from 15 October to 03 November 1926 and another furlough from 23 December 1926 to 03 January 1927. On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 February 1927 to 18 June 1927
Seventeenth Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Western Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment from Anti-Aircraft Company. They were loaded aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON and sent to Nicaragua. He was sick in quarters from 01 to 24 June 1927. On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 June 1927 to July 1927.
Eighteenth Company Second Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company from Seventeenth Company and sent back to Quantico, Virginia. He was transferred to Casual Detachment in July 1927, same post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1927 to 29 October 1927
Casual Detachment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 12 to 13 July he was sick at sick quarters and again from 01 to 12 August 1927. On 29 October 1927 he was discharged at the end of his term of service. Character - Excellent. Home Address, General Delivery, Fowler, Kansas. He was retained for 21 days.
1930 United States Federal Census (09 April 1930): Baltimore (Ward 26), Maryland (sheet 15A, family 252, 606 Rappolla St) – Merle Eaton (25 Kansas, operator, Steel Mill).
Louis M. Eaton reenlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the U.S. Marine Corps on 03 August 1932 at RS Baltimore, Maryland. He was sent to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1932 to 04 February 1933
Barracks Detachment, Post Service Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was given duty at the Post Prison from 04 August 1932 thru 04 February 1933. He was transferred on that date, 04 February 1933, to Marine Barracks, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 February 1933 to 07 February 1933
Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was assigned to the Fourth Marines, in Shanghai, China and sailed on 08 February 1933 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
The U.S.S. HENDERSON arrived in in Shanghai, China on 29 April 1933 and he disembarked for duty on that day.
The 4th Regiment had been sent to China in 1927. They were tasked wtih protecting the lives and property of American citizens in the International Settlement of Shanghai.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 May 1933 to 31 August 1936
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, Shanghai, China
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company ''D'' on 01 May 1933 from MB, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia vis U.S.S. HENDERSON. He was sick in the Regimental Hospital, Shanghai, China for 07-24 November 1933. He was hospitalized again (sick) from 21-25 March 1934 in the Regimental Hospital. Louis was back sick in the Regimental Hospital from 05-11 March 1935. On 31 August 1936 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Mare Island, California, via the USS HENDERSON. It sailed from Shanghai on 01 September 1936.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1936 to 20 October 1936
Casual Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Casual Company from Company ''D'', Shanghai, China via the USS HENDERSON which arrived at Mare Island on 09 October 1936. On 20 October he was transferred to FMF, MCB, San Diego, California on furlough.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 24 October 1936 to 31 March 1938
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, MCB, San Diego, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 24 October 1936 he joined Company ''D'' from Casual Company, Mare Island, California. On 31 March 1938 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia via the USS CHAUMONT.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 May 1938 to 24 May 1938
Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Louis arrived NOB Norfolk, Virginia on 16 May 1938 aboard the USS CHAUMONT. He was sent to MB, Quantico, Virginia on 24 May 1938.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 May 1938 to 06 June 1940
Service Detachment, Post Service Battalion, MB, Quantico, Virginia
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Service Detachment on 25 May 1938 from MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia. He worked as a laborer and maintenance. On 20 August 1938 he was discharged at the end of his enlistment. Character - Very Good. He reenlisted the next day 21 August 1938, same post. In October 1938 he began work as the assistant chief fireman in addition to maintenance. Louis was given a furlough from 19-28 December 1938. He was sick in the USNH, Washington, D. C. from 13 March to 28 April 1939 (while on liberty). On 29 April 1939 he returned to work as the assistant chief fireman and maintenance.
1940 United States Federal Census (10 April 1940): Marine Reservation (Quantico), Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia (sheet 45B, line 63) – Corporal Louis M. Eaton (32 Kansas), U.S.M.C. He had lived in Shanghai, China in 1935. Louis had completed 8th grade.
On 11 May 1939 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 22 November 1939 he was promoted to Corporal. In November 1939 he also received Expeditionary Medal #8691 for service in Shanghai, China, 1933-34. He was given a furlough from 28 December 1939 to 05 January 1940. He came back as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOinC) Fireman Section, Maintenance. On 06 June 1940 he was transferred to MBNYd, Mare Island, California, FFT to MD, Tientain, China, via U.S.S. CHAUMONT.
