Penrod L. Reader
Service # 6915752
Rank: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 16th Bomber Squadron, 27th Bomber Group, Light
Entered Service From: Nebraska
Date of Death: 12 July 1942, of malaria and inanition (lack of nourishment) in the Japanese POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121.
Buried: Manila American Cemetery – Plot F, Row 5, Grave 77.
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Penrod Louis Reader was the youngest son and second to the youngest child of Frank and Iris Reader.

1930 United States Federal Census (10 April 1930): Kimball, Antelope Township, Kimball County, Nebraska (sheet 13A, family 319, 400 South Chestnut St) Penrod Reader (9 Nebraska)

1935 Kimball, Kimball County, Nebraska.

Penrod graduated from Kimball County High School in May 1938. He was active in the drama program at school. He was also a Boy Scout.

Penrod L. Reader (born Nebraska), a resident of Kimball County, Nebraska enlisted as a Private (S/N 06915752) on 29 November 1939 in the U.S. Army Air Corps for the Philippine Department. He was single and working in the leather manufacturing business. Penrod listed with his good friend Eugene Tebrinke.

PENROD READER AND GENE TEBRINKE TO U.S. AIR SCHOOL
Penrod Reader and Gene Tebrinke left Sunday for Rantoul, Illinois, where they will take an entrance examination to a three year government air training school. Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 30 November 1939, page 1.

Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Reader received word Friday that their son, Penrod, who left a week ago Sunday to take an entrance examination to a three year government air training school at Rantoul, Illinois, passed the examination and is now a member of the Fifth School's Squadron of the Chanute Field at Rantoul. Gene Tebrinke, who accompanied him to Rantoul was given the *examination Tuesday. Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 07 December 1939, page 5.
*he passed as well

Monthly Roster of Troops – November 1939 to 22 December 1939
Fifth School Squadron, Air Corps, Chanute Field, Illinois
Private Penrod L. Reader (S/N 6915752). He enlisted and joined on 29 November 1939. On 22 December 1939 he was transferred to the 10th Air Base Squadron, same post.

Robert E. Tebrinke (S/N 6915753) enlisted and joined Fifth School Squadron the same day.

Monthly Roster of Troops – 22 December 1939 to 31 December 1939
10th Air Base Squadron (SP), Air Corps, Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois
Private Penrod L. Reader (S/N 6915752). On 22 December 1939 he was transferred to the 10th Air Base Squadron from the Fifth School Squadron.

There are no more Monthly Roster of Troops records online after 1939.

1940 United States Federal Census (30 April 1940): Chanute Field (Fourth School Squadron, Air Corps), Rantoul Township, Champaign County, Illinois (sheet 10A, line 3) – Penrod L. Reader (19 Nebraska, Soldier, U.S. Army). He had lived in Kimball, Kimball County, Nebraska in 1935. Pen had completed four years of high school.

July 1941 - Penrod Reader, stationed at Rantoul, Illinois was given a fifteen-day furlough and went home to visit his parents (5-14 July).

At the end of July 1941 Private Reader was assigned to the 16th Bomber Squadron, 27th Bomber Group, Light and stationed at Savannah Army Air Base, Georgia. Reader was a tail gunner on an A-24. The A-24 was a two-person plane with two .50-caliber fixed machine guns in the nose and twin .30-caliber flexible machine guns in the rear cockpit. The aircraft had a range of 950 miles and carried 1,200 pounds of bombs.

In a letter from Penrod to a relative in September 1941, while at Lake Charles, Louisiana, participating in a mock warfare operation, he wrote: "We are camped in a pine grove about two miles from the Air Port. It is a regular swamp and has all the trimmings such as snakes, lizards, mosquitoes, and ants. Apparently I am a delicacy to them cause they certainly feast on me. Last nite I was too tired to sleep soundly, and I tossed around quite a bit. Sometimes during the nite my leg slipped out from under the mosquito bar and was, shall we say, exposed?" Source: https://www.westernnebraskaobserver.net/story/2021/05/27/news/the-penrod-reader-story/7240.html

During the last part of September 1941 the 16th Bombardment Squadron received orders to go to the Philippine Islands.

12 October 1941– 16th Bombardment Squadron (L) – Savannah Army Air Base, Georgia –Corporal Penrod L. Reader; "Left Hunter Field, Savannah, GA., 10-21-41, for Philippines Dept."

His squadron shipped out on the SS President Coolidge, leaving San Francisco on 01 November 1941. They stopped in Hawaii on 06 November 1941 and arrived in Manila on 20 November 1941. They arrived in the Philippines ahead of their aircraft, which was suppose to be 52 A-24s. His unit was composed of 804 men. They were temporarily billeted in Ft. McKinley, living in tents on the golf course. They worked at the nearby airfield, Nichols Field, which was slated to be their future home if the war had not interfered.

