Staff Sergeant Winfred L. Stroope, United States Army Air Forces, served with distinction during World War II. He was captured following the fall of the Philippine Islands on or about May 7, 1942, after months of determined resistance by American and Filipino forces against overwhelming Japanese troops.
Following his capture, Staff Sergeant Stroope endured the infamous Bataan Death March, a brutal 65-mile forced march under extreme heat, starvation, and abuse that claimed thousands of lives. Despite unimaginable hardship, he survived and was held as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese for more than three years.
When hostilities ended in 1945, he was liberated and returned to U.S. military control. His strength, faith, and perseverance through captivity stand as a testament to the courage of all who endured that dark chapter of history. For his service and sacrifice, he was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal.
We honor Staff Sergeant Winfred L. Stroope for his bravery, endurance, and devotion to his country. A true American hero who survived the unthinkable and exemplified the spirit of freedom.
