Prior to U.S. entry in World War II, the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, of the U.S. Army Air Forces activated on Oct. 1, 1941 in the Philippines. They became involved in the fight for Luzon in the Spring of 1942. In December of 1942, they withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula. Fighting continued in the Battle of Bataan until the US Army surrendered on April 8, 1942. US and Philippine military members were forced to take part in what became called the Bataan Death March.
The conditions at the camps were terrible. Food and water were limited. Prisoners were tortured and killed during the march and at the camps. Others died of malnutrition, dehydration, malaria, and dysentery. An estimated nearly 3,000 Americans died and were buried in the Cabanatuan camp alone.
Lafayette and Grant County airman James A. Duncan served with the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
James Andrew Duncan was born on Sept. 2, 1921 in Lafayette County to Charles Henry and Katherine (Andrews) Duncan.
From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Duncan family lived in Benton Township in Lafayette County. The household included father Henry, mother Catherine, and children Elizabeth, Doris, James, Phyllis, Myrtle and Grace. Father Henry was a farmer.
From the 1940 U.S. Census, the Duncan family lived in the same house they lived in 1935 in Benton Township. The household included both parents and all the children except Doris. Son James had four years of high school. Father Henry was a farmer working on his own account. Son James was a truck driver in the soil erosion industry for paid wages.
On Aug. 6, 1940, James A. Duncan enlisted in Milwaukee for service as a Private in the Air Corps. He was employed in “skilled occupations in production of bakery products.”
From the Aug. 15, 1940 The Capital Times article titled “Four Enlist at Monroe Army Recruiting Office,” the article stated “Sgt. Chester Shaw, army recruiting officer here, announced that four men from this area had been assigned as follows: James A. Duncan, Platteville, and Valmore Matte, Hazel Green, to the third air base squadron, Selfridge, Mich…”
It is not known when Duncan joined the 17th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
From the Prisoner of War Record, James A. Duncan was held at PW Cap #1, Cabanatuan 1-2-3, Nueva Province Luzon, Philippines. He was moved to this camp on May 7, 1942 as a prisoner of war.
In the Aug. 3, 1944 The Platteville Journal and Grant County News, there was a notice that “Pfc. James A. Duncan, Cuba City, was killed in action in the Philippines. He was a machine gunner on a bomber.”
From the Sept. 20, 1944 Wisconsin State Journal notice of Wisconsin Casualties, the list included Pfc. James A. Duncan, who was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Duncan in Hazel Green.
From the July 4, 1946 The Cassville American, “88 Grant County Army Boys Pay With Lives During World War II,” the list of “those who failed to return,” included PFC James A. Duncan, DNB.
According to the U.S. WWII and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas records, PFC James A. Duncan died on June 25, 1942. His last known status was “Missing.” According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, PFC James A. Duncan remains unaccounted for.
The information provided about PFC Duncan included that “He was captured in Bataan following the American surrender and died of malaria on June 25, 1942, at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp in Nueva Ecija Province. He was buried in a communal grave in the camp cemetery along with deceased American POWs; however, his remains could not be associated with any remains recovered from Cabanatuan after the war. Today, Private First Class Duncan is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.”
PFC Duncan was also memorialized a cenotaph memorial marker at Hazel Green Cemetery in Hazel Green in Grant County.
PFC James A. Duncan received the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal, awarded posthumously. He was listed on the National Archives Honor Roll as being from Grant County (likely due to the residence of his parents there at his time of death). His death status was DNB.
Thank you, Private First Class James Andrew Duncan, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.