He arrived at MBNYd, Mare Island, California on 10 June 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and on 19 June 1940 embarked back aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT. She sailed from San Francisco, California on 21 June 1940 for Tientsin, China. The U.S.S. CHAUMONT arrived at Chinwangtao, China on 31 July 1940 where CPL Eaton disembarked and joined Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 July 1940 to 03 August 1940
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He arrived on 31 July 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and was assigned to Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China as Assistant Outside Overseer. On 03 August 1940 he was transferred to Headquarters Detachment, MDAE, Peiping, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1940 to 25 September 1941
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 03 August 1940 he was assigned to Headquarters Detachment at the American Embassy, Peiping, China where he served as a mechanic at the Post Power Plant. By April 1941 he was NCOinC of the Post Water Softening Plant. On 25 September 1941 he was transferred to Cavite, Philippine Islands. He embarked and sailed from Chinwangtao, China aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 October 1941 to 20 December 1941
Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands
Corporal/Private First Class Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Private First Class Eaton arrived at Manila, P.I. aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON on 04 October 1941. He disembarked the same day and was assigned to Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Cavite. With the transition he went from Corporal to Private First Class.
He was one of 700 Marines that was organized as a defense and infantry battalion. The First Separate Marine Battalion at Cavite was trained to function either as infantry or antiaircraft artillery.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On 28 November 1941, all the rest of the Fourth Marines were pulled out of China and sent to the Philippines, where they were to prepare the islands for defense against a Japanese invasion.
War broke out on 08 December 1941 and on 10 December, Cavite was bombed. Private First Class Thomas L. Wetherington was killed by bomb fragments, becoming the first Marine to lose his life in defense of the Philippines. Japanese forces began a full-scale invasion of Luzon on 22 December. In response, General Douglas MacArthur, ordered the withdrawal of the American and Filipino forces to the Bataan peninsula to be a part of the Bataan Defense Force. On 26 December the First Separate Marine Battalion were moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles." Over the next couple of days they were moved to Fort Mills, Corregidor Island. The Marines moved from the dock by narrow-gauge electric railway to their new quarters in Middleside Barracks, a modern concrete, and supposedly bombproof, structure. On 01 January 1942 the First Separate Marine Battalion was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Corporal Eaton was assigned to Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines as part of the beach defenses in the middle sector including the beaches of Bottomside and most of Middleside up to a line including Morrison Hill and Government Ravine (1st Battalion took the east sector, from Malinta Hill to Hooker Point. The 2nd Battalion moved to the west sector). Work began immediately on construction of beach defenses.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 January 1942 to 06 May 1942
Company M, Third Battalion, 4th Marines, Corregidor, Philippine Islands
Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 18 April 1942 he was promoted back to Corporal.
On 09 April 1942, Filipino and U.S. forces on Bataan were surrendered and the Japanese were able to mass artillery for an all-out attack of the Rock from just 2 miles away.
"It took no mental giant," wrote Wainwright, "to figure out, that the enemy was ready to come against Corregidor." On the night of 05-06 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island. Despite heavy resistance by the defenders and severe losses to the Japanese, the enemy was able to push forward. The situation grew more perilous and feeling that further resistance was useless and fearing a possible massacre of 1,000 sick and wounded personnel in Malinta Tunnel, General Wainwright decided to surrender. At 1200, 06 May 1942 the surrender went into effect.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton became a prisoner of war. The prisoners were held in the Kindley Field Garage area. Roughly twelve thousand POW's were crowded into this area. All the wounded who could walk also were ordered to go there, many with broken bones or serious injuries. For seven days they were kept there without food, except for that which could be scavenged by the few POW's who were formed into work parties, to clear away the dead and to remove the rubble caused by Jap artillery. Most of the prisoners got nothing to eat during those seven days. There was only one water spigot for the twelve thousand. A twelve-hour wait to fill one canteen was the usual rule.
