342:. On January 5, 1942, Wermuth organized a group of 185 Filipinos into a group that became known as "suicide snipers" to counter enemy infiltration behind American lines and as a counter-sniper force. Over the next three weeks he and his force claimed over 500 enemy killed while losing 45 of its own. He was shot in the leg in January while on a successful mission to destroy a bridge and burn an enemy encampment. On February 3, he was shot in the left breast and was carried back to receive treatment. On February 15, he left the medical facility without permission and rejoined his battalion. In early April he fell down a ravine and was seriously injured on a large boulder. He awakened in Field Hospital Number 2 as it was being overrun by Japanese forces.
31:
83:
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an
American surgeon who was also in captivity. In June, he was sent back to Cabanatuan to join a farming detail. In January 1944 his detail was being worked to the point where men were collapsing in the manure. When he demanded that the Japanese commander take it easy on his men, he received a severe beating, damaging his kidneys and sending him back to a hospital.
394:
444:. 160 men were placed in his car and as there was no room to move or sit, were forced to stand for the duration of the 26-hour trip. According to Wermuth, the man beside him died on his feet and was held in place by the crowd for the rest of the trip since there was no room to remove the corpse. In January 1945, he was transported to Formosa aboard the
389:
and placed in charge of a 500-man work detail to construct a runway. During the construction, his crew deliberately sabotaged the runway so that it buckled under the weight of landing bombers. His injuries forced him to be sent back to
Bilibid in January 1943, where he was operated in April 1943 by
479:. On his return, he modestly credited the Filipino scouts for many of his exploits saying, "Ninety percent of the credit for what I did was due to them. They're the best soldiers in the world. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
471:, where his prison camp was liberated by the Russians in August 1945. When he was found, he weighed 105 pounds (48 kg), having weighed 190 pounds (86 kg) earlier in the war. Wermuth returned to the United States on the transport SS
727:"for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, in action against enemy forces from 10 to January 16, 1942", in the Philippine.
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514:, by county commissioners in 1957 following the indictment and resignation of Sheriff Enlow for federal income tax evasion. Wermuth resigned as sheriff on May 1, 1962, in lieu of prosecution on an embezzlement
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1096:
487:
Shortly after the war ended, Olivia
Josephine Oswald, a Filipino nurse, claimed to have married Wermuth December 7, 1941, on the rooftop of the Great Eastern hotel in
491:, though this was disputed by Wermuth. His divorce to Jean was finalized June 4, 1947, and the same day he married Patricia Steele, a 23-year-old parachutist from
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veteran who died in 1937 and his mother was Clara
Natalie Lorenz. His sister, Natalie, was a professional dancer in the Chicago in the 1940s using the
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who mistook it for a troop transport, killing several hundred POWs. Wermuth survived the bombing and was transported by boxcar to
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described him saying, "Defensively, he was a hard man to get through. Offensively, many gains were made through holes he opened."
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961:, March 6, 1962, p. 1. (Fined $ 240 for personal use of $ 37 worth of county paint, was set to resign May 1, 1962, as Sheriff.)
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353:. He became known as the "one-man army of Bataan" and was widely credited with over 116 kills. He also received the
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944:. September 19, 1961. p. 7. (indicted for "illegally obtaining $ 3,673 in county funds over a two-year period.")
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Wermuth's injuries forced him to remain in a
Japanese hospital until May 25, 1942, when he was transported to
318:. It was during this time that he learned wilderness survival skills. He entered active duty January 1941 at
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597:'Art Wermuth, "One-Man Army of Bataan", Was Known As "Just a Regular Guy" During School,' Burton Benjamin,
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as one of 1620 prisoners. Because the prison ship was unmarked, it was bombed
December 15, 1944, at
290:. Wermuth was married to Jean Wilkins, of Chicago, from June 1, 1935, until they divorced in 1947.
