Early Life in the Heartland (1906–1925)
Willard Ira Winsor was born on July 20, 1906, in Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, to Frank F. Winsor and his wife. He grew up in rural Kansas and Nebraska, eventually settling in Baileyville, Seneca, and Oneida, Kansas, where his family became well-known in the community.
By 1920, the Winsor family moved briefly to Columbus Junction, Iowa, but Willard remained in Seneca to complete his education. He attended Seneca Public High School, where he was a member of the Class of 1925, and was affectionately known by his classmates as “Murphy.” Willard was active in student life and participated in basketball and other school activities, earning admiration for both his academic and athletic achievements.
Shortly after graduating high school, Willard left Kansas for Chicago, then quickly decided to begin a career in military service—signing up with the United States Navy in late 1925, beginning what would become a distinguished 19-year military career.
Building a Naval Career (1925–1941)
Service on the USS Texas
After enlisting, Willard began his naval career aboard the USS Texas, one of the Navy’s premier battleships at the time. He served as a clerk and stenographer for the admiral, a position that required integrity, discipline, and exceptional clerical skill. In January 1928, he was among the crew selected to transport President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady to Havana, Cuba, an honor reflecting the trust placed in him.
Marriage and Family Life
On May 10, 1930, Willard married Margaret Brunn of New York City. Margaret worked for the Wall Street Journal, and the newlyweds intended to settle in Los Angeles after Willard’s service concluded.
Their daughter, Elva Frances Winsor, was born on July 24, 1932, in Newport, Rhode Island. Unfortunately, Margaret’s health deteriorated after childbirth due to tuberculosis, and she passed away in March 1935 in San Diego, California. With her mother gone, young Elva was raised by Willard’s parents, primarily in Baileyville and later Hanover, Kansas.
Submarine Service and Duty in Panama
By the mid-1930s, Willard transitioned to submarine service, a role requiring technical skill, precision, and resilience. He was stationed at San Diego before being transferred to the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, where he served as yeoman on a submarine. He was assigned to both the USS Pike (SS-173) and the USS Sturgeon (SS-187) between 1939 and 1940 while stationed at Coco Solo Naval Base, Panama.
In April 1938, he was transferred back to the United States, with plans to be stationed at the Mare Island Naval Yard, California, still serving aboard submarines.
World War II and Captivity (1941–1944)
Stationed in Manila During the Japanese Invasion
By the early 1940s, as war loomed in the Pacific, Willard was stationed in Manila, Philippines. When Japan launched its offensive across the Pacific following the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines became an immediate target.
Despite courageous American and Filipino resistance, Manila fell to Japanese forces in May 1942. Willard was captured shortly after the fall of Corregidor, along with thousands of other American servicemen. He was interned in Bilibid Prison, a notorious Japanese POW camp in Manila.
Life as a Prisoner of War
As a Chief Yeoman, Willard was one of the senior non-commissioned naval personnel in captivity. Though held under brutal conditions, he reportedly remained in good health and high spirits for much of his imprisonment. One fellow prisoner, Marine Sgt. Kenneth Mize, who later escaped, recalled Willard’s resilience and good humor, even during periods of extreme deprivation. The two shared a memorable moment cooking a dog for food—Mize wistfully wishing he were back in Seneca, Kansas, a place Willard knew well.
The Arisan Maru and Willard’s Final Voyage (October 1944)
The Tragedy at Sea
In October 1944, Willard was among approximately 1,782 American prisoners of war forced aboard the Arisan Maru, a Japanese transport ship bound for the Japanese mainland. The vessel bore no markings to indicate it carried prisoners of war—a direct violation of international conventions.
On October 24, 1944, while sailing in the South China Sea, the USS Snook, an American submarine unaware of the ship’s cargo, torpedoed and sank the Arisan Maru. The disaster occurred 200 miles northwest of Luzon, in one of the war’s deadliest maritime tragedies. 1,777 POWs died, including Willard. Only nine prisoners survived, making the Arisan Maru incident the greatest single loss of American life at sea in U.S. naval history.