Just three weeks later war came to the Philippines - 08 December 1941 Manila time. The day Pearl Harbor was bombed, the 52 A-24s (light bombers), assigned to the 27th Bomb Group were in a large convoy between Hawaii and the Fiji Islands. Besides the A-24s, the convoy also carried artillery pieces, tanks and ammunition, along with 3 more regiments of soldiers. When the convoy reached the Fiji Islands on Dec. 9, they were ordered back to Hawaii. The 27th Bomb Group never received their planes.

On 22 December 1941 the main Japanese invasion forces landed on Luzon.

With no planes to man, Penrod's unit was assigned infantry duty as part of the Bataan Defense force. "When the order came to go to Bataan, the men of the 27th Bomb group were given WW I issue Springfield rifles, shovels, and hand grenades, also WW I issue. This equipment was stored in warehouses in Manila and was suppose to be used by the Philippine Army, which was never completely created, at that point. Christmas Eve, the 27th Bomb Group was trucked down to Pier 5 in Manila and put on a ship called the "Lamao", which was like an inter-island ferry, and taken during the night to the dock on Mariveles, Bataan.

RECEIVE WORD FROM SON IN MANILA
Word was received Monday by Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Reader, from their son, Penrod, who is stationed with the U.S. Army at Manila, that he and Gene Tebrinke are fine and are getting little sleep but seeing lots of action. Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 25 December 1941, page 1.

On 09 January 1942 the battle for Bataan began.

Once on Bataan, they were put on the battle lines. Their newly formed units were referred to as Provisional Infantry Regiments. These Provisional Infantry units were composed of Air Men, who in most cases had never had any infantry combat training. Most had to be taught how to put bullets into their rifles and how to use hand grenades, and how to dig a proper foxhole. It was akin to on-the-job training. Although clumsy, at times, comical, and, at times, very shaky, they performed valiantly. It was not pretty, but they did their job.

From the very beginning, Bataan men were cut to 1/2 rations, and very soon, to 1/4 rations. About four weeks later, they were living on 1/8 rations, that is, when food was available to them. Towards the end, it was changed to 1/16th of their rations...Quite often, they would go several days with no food, unless they could catch something in the jungle." Source: Federico Baldassarre letter

In the wake of starvation came diseases, such as malaria, dengue, scurvy, beriberi and amebic dysentery. The average American Soldier lost 15-25 pounds and malaria was as high as 35 percent among front line units.

Cablegram from Son; Presume Philippines
Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Reader received a cablegram yesterday morning from their son, Penrod, stating that he and Gene Tebrinke are both safe and in good health, and for their folks to "not worry" about them. It is presumed that they are somewhere in the Pacific although the heading of the cablegram was all in code. This is the first word from the boys since December 23, when a cablegram was received from Manila stating that they were getting little sleep but seeing plenty of action. Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 02 April 1942, page 1.

On Good Friday, 03 April 1942, General Homma, with the addition of fresh troops, began an all-out offensive on Bataan. By the evening of 08 April, the situation was clearly hopeless. With ammunition, rations and supplies practically exhausted and most of his best units destroyed, Major General Edward P. King, commander of the forces on Bataan, was convinced his troops could not physically resist any more and decided to surrender to prevent further loss of life. On 09 April 1942, Maj. Gen. King surrendered the Luzon Force to the Japanese. Numbering more than 75,000 (Americans and Filipinos ), it was the largest American army in history to surrender. Staff Sergeant Penrod L. Reader, was subjected to the infamous Bataan Death March.

When the Fil-American soldiers began the Death March they were in terrible physical condition. For 6 to 9 days (depending on their starting point) they were forced to walk the roughly sixty-five miles to San Fernando, enduring abuse by Japanese guards and seeing the deaths of thousands of fellow soldiers. At San Fernando, the Japanese stuffed about 100 men into steel-sided boxcars for the twenty-five-mile trip to Capas. The scorching hot boxcars were packed so tight that the men could not even sit down. When the train arrived at Capas the POW's were offloaded and marched the final nine miles to Camp O'Donnell.

Surviving the brutal treatment by the Japanese at Camp O'Donnell (about 1500 American and 22,000 Filipino prisoners of war died in just three months) S/Sgt. Penrod was transferred to the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1, approximately 8 kilometers east of the town by the same name.

In early June of 1942, prisoners from Camp O'Donnell began to stream into Camp No. 1, joining the men from Corregidor and increasing the number of prisoners to over 7,300 men. Because of the poor health of the men from O'Donnell, the death rate at Camp #1 soared.

Staff Sergeant, Penrod L. Reader died on 12 July 1942 at 10:00 p.m., a prisoner of the Japanese at POW Camp 1, Cabanatuan, Nueva Province, Luzon, Philippines 15-121. The official cause of death was listed as malaria and inanition (lack of nourishment). He was one of 43 men to die that day in the Camp 1. In all 786 men died in the prison during the month of July. By the time the camp was liberated in early 1945, 2,764 Americans had died at Cabanatuan in 2½ years. 90% of the POW deaths in Cabanatuan were men who were captured on Bataan. He was buried in a communal grave in the camp cemetery along with other deceased American POWs who died that day.

