PVT William R Balsley

William Jasper Balsley was born on February 5, 1919, in Lima, Ohio. He grew up in a working-class family during the years of the Great Depression, where hard work and perseverance were instilled in him from an early age. Known among family and friends as “Bill,” he was remembered for his kind personality, strong work ethic, and his dedication to helping support his family. Bill attended Greensboro Senior High School graduating with the class of 1934. Afterwards, he attended Ballentine College of Commerce and Virginia Tech.

Bill joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in September, 1940, and was assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment, Philippine Division. Stationed in the Philippines, his unit became part of the island’s defense against the Japanese invasion following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

Balsley fought bravely during the grueling defense of Bataan, where American and Filipino forces endured severe shortages of food, medicine, and supplies while holding off overwhelming Japanese forces. Despite their courageous efforts, Bataan was surrendered in April 1942.

Following the surrender, Balsley was among the thousands of American and Filipino troops forced into captivity. He endured the infamous Bataan Death March, a brutal 65-mile forced march in sweltering heat with little food or water. Many prisoners perished from exhaustion, starvation, disease, or mistreatment.

Surviving the march, Bill was confined in various Japanese prison camps under harsh and inhumane conditions. Like many POWs, he suffered malnutrition, disease, and forced labor, yet he remained resilient and drew strength from the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers.

In 1944, as Allied forces advanced in the Pacific, the Japanese began transferring prisoners from the Philippines to Japan and other territories to serve as forced labor. These transports, known as “hell ships,” were overcrowded cargo vessels where POWs were packed into sweltering holds without adequate food, water, or sanitation.

On September 7, 1944, Balsley was among the more than 700 American POWs loaded onto the Sinyo Maru, an unmarked Japanese transport ship. Off the coast of Mindanao, the vessel was attacked and sunk by an American submarine, unaware that Allied prisoners were on board. Tragically, nearly all the prisoners perished, including Private William J. Balsley. He was 25 years old.

His remains are unrecoverable. Bill is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, where his name is inscribed among the many who gave their lives in the Pacific and have no known grave.