Burial, Honors, and Remembrance (1945–Present)
Recognition of Sacrifice
Following the war, Willard’s death was confirmed, and his daughter Elva, now a teenager, was formally notified. In 1945, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. In February 1948, Elva Frances Winsor accepted the Bronze Star Medal on her father’s behalf in a solemn public ceremony held at the First Methodist Church in Hiawatha, Kansas. The citation read at the event honored Willard for heroic actions in defense of Corregidor, where he had risked his life to save fellow servicemen.
Memorials
Willard Winsor is memorialized in two key locations:
- Mount Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, Kansas, where a cenotaph honors his life and service.
- Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines, alongside thousands of other American servicemen lost in the Pacific.
His official Service Number was 03680734, and he is also listed in the U.S. Navy Casualties Book, 1776–1941, under the Prisoner of War Dead list.
Legacy
Willard Ira Winsor’s life story reflects unwavering dedication, resilience, and bravery. From his small-town Kansas roots to battleships and submarines, from clerical work for admirals to the brutal conditions of enemy captivity, he served with distinction and honor. His ultimate sacrifice aboard the Arisan Maru stands as a solemn reminder of the cost of war.
In the words of the Bronze Star citation read at his 1948 memorial:
“He disregarded his own life in saving the lives of many of his comrades. His gallantry in action on Corregidor reflected great credit upon himself and the Naval service.”
Willard’s name lives on—not just etched in stone, but in the memory of a grateful nation and in the heart of his daughter, who accepted his medals and carried forward his story.
SOURCES
Seneca Public High School
The Cub 1925 Yearbook
Senior Willard Winsor – nickname Murphy
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Find a Grave memorial 91273901
Willard Ira Winsor
Birth 20 Jul 1906
Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, USA
Death 24 Oct 1944 (aged 38)
At Sea
Burial Mount Hope Cemetery
Hiawatha, Brown County, Kansas, USAAdd to Map
Memorial ID 91273901 ·
Memorial stone. Chief Yeoman, US Navy. Lost at Sea during World War II. Service No. 03680734. Awarded Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Submariner who served aboard the USS Sturgeon (SS-187) and USS Pike (SS-173) during 1939-1940; unclear what submarine he served on when lost.
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Find a Grave Memorial 56778282
CY Willard Ira Winsor VVeteran
Birth
20 Jul 1906
Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska, USA
Death
24 Oct 1944 (aged 38)
At Sea
MonumentRead More
Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, PhilippinesAdd to Map
Plot
Tablets of the Missing
Service No. #3680734
Entered the Service from: Arkansas
Awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart
U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 lists an addition to the listing of Prisoner of War Dead List of the following: Winsor, Willard Ira, Chief Yeomen, USN. Daughter, Miss Elva Francis Winsor, %Mr. and Mrs. Frank F. Winsor; Hanover, Kansas. See Memorial ID 67939132.
Information below gleaned from: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?57991
Greatest Maritime US Loss in Maritime History. On 24th October 1944, the ARISAN MARU carrying 1782 US POWs was hit by 3 torpedoes from American submarine USS SNOOK in the South China Sea, 200 miles N.W. of Luzon Island, Philippines. ARISAN MARU was carrying 1.782 US prisoners, 125 Japanese passengers and 204 crew from Manila to Japan. 1777 POWs died including Willard. Only 9 POWs survive. This makes her the greatest loss of American life in maritime history. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?57991
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The Faifield Auxiliary
20 Dec 1945
page 1
Willard Winsor Awarded Purple Heart Posthumously
Word has been received from Mr. F. F. Winsor of Hiawatha, Kansas (formerly of Fairfield) that their granddaughter, Elva Frances Winsor, received the Purple Heart which had been awarded posthumously to her father, Willard Winsor, a chief yeoman who was one of the first captives placed in a prison camp in the Philippines. Later he was placed on board a Japanese freighter, apparently en route to Japan with a convoy of Japanese ships. It bore no mark to indicate it was carrying prisoners of war and was torpedoed and sunk off Shoonan on Oct. 24, 1944.