His friend, Gene Tebrinke, who had enlisted with Penrod also died in the Cabanatuan Prison Camp four months later on 30 November 1942.
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Penrod Reader Missing Since Fall Philippines
Official word from the war department at Washington, D. C., was received Monday morning by Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Reader that their son, Penrod L. Reader, 21, was reported missing from action in the Philippines.

Reader was graduated from the Kimball county high school with the class of 1939 and enlisted in the army in the fall of that year.

Stationed in the Philippine Islands, the army announcement stated he was either a prisoner or had been one of the fatalities of the battle of the Philippines, fought in the spring, and that definite information would be released as soon as the official list is received in Washington. Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 27 August 1942, page 1.

WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON
February 6, 1943

In Reply AD 201 Reader, Penrod L.
Refer to (1-28-43) PC-G
Mr. Frank E. Reader
Kimball, Nebraska

Dear Mr. Reader:
Reference is made to your letter of January 28, 1943, in which you request information relative to your son, Corporal Penrod L. Reader, 6,915,752, who is being carried on the records of the War Department as missing in action in the Philippines since May 7, 1942.

The desire for news concerning your son is fully understood and I regret that no report has been received regarding his whereabouts. The War Department is receiving partial lists of prisoners of war through the International Red Cross, but to date the name of this soldier has not been found on any of the lists. I assure you that everything possible is being done to obtain information relative to the whereabouts and condition of United States Army personnel who were serving in the Philippines at the time of the surrender and when a report is received concerning Corporal Reader, you will be notified immediately.

It is understood that the American Red Cross is accepting messages for delivery to persons who are being carried as missing in action in the Philippines and that those messages must be submitted on forms furnished by the Red Cross. For further information relative to sending a message to your son, it is suggested that you contact your local chapter of the Red Cross, giving his grade, full name and army serial number.

The War Department has no information from diaries of the person named in your letter.

Very truly your,
J. A. ULIO
Major General,
The Adjutant General

WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE
WASHINGTON
May 7, 1943

In Reply
Refer To
AG 201 Reader, Penrod L.
(5-7-43) PC-S
Mr. Frank E. Reader
Kimball, Nebraska

Dear Mr. Reader:
The records of the War Department show that your son, Corporal Penrod L. Reader, 6,915,752, Air Corps, missing in action in the Philippine Islands since May 7, 1942.

All available information concerning your son has been carefully considered and under the provisions of Public Law 490, 77th Congress, as amended, an official determination has been made continuing him on the records of the War Department in a missing status.

I fully appreciate your concern and deep interest. You will, without further request on your part, receive immediate notification of any change in your son's status. I regret that the far-flung operations of the present war, the ebb and flow of combat over great distances in isolated areas, and the characteristics of our enemies impose upon some of us this heavy burden of uncertainty with respect to the safety of our loved ones.

Very truly your,
J. A. ULIO
Major General,
The Adjutant General
Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 16 September 1943, page 3.

"The individual named in this report of death is held by the War Department to have been in a beleaguered status from 8 Dec 1941 to and including 6 May 1942 and absent in a missing in action status on or subsequent to 7 May 1942 and until such absence was terminated on 29 July 1945, on which date evidence considered sufficient to establish the fact of death on 12 July 1945, was rec'd by the Secretary of War from a commander in the Southwest Pacific Area."

PENROD READER DIED IN PRISON JULY 12, 1942
After three years Mrs. Iris Reader received official word of the death of her son, Staff Sergeant Penrod L. Reader, Monday.

Until Monday's official word from the War Department, Sgt. Reader had been carried on the records as missing in the Philippines since May 7, 1942.

The following is copy of the telegram:
Washington, D.C.
10:31 a.m., July 30

Frank E. Reader
Kimball, Nebraska

I am deeply distressed to inform you corrected report just received states your son Staff Sergeant Penrod L. Reader who was previously reported missing in action died on twelve July, nineteen, forty-two in Philippine Islands as a result of malaria and inanition.

The Secretary of War asks that I express his deep sympathy in your loss and his regret that unavoidable circumstances made necessary the unusual lapse of time in reporting your son's death to you. Confirming letter follows.

EDWARD F. WISELL
Acting the Adjutant General
Source: The Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball, Nebraska), Thursday, 02 August 1945, page 1.
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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 – Block 3, Row 13, Grave 1577 (D-D No. 10056). 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. From there, according to the wishes of his next of kin (mother, Mrs. Iris Reader), Staff Sergeant Penrod L. Reader was buried in his final resting place in August 1949 in the 7701 Ft. McKinley Cemetery (now known as the Manila American Cemetery) – Plot F, Row 5, Grave 77. When Penrod was re-interned in Manila, his sisters Barbara and Alice traveled to the Philippines for the ceremony.

He also has a cenotaph in the Kimball Cemetery, Kimball, Kimball County, Nebraska.