ULEN, MN (KFGO) – After eight decades, a local decorated World War II hero is finally coming home.
The Army is returning the remains of Private First Class John Opgrand. He survived the Bataan death march but died in a prison camp in the Philippines. He was awarded several medals including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Opgrand served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, along with some of his brothers.
“My grandmother was a really strong woman to have five of our sons over in WWII at the same time and fortunately she had four of them come home. I think the patriotism and love that they have is very much apparent in their service,” says Stacy Opgrandzambada, a Great Niece to Opgrand.
Bataan Death March:
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war (POW) from the municipalities of Bagac and Mariveles on the Bataan Peninsula to Camp O’Donnell via San Fernando.
The transfer began on 9 April 1942 after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II. The total distance marched from Mariveles to San Fernando and from the Capas Train Station to various camps was 65 miles (105 km) long. Sources also report widely differing prisoner-of-war casualties prior to reaching Camp O’Donnell: from 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino deaths and 500 to 650 American deaths during the march.
The march was characterized by severe physical abuse and unprovoked killings. If an American POW was caught on the ground or fell, he would be instantly shot.