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The Morning Spotlight (Hastings, NE)
20 May 1936
page 6
News About People and Events at Glenvil
By a Staff Correspondent
GLENVIL, May 18—Mr. and Mrs. Frank Winsor received word from their son Willard, who was stationed with the U.S. Navy at San Diego, Calif., that he has been transferred to the Panama Canal zone, as yeoman of a submarine. Mrs. Winsor and daughter will continue their stay here for a while as their plans are indefinite. This marks Willard Winsor’s tenth year in the navy.
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The Morning Spotlight (Hastings, NE)
10 Jun 1936
page 4
Glenvil Woman to Join Husband in Canal Zone; Will Reside There
By a Staff Correspondent
GLENVIL—Mrs. Willard Winsor will leave Tuesday morning for Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she will visit her parents for a month before sailing from New Orleans for Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, where she will join her husband, who is a yeoman in the navy. They will make their home in Coco Solo.
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The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA)
May 14 1943
page 26
Willard Ira Winsor, chief yeoman; wife, Mrs. Helen L. Winsor, c/o Paul L. Winsor, Bank of America, Laguna Beach.
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The Long Beach Sun (Long Beach, CA)
24 Jun 1942
page 3
New Navy Casualty List Includes 22 Local Men
WASHINGTON, June 23. — (UP) — The Navy Department released the names of 99 casualties from California today covering the period from May 11 to June 6. The list included 16 dead, one wounded, and 82 missing.
“The large percentage of the names under ‘missing’ classification is due to the fact that many of them were serving in the Manila Bay area when it capitulated to the enemy, and likely are prisoners of war,” the Navy said.
The first announcement was made on May 6. The final report on May 5 and June 1 added that “it will likely be several months before information can be obtained” on the status of the men lost at Manila.
From Long Beach and vicinity, the following were listed:
Reported Dead:
– Earl Edward Brooks, fireman, second class, U.S.N., father, Harry Eugene Brooks, 277 Gundry Avenue.
Reported Missing:
– John Francis Holmes, chief machinist’s mate, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Georgette E. Holmes, 6180 California Avenue.
– Edward Joseph Conahan, commander, U.S.N., next of kin, wife, Miss Violet Lillian Cleaver, 3800 East Ocean Boulevard.
– John Nelson Combroch, chief gunner, U.S.N., mother, Mrs. Coralie C. Combroch, 1033 Daisy Avenue.
– Horace Holden Daniel, chief yeoman, U.S. N., mother, Mrs. Emma Elizbeth Daniel, 637 West Third Street.
– Thomas Lee Fox, radioman, first class, U.S.N., mother, Mrs. Mary E. Poll, 1346 Fispe Avenue, Wilmington.
– Joseph Raoul Gagnon, machinist’s mate, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Eleanor Ethel Gagnon, 34 Surfline Place.
– Sidney Vernon Gahan, printer, second class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Carol F. Gahan, 2226 Constitution Lane.
– William Jonathan Gibson, machinist’s mate, second class, U.S.N., mother, Mrs. Stella B. Gibson, 535 West Eighteenth Street, San Pedro.
– Frank Gomez, coxswain, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Edith O. Gomez, San Pedro.
– Edward James Hall, metalsmith, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Edward James Hall, 2133 Lucas Avenue.
– Francis Robert Hookun, chief yeoman, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Monica A. Hookun, 5589 Lemon Avenue.
– Richard E. Keech, private, first class, U.S.M.C., parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh B. Keech, 1173 Lemon Avenue.
– Howard William Kovalcik, chief machinist’s mate, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Mabel Helen Kovalcik, 509 American Avenue, Wilmington.
– Joseph George Kutcha, signalman, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Gertrude Kutcha, 719 Lime Avenue.