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He graduated from North Park
College and Loyola University. At Loyola University, he received a
450:. Wermuth received his fourth Purple Heart due to the injuries sustained when bombers from the
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in 1932. He was an athletic youth and participated in many sports at the academy including in
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On
October 13, 1944, he was transferred back to Bilibid until December, when he boarded the "
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neighborhood at 3631 N. Janssen Avenue. His hometown during World War II was listed as
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784:"Horrors of Trip Aboard Jap Ship Carrying U.S. Prisoners Described," Arthur Wermuth,
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638:"Capt. Wermuth, "One Man Army" Tells of Heroic Stand on Bataan," Arthur Wermuth,
610:"Wermuth's Wife Receives Letter Written Jan. 15," Chicago Tribune. 12 April 1942
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831:'Bataan's "One-Man Army" Arrives, Disclaims Credit for Soldiering Feats,'
771:"Gallant Captain Tells How He Felt When He Was Captured," Arthur Wermuth,
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565:"Widow Finds Secret of Peace in Small Town in Black Hills," Hal Boyle,
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Southport
Neighborhood Association, Chicago. September 2002 Newsletter
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179:
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Lieutenant Ramsey's War: From Horse
Soldier to Guerrilla Commander
982:. - (Wermuth resigned in lieu of prosecution on indicted charges.)
464:
408:
392:
522:, Wermuth led searches for and investigated the disappearance of
495:. He and Patricia adopted an 8 year old named David about 1956.
334:
and was one of a handful of Americans in the primarily Filipino
684:'"One-Man Army" Burns Town, Blows Up Bridge,' Arthur Wermuth,
377:. After Bilibid, he was transported via boxcar to a camp near
1082:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
697:"Capt, Wermuth Reveals How He Was Captured," Arthur Wermuth,
178:(May 3, 1915 – June 13, 1981), dubbed the "One-Man Army of
622:"War Hero Maintains Order as Sheriff," Harold Ellithorpe,
326:, where he remained until April 1941. He was promoted to
651:
None More Courageous - American War Heroes of Today. by
671:"Captain Tells How Snipers Got Japs," Arthur Wermuth,
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In 1948, Wermuth was elected Marshal of City Court in
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None More Courageous - American War Heroes of Today
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518:and was replaced by Harold E. Bray. As sheriff of
1051:The Story of the Enoura Maru and the Men Who Died
569:, Jefferson City, Missouri, August 5, 1954. p. 6.
245:. His teammates nicknamed him "Satch." He played
35:CAPT Arthur W. Wermuth (left) with Filipino aide
927:, Ironwood, Michigan. January 12, 1957. Page 1.
601:, Ironwood, Michigan. February 25, 1942. p. 8.
8:
626:, Anderson, Indiana, October 3, 1957. p. 11.
463:. Next he was transported to Japan, then to
1092:World War II prisoners of war held by Japan
1022:Ramsey, Edwin Price and Stephen J. Rivele.
767:
765:
306:. He served in the infantry reserves as a
29:
18:
1097:American prisoners of war in World War II
866:"War Hero Divorced and Wed in an Hour "
634:
632:
618:
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349:for his actions in January 1942 in the
231:Northwestern Military and Naval Academy
910:"Dianetics leader found in Wichita",
7:
1053:. Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society.
373:. His injuries spared him from the
194:from April 1942 until August 1945.
1077:Civilian Conservation Corps people
799:Deposition of Major Arthur Wermuth
14:
953:"Sheriff Fined For Paint Theft,"
936:"Hero of Bataan Facing Charges,"
302:in 1936 while he was a junior at
896:"Marshal of City Court, Wichita"
475:, arriving November 1, 1945, in
81:
923:"One-Man Army Named Sheriff ,"
381:. In September, he was sent to
218:. His father was a doctor and
1:
1087:Recipients of the Silver Star
995:Achen, Norman and Lee Smart.
330:December 19, 1941, after the
502:. and subsequently arrested
1045:Wermuth, Home of the Heroes
718:Distinguished Service Cross
675:, September 26, 1945. p. 5.
347:Distinguished Service Cross
332:invasion of the Philippines
312:Civilian Conservation Corps
159:Distinguished Service Cross
1113:
520:Jefferson County, Colorado
512:Jefferson County, Colorado
506:in 1951. He was appointed
324:Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
298:Wermuth received his Army
229:Wermuth was a graduate of
176:Arthur William Wermuth Jr.