On the afternoon of 22 May 1942, the Japanese loaded the prisoners onto three merchant ships and the next day they were transported to Manila. There the POW's were marched down Dewey Boulevard and through the streets in a Japanese "victory" parade to Bilibid Prison. Afterwards prisoners were crammed into boxcars and taken to the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Most of the POWs imprisoned at Cabanatuan were assigned to work details and farm labor.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton was carried on U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls as "Missing in Action" through March 1943 when official word from the Japanese government reached the War Department that he was among 952 U.S. Marine Corps personnel "In Hands of the Enemy".
PFC Louis Merle Eaton, son of J.W. Eaton of Fowler, is a prisoner of war in the Manila area, where he served with the marines. Source: The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas), Wednesday, 31 March 1943, page 10.
Sadly he was already dead by then.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772), U.S. Marine Corps, was stricken with dysentery in October 1942. He died at 10:00 pm, 01 December 1942, while being treated for the disease in the prison hospital. Louis was one of 11 men to die that day. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. He was buried in communal Grave 823 in the camp cemetery along with eleven other deceased American POWs. To see a list of the men he was buried with go to Virtual Cemetery: Cabanatuan Prison Cemetery - Grave 823.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1943
PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING PERSONS DETACHMENT, HQ., U.S. MARINE CORPS
Corporal Louis M. Eaton. On 09 July 1943, his status was changed from "In Hands of the Enemy" to dead. A "letter from CMC reports Easton died of dysentery in a prison camp." Character Excellent.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948 for positive identification. Seven of the 12 men in Grave 823 were identified. Unfortunately, no clothing, personal effects nor any other means of identification were found for him and his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan. He is most likely buried in the Manila American Cemetery as a "Known but to God". The five unknowns are associated with X-517, 518, 521, 524, and 526, Manila Mausoleum #2. There are 953 men like CPL Eaton who were not identified after the war, "unknowns", permanently interred in the Manila American Cemetery from Cabanatuan.
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD"
Corporal Louis Merl Eaton is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marines at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph in Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Meade County, Kansas.
MCSN: 191772
Entered Service From: Kansas
Rank: Corporal U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: M Company, 3rd Battalion, Fourth Marines
Date of Death: 01 December 1942, from dysentery in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Status: Missing in Action. Most likely buried as an "Unknown" in the Manila American Cemetery
Memorialized: Manila American Cemetery – Tablets of the Missing - United States Marine Corps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1910 United States Federal Census (09 May 1910): Otoe Township, Noble County, Oklahoma (sheet 11B, family 187, Fard & Bliss Road) – Louis M. Eaton (3 Kansas).
1920 United States Federal Census (14 January 1920): Hooker Township, Texas County, Oklahoma (sheet 2B, family 44) – Merle Eaton (14 Kansas).
Louis M. Eaton enlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the United States Marine Corps on 09 October 1923.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1923 to 04 December 1923
Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Battalion ''A'' on 09 October 1923 "by enlistment at this post." On 04 December 1923 he was transferred to the Marine Base at Quantico, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 05 December 1923 to 10 February 1925
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, U.S. Fleet, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Anti-aircraft Company on 05 December 1923 from Battalion ''A'', Marine Barracks, Training Station, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was given a furlough from 15 to 23 March 1924. He was given another furlough from 24 to 04 January 1925. On 10 February 1925 he was transferred to the First Provisional Battalion Post, same station.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 10 February 1925 to 31 May 1925
Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company "B" on 10 February 1925 from Anti-aircraft Company, same post. He was on detached duty on board U.S.S. MEDUSA from 14 to 27 April 1925. Then went on board the U.S.S. HENDERSON, at sea. On 31 May 1925 he was transferred back to Anti-Aircraft Company, post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 May 1925 to 16 February 1927
Anti-Aircraft Company, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia. He joined Anti-Aircraft Company on 31 May 1925 from Company "B", First Provisional Battalion, post.
