Born: April 23, 1917 Private First Class, United States Army Service #20915128
E BATTERY, 59TH COAST ARTILLERY REGIMENT, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Date of Enlistment: August 7, 1941 Home or Place of Enlistment: Blackfoot, Idaho Date of Loss: October 24, 1944
Murl B. Parsons enlisted in the Army on August 7, 1941. One year later, he was captured by Imperial Japan while serving in the Philippine Islands, and was sent to PW Camp #1 near Cabanatuan, Luzon, Philippines where 3,213 other American POWs were held. Murl's capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on May 7, 1942, and the last report was made on October 24, 1944. Based on these two reports, he was imprisoned for at least 901 days (2 years and ~7 months). Murl died in the sinking of the Arisan Maru on October 24, 1944 while in Prisoner of War status.