16:United States Army officer
972:Turbulent Sixties 1960-69
28:
959:Jefferson City, Missouri
584:January 5, 2011, at the
88:United States of America
44:"One-Man Army of Bataan"
624:Anderson Daily Bulletin
314:and was stationed near
304:Northwestern University
253:in football and was an
216:Traverse City, Michigan
912:Los Angeles Daily News
412:
411:, December 14–15, 1944
336:57th Infantry Regiment
132:Philippine Scouts
128:57th Infantry Regiment
1008:Holbrook, Stewart H.
978:June 8, 2011, at the
786:The Coshocton Tribune
775:, September 28, 1945.
707:, September 27, 1945.
705:Lowell, Massachusetts
688:, September 27, 1945.
686:The Coshocton Tribune
673:The Coshocton Tribune
642:, September 24, 1945.
640:The Coshocton Tribune
524:Coors Brewing Company
396:
345:Wermuth received the
106:Years of service
942:Petersburg, Virginia
901:, November 15, 1948.
857:, February 11, 1946.
743:, February 23, 1942.
716:Home of the Heroes.
599:Ironwood Daily Globe
316:Watersmeet, Michigan
202:Wermuth was born in
1026:. Brassey's, 1996.
841:, November 2, 1945.
530:within his county.
284:Bachelor of Science
265:he participated in
169:(at least 4 awards)
71:Grants Pass, Oregon
955:Daily Capital News
938:The Progress-Index
820:Oryoku Maru Roster
805:2011-07-23 at the
788:, October 4, 1945.
723:2009-01-07 at the
552:2016-03-04 at the
413:
375:Bataan Death March
371:New Bilibid Prison
184:United States Army
100:United States Army
914:, April 15, 1951.
851:"Marriage claims"
839:Billings, Montana
759:, March 16, 1942.
579:SJNMA Alumni list
467:, Korea, then to
433:by aircraft from
340:Philippine Scouts
308:second lieutenant
173:
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23:Arthur W. Wermuth
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403:under attack at
261:in baseball. In
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147:Battle of Bataan
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473:Marine Shark
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442:San Fernando
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359:Purple Heart
344:
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294:World War II
288:Bacteriology
281:
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257:with a .299
228:
204:South Dakota
201:
188:World War II
175:
174:
167:Purple Heart
142:World War II
138:Battles/wars
66:(1981-06-13)
55:South Dakota
1072:1981 deaths
1067:1915 births
997:Go With God
925:Daily Globe
460:Enoura Maru
447:Enoura Maru
422:Oryoku Maru
400:Oryoku Maru
355:Silver Star
351:Philippines
220:World War I
163:Silver Star
52:May 3, 1915
41:Nickname(s)
1061:Categories
1034:. page 72.
880:"Marriage"
534:References
379:Cabanatuan
357:and three
320:Fort Brady
300:commission
255:outfielder
224:stage name
198:Background
77:Allegiance
457:attacked
431:Subic Bay
417:hell ship
383:Lipa City
365:Captivity
182:," was a
109:1936–1948
1012:. 1942.
976:Archived
803:Archived
721:Archived
655:. 1942.
582:Archived
550:Archived
483:Post war
427:Olongapo
405:Olongapo
387:Batangas
276:Log Book
267:shot put
243:baseball
239:football
212:Lakeview
94:Service/
508:sheriff
338:of the
328:Captain
310:in the
226:Talia.
208:Chicago
130:of the
1030:
1016:
1002:
659:
516:charge
489:Manila
469:Mukden
454:Hornet
437:Hornet
271:discus
251:tackle
190:and a
180:Bataan
155:Awards
96:branch
465:Pusan
409:Luzon
247:guard
118:Major
1028:ISBN
1014:ISBN
1000:ISBN
899:Time
884:Time
855:Time
757:Time
741:Time
657:ISBN
452:USS
435:USS
397:The
269:and
249:and
235:crew
124:Unit
114:Rank
61:Died
49:Born
510:of
429:in
286:in
210:'s
1063::
957:,
940:,
882:,
853:,
837:,
764:^
755:,
739:,
703:,
631:^
615:^
419:"
407:,
385:,
322:,
237:,
1047:.
822:.
809:.
588:.
556:.
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