– Allen William Lee, machinist’s mate, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Geraldine M. Lee, 1433 American Avenue.
– Edward Lewis Melot, electrician’s mate, second class, U.S.N., mother, Mrs. W. C. Melot, 1433 American Avenue.
– Edward Walter Phillips, ship’s fitter, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Bernice R. Phillips, 1328 Flint Breeze Road.
– John Albert Pierce, aviation chief machinist’s mate, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Lucy Mae Pierce, 820 Daisy Avenue.
– Albin Clifton Ronning, chief electrician’s mate, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Marion K. Ronning, 1948 Elm Avenue.
– William Otto Savage, ship’s cook, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Charmian W. Savage, 537 Marine Avenue, Wilmington.
– Thomas L. Stewart, private, first class, U.S.M.C. parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Stewart, 1907 Atlantic Avenue.
– Paul Sanford Tulloch, watertender, second class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Juanita N. Tulloch, 1632 Mesa Avenue, San Pedro.
– Carl Alvin Wilson, machinist’s mate, first class, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Peggy May Wilson, 2028 East First Street.
– **Willard Ira Winsor, chief yeoman, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Helen L. Winsor, 614 Magnolia Avenue.**
– William Leonard Wilter, chief printer, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wilter, 1711 Appleton Street.
– Felix Stanley Zych, chief storekeeper, U.S.N., wife, Mrs. Roberta Zych, 24 Neptune Place.
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The Harvard Courier (Harvard, NE)
7 Apr 1938
page 2
Mr. and Mrs. Winsor received word from their son and wife Mr. and Mrs. Willard Winsor of Coco Solo, Panama. He is a yeoman on the U.S.S. Sturgeon and has been in Panama the past two years. He will return April 12 and be stationed at the navy yard at Mare Island, Calif., on a submarine.
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The Fairfield Auxiliary (Fairfield, NE)
12 Apr 1945
page 1
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Winsor Is A Prisoner In Japan
Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Winsor of Hanover, Kans., (formerly of Fairfield) have learned that their son, Chief Yeoman Willard Winsor, is now a prisoner on the Japanese mainland.
The information was secured through a Marine, Mr. Mize, now of Beattie, Kansas, recently liberated from the Philippines, who had been in the same Japanese prison camp as CY Winsor.
CY Winsor, one of the first captives, was placed in a prison camp in the Philippines, but was moved to the mainland of Japan last September.
While on a starvation diet in the Jap camp, CY Winsor and Marine Mize got permission from the Japs to cook a dog which they had run over. While eating the dogmeat, Mize “wished he could be eating a meal in Seneca, Kansas.” As CY Winsor had spent 21 years of his life in that vicinity, the men found they had many experiences in common and became warm friends.
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The Clay County Sun (Clay Center, NE)
21 May 1935
page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Winsor received word of their son Willard, who was stationed with the U.S. Navy at San Diego, California. He has been transferred to the Panama canal zone, as yeoman on a submarine. Mr. Winsor has been with the navy ten years. Mrs. Willard Winsor and daughter will continue their stay here as plans are still indefinite.
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The Clay County Sun (Clay Center,NE)
10 Dec 1936
page 8
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Winsor received word from their daughter-in-law, Mrs. Willard Winsor, that she had arrived safely in Balboa, Panama. Mr. Winsor is stationed there with the United States Marines.
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
12 Jan 1928
page 8
Willard Winsor, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Winsor is on the U.S.S. Flagship Texas, that will take the president and Mrs. Coolidge to Havana, Cuba. The Texas is now being overhauled in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
15 OCt 1925
page 7
Willard Winsor, Seneca, visited Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Russell between trains Friday afternoon. Willard left Seneca Saturday for Chicago where he has work.