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). In August 1925 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 02 October 1925 he qualified as a marksman. He was given a furlough from 24 to 03 January 1926. In February 1926 Louis was promoted to Corporal. He was sick in hospital from 05 to 25 July 1926. He was sent to temporary duty at Marine Corps Scoring Detachment, Sea Girt, Camp Moore, New Jersey, from 02 August to 16 September 1926. He was given a furlough from 15 October to 03 November 1926 and another furlough from 23 December 1926 to 03 January 1927. On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 February 1927 to 18 June 1927
Seventeenth Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Western Nicaragua, Managua, Nicaragua.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 16 February 1927 he was transferred to Seventeenth Company, Fifth Regiment from Anti-Aircraft Company. They were loaded aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON and sent to Nicaragua. He was sick in quarters from 01 to 24 June 1927. On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 June 1927 to July 1927.
Eighteenth Company Second Battalion, Fifth Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps, Quantico, Virginia.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 25 June 1927 he was transferred to 18th Company from Seventeenth Company and sent back to Quantico, Virginia. He was transferred to Casual Detachment in July 1927, same post.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1927 to 29 October 1927
Casual Detachment, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 12 to 13 July he was sick at sick quarters and again from 01 to 12 August 1927. On 29 October 1927 he was discharged at the end of his term of service. Character - Excellent. Home Address, General Delivery, Fowler, Kansas. He was retained for 21 days.
1930 United States Federal Census (09 April 1930): Baltimore (Ward 26), Maryland (sheet 15A, family 252, 606 Rappolla St) – Merle Eaton (25 Kansas, operator, Steel Mill).
Louis M. Eaton reenlisted as a Private (MCSN 191772) in the U.S. Marine Corps on 03 August 1932 at RS Baltimore, Maryland. He was sent to Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1932 to 04 February 1933
Barracks Detachment, Post Service Battalion, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was given duty at the Post Prison from 04 August 1932 thru 04 February 1933. He was transferred on that date, 04 February 1933, to Marine Barracks, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 February 1933 to 07 February 1933
Marine Barracks, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia.
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He was assigned to the Fourth Marines, in Shanghai, China and sailed on 08 February 1933 via the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
The U.S.S. HENDERSON arrived in in Shanghai, China on 29 April 1933 and he disembarked for duty on that day.
The 4th Regiment had been sent to China in 1927. They were tasked wtih protecting the lives and property of American citizens in the International Settlement of Shanghai.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 May 1933 to 31 August 1936
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Marine Corps Expeditionary Force, Shanghai, China
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Company ''D'' on 01 May 1933 from MB, NOB, Norfolk, Virginia vis U.S.S. HENDERSON. He was sick in the Regimental Hospital, Shanghai, China for 07-24 November 1933. He was hospitalized again (sick) from 21-25 March 1934 in the Regimental Hospital. Louis was back sick in the Regimental Hospital from 05-11 March 1935. On 31 August 1936 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Mare Island, California, via the USS HENDERSON. It sailed from Shanghai on 01 September 1936.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 09 October 1936 to 20 October 1936
Casual Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Casual Company from Company ''D'', Shanghai, China via the USS HENDERSON which arrived at Mare Island on 09 October 1936. On 20 October he was transferred to FMF, MCB, San Diego, California on furlough.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 24 October 1936 to 31 March 1938
Company ''D'', 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade, FMF, MCB, San Diego, California
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 24 October 1936 he joined Company ''D'' from Casual Company, Mare Island, California. On 31 March 1938 he was transferred to MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia via the USS CHAUMONT.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 16 May 1938 to 24 May 1938
Marine Barracks, Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia
Private Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Louis arrived NOB Norfolk, Virginia on 16 May 1938 aboard the USS CHAUMONT. He was sent to MB, Quantico, Virginia on 24 May 1938.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 25 May 1938 to 06 June 1940
Service Detachment, Post Service Battalion, MB, Quantico, Virginia
Private/Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He joined Service Detachment on 25 May 1938 from MB, NYd, Portsmouth, Virginia. He worked as a laborer and maintenance. On 20 August 1938 he was discharged at the end of his enlistment. Character - Very Good. He reenlisted the next day 21 August 1938, same post. In October 1938 he began work as the assistant chief fireman in addition to maintenance. Louis was given a furlough from 19-28 December 1938. He was sick in the USNH, Washington, D. C. from 13 March to 28 April 1939 (while on liberty). On 29 April 1939 he returned to work as the assistant chief fireman and maintenance.
