Born: June 7, 1918 Corporal, United States Army Service #19006048
H CO, 31ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Date of Enlistment: January 29, 1941 Home or Place of Enlistment: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Date of Loss: March 11, 1945 Buried: Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
Harry Gerlitz enlisted in the Army on January 29, 1941. One year later, he was captured by Imperial Japan while serving in the Philippine Islands, and was sent to Osaka Main Camp Chikko near Osaka, Japan where 4,123 other American POWs were held. Harry's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942, and the last report was made on March 11, 1945. Based on these two reports, Harry was imprisoned for at least 1,039 days (2 years and ~11 months), and died while in Prisoner of War status.