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Sabetha Herald (Sabetha, KS)
18 Jun 1930
page 6
Here’s the transcription of the article:
Bunn—Winsor
Willard Winsor, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Winsor of Baileyville and nephew of Mrs. Lloyd Atkinson of Sabetha, was married May 10th to Miss Margaret Brunn of New York City. The Winsor family formerly lived at Oneida. Willard graduated from the Seneca high school in ’25 then entered the navy. He has been clerk and stenographer for the Admiral on the U.S.S. Texas. His wife is employed by the Wall Street Journal. They will make their home in Los Angeles after October.
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
5 Dec 1932
page 6
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Winsor, Kansas City, came Saturday night and spent Sunday with Mr. Winsor’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Winsor. Other guests in the Winsor home yesterday were: Mrs. Winsor’s sister, Mrs. O. M. Doty, Mr. Doty, their daughter, Mrs. Isaacs and two children, Hastings. Mr. and Mrs. Willard Winsor plan to leave the last of this week for San Diego where Mr. Winsor will be stationed with the U.S. Navy. He hopes to be on shore duty so that he can be near Mrs. Winsor, who will be treated for tuberculosis. Mrs. Willard Winsor’s mother, Mrs. E. M. Brunn, New York City, will arrive this evening to visit her daughter before she leaves for the west. Mrs. Brunn may go to San Diego with Mr. and Mrs. Winsor if Mr. Winsor is assigned to sea duty. Elva Frances Winsor, six-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willard Winsor, will probably remain in Seneca with her grandparents.
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
30 Sep 1929
page 5
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
1 Aug 1932
page 5
A daughter, weighing eight pounds, was born July 24th to Mr. and Mrs. Willard I. Winsor, Newport, Rhode Island. The new arrival has been named Elva Frances. She is the first grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Winsor of Baileyville.
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Courier Tribune (Seneca, KS)
5 Sept 1935
page 4
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Chat prompt
The attached file contains research regarding the military service of Willard Winsor. Each source is separated by a line. For the most part, the source for the information preceeds the information. At the end of the document is information copied from Perplexity that has sources at the end of the information. Please write a narrative about the military career, capture, imprisonment, death and burial of Willard Winsor.
Willard Ira Winsor’s military career was one marked by dedication and sacrifice, culminating in his tragic death during World War II.
Born on July 20, 1906, in Hastings, Nebraska, Willard Winsor entered the U.S. Navy shortly after graduating from Seneca High School in Kansas in 1925. He embarked on a career that would span nearly two decades, serving with distinction as a Chief Yeoman. Over the years, Winsor served on various ships, including the USS Texas, USS Pike (SS-173), and USS Sturgeon (SS-187). His service took him to different parts of the world, including the Panama Canal Zone, where he was stationed for several years before returning to the United States.
Winsor’s life took a dramatic turn during World War II. He was stationed in the Philippines during the Japanese invasion and was captured in May 1942 following the fall of Manila. He became a prisoner of war and was held in the notorious Bilibid Prison in Manila. Conditions were harsh, but Winsor reportedly remained in good health despite the dire circumstances. His resilience and leadership were evident as he was credited with saving the lives of many comrades during the defense of Corregidor, actions for which he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.
In October 1944, Winsor, along with approximately 1,800 other American POWs, was forced aboard the Arisan Maru, a Japanese “hell ship” used to transport prisoners under inhumane conditions. The ship, unmarked and part of a convoy heading toward Japan, was tragically torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine on October 24, 1944, in the South China Sea off the coast of China. Winsor did not survive the sinking, which resulted in one of the largest single losses of American life in a maritime disaster during the war. Only nine of the POWs aboard the Arisan Maru survived.
After the war, Winsor’s heroism and ultimate sacrifice were recognized. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. His daughter, Elva Frances Winsor, accepted these honors on his behalf at a special ceremony in Hiawatha, Kansas, in 1948. Winsor’s name was inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, a lasting tribute to his service and sacrifice.
Willard Winsor’s story is one of courage, dedication, and the profound loss felt by his family and country. His life and service exemplify the highest ideals of duty and patriotism.