1940 United States Federal Census (10 April 1940): Marine Reservation (Quantico), Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia (sheet 45B, line 63) – Corporal Louis M. Eaton (32 Kansas), U.S.M.C. He had lived in Shanghai, China in 1935. Louis had completed 8th grade.
On 11 May 1939 he was promoted to Private First Class. On 22 November 1939 he was promoted to Corporal. In November 1939 he also received Expeditionary Medal #8691 for service in Shanghai, China, 1933-34. He was given a furlough from 28 December 1939 to 05 January 1940. He came back as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOinC) Fireman Section, Maintenance. On 06 June 1940 he was transferred to MBNYd, Mare Island, California, FFT to MD, Tientain, China, via U.S.S. CHAUMONT.
He arrived at MBNYd, Mare Island, California on 10 June 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and on 19 June 1940 embarked back aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT. She sailed from San Francisco, California on 21 June 1940 for Tientsin, China. The U.S.S. CHAUMONT arrived at Chinwangtao, China on 31 July 1940 where CPL Eaton disembarked and joined Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 31 July 1940 to 03 August 1940
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). He arrived on 31 July 1940 aboard the U.S.S. CHAUMONT and was assigned to Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, Tientsin, China as Assistant Outside Overseer. On 03 August 1940 he was transferred to Headquarters Detachment, MDAE, Peiping, China.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 03 August 1940 to 25 September 1941
Headquarters Detachment, Marine Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping, China
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 03 August 1940 he was assigned to Headquarters Detachment at the American Embassy, Peiping, China where he served as a mechanic at the Post Power Plant. By April 1941 he was NCOinC of the Post Water Softening Plant. On 25 September 1941 he was transferred to Cavite, Philippine Islands. He embarked and sailed from Chinwangtao, China aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 04 October 1941 to 20 December 1941
Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Cavite, Philippine Islands
Corporal/Private First Class Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). Private First Class Eaton arrived at Manila, P.I. aboard the U.S.S. HENDERSON on 04 October 1941. He disembarked the same day and was assigned to Company "A", First Separate Marine Battalion, Cavite. With the transition he went from Corporal to Private First Class.
He was one of 700 Marines that was organized as a defense and infantry battalion. The First Separate Marine Battalion at Cavite was trained to function either as infantry or antiaircraft artillery.
On the 14th of November, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that "The Government of the United States has decided to withdraw the American Marine detachments now maintained ashore in China..." Clouds of war were quickly closing in on the China Marines as Japan and the United States edged ever closer to active hostilities.
On 28 November 1941, all the rest of the Fourth Marines were pulled out of China and sent to the Philippines, where they were to prepare the islands for defense against a Japanese invasion.
War broke out on 08 December 1941 and on 10 December, Cavite was bombed. Private First Class Thomas L. Wetherington was killed by bomb fragments, becoming the first Marine to lose his life in defense of the Philippines. Japanese forces began a full-scale invasion of Luzon on 22 December. In response, General Douglas MacArthur, ordered the withdrawal of the American and Filipino forces to the Bataan peninsula to be a part of the Bataan Defense Force. On 26 December the First Separate Marine Battalion were moved to Mariveles, Bataan. "As night fell on 26 December all personnel, equipment, and supplies were in place in the jungle near Mariveles." Over the next couple of days they were moved to Fort Mills, Corregidor Island. The Marines moved from the dock by narrow-gauge electric railway to their new quarters in Middleside Barracks, a modern concrete, and supposedly bombproof, structure. On 01 January 1942 the First Separate Marine Battalion was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. Corporal Eaton was assigned to Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines as part of the beach defenses in the middle sector including the beaches of Bottomside and most of Middleside up to a line including Morrison Hill and Government Ravine (1st Battalion took the east sector, from Malinta Hill to Hooker Point. The 2nd Battalion moved to the west sector). Work began immediately on construction of beach defenses.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – 01 January 1942 to 06 May 1942
Company M, Third Battalion, 4th Marines, Corregidor, Philippine Islands
Private First Class/Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772). On 18 April 1942 he was promoted back to Corporal.
