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Submitted: 8/3/22 • Approved: 8/5/22 • Last Updated: 8/8/22 • R529396-G0-S3
SERGEANT US Marine Corps
4th Regiment
World War II
January 25, 1920 - July 31, 1943
Prisoner of War
Joe Bill Chastain was living in Waco, McLennan County, Texas when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served during WWII. Joe B. Chastain was a Sgt who served with the 4th Marines.
He had fought on Bataan against the Japanese during the early war days. He served 2 years in the Marine Corp before the Pearl Harbor attack on 12-7-1941.
Sgt. Chastain was captured by the Japanese. and was imprisoned in Mukden, Manchura in the Hoten prisoner of war camp. He and two others (Corporal Victor Paliotti, USMC, and Frederick Merringola, USN) escaped Hoten POW camp on June 21, 1943. They were all recaptured and brought back to Hoten on 7-12-43. On July 31, 1943 Sgt Chastain was executed by the Japanese In the Hoten P.O.W. camp.
He is laid to rest in Rosemound Cemetery in Waco, Mclennan County, Texas beside his parents and his 2 brothers, Pat Chastain, and S.E. Chastain Jr.
Contributed on 8/3/22 by texasfindagraver
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Record #: 529396