On 09 April 1942, Filipino and U.S. forces on Bataan were surrendered and the Japanese were able to mass artillery for an all-out attack of the Rock from just 2 miles away.
"It took no mental giant," wrote Wainwright, "to figure out, that the enemy was ready to come against Corregidor." On the night of 05-06 May 1942, Japanese forces landed on the island. Despite heavy resistance by the defenders and severe losses to the Japanese, the enemy was able to push forward. The situation grew more perilous and feeling that further resistance was useless and fearing a possible massacre of 1,000 sick and wounded personnel in Malinta Tunnel, General Wainwright decided to surrender. At 1200, 06 May 1942 the surrender went into effect.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton became a prisoner of war. The prisoners were held in the Kindley Field Garage area. Roughly twelve thousand POW's were crowded into this area. All the wounded who could walk also were ordered to go there, many with broken bones or serious injuries. For seven days they were kept there without food, except for that which could be scavenged by the few POW's who were formed into work parties, to clear away the dead and to remove the rubble caused by Jap artillery. Most of the prisoners got nothing to eat during those seven days. There was only one water spigot for the twelve thousand. A twelve-hour wait to fill one canteen was the usual rule.
On the afternoon of 22 May 1942, the Japanese loaded the prisoners onto three merchant ships and the next day they were transported to Manila. There the POW's were marched down Dewey Boulevard and through the streets in a Japanese "victory" parade to Bilibid Prison. Afterwards prisoners were crammed into boxcars and taken to the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Most of the POWs imprisoned at Cabanatuan were assigned to work details and farm labor.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton was carried on U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls as "Missing in Action" through March 1943 when official word from the Japanese government reached the War Department that he was among 952 U.S. Marine Corps personnel "In Hands of the Enemy".
PFC Louis Merle Eaton, son of J.W. Eaton of Fowler, is a prisoner of war in the Manila area, where he served with the marines. Source: The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kansas), Wednesday, 31 March 1943, page 10.
Sadly he was already dead by then.
Corporal Louis M. Eaton (MCSN 191772), U.S. Marine Corps, was stricken with dysentery in October 1942. He died at 10:00 pm, 01 December 1942, while being treated for the disease in the prison hospital. Louis was one of 11 men to die that day. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. He was buried in communal Grave 823 in the camp cemetery along with eleven other deceased American POWs. To see a list of the men he was buried with go to Virtual Cemetery: Cabanatuan Prison Cemetery - Grave 823.
U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls – July 1943
PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING PERSONS DETACHMENT, HQ., U.S. MARINE CORPS
Corporal Louis M. Eaton. On 09 July 1943, his status was changed from "In Hands of the Enemy" to dead. A "letter from CMC reports Easton died of dysentery in a prison camp." Character Excellent.
After the war, all the remains in the Cabanatuan Prison cemetery that could be found were disinterred (between December 1945 - February 1946) and brought to 7747 USAF Cemetery, Manila #2, Philippine Islands. The deceased in Manila #2 (over 11,000 American soldiers) rested there until their removal to the American Graves Registration Service Manila Mausoleum in the summer of 1948 for positive identification. Seven of the 12 men in Grave 823 were identified. Unfortunately, no clothing, personal effects nor any other means of identification were found for him and his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan. He is most likely buried in the Manila American Cemetery as a "Known but to God". The five unknowns are associated with X-517, 518, 521, 524, and 526, Manila Mausoleum #2. There are 953 men like CPL Eaton who were not identified after the war, "unknowns", permanently interred in the Manila American Cemetery from Cabanatuan.
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD"
Corporal Louis Merl Eaton is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing - United States Marines at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He also has a cenotaph in Fowler Cemetery, Fowler, Meade County, Kansas.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Kansas.
Family Members
Other Records
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