Harey Nichols

Honor Mission

Harey Nichols, KIA

USA – WWII
Jackson, Mississippi – 09-05-19

PFC Nichols joined the Army January 9, 1940 as a member of the 33rd Quartermaster Corps. On December 8, 1941 Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands and intense fighting continued until May 6, 1942 when Corregidor fell. Thousands of US and Filipino Soldiers were taken prisoner, including many who were forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March enroute to the Japanese-operated POW camp and Cabanatuan on the island of Luzon, Philippines. Almost 2,800 of these POWs perished in the camp. On November 19, 1942 thirteen American servicemen and one American civilian died from malnutrition and medical neglect while in the camp hospital. These men were buried in Common Grave 717 in the camp cemetery. PFC Nichols was one of these 14 men who had been captured during the fighting for Corregidor and was officially listed by the Army as MIA on May 7, 1942.

Throughout history the identification of remains was not conducted using the methods or techniques standard for today’s scientific rigor. Starting in the early 2010s, repeated inquiries and legal action initiated by a family member, possibly related to one of the unknowns from Common Grave 717, resulted in several scientific and historical reviews of the assemblage to evaluate the identification potential of the remaining ten Unknowns. In this process, it was noted there was a high likelihood of mis-identification of some or all of the original identifications from Common Grave 717 due to co-mmingling. In 2014 the Secretary of the Army granted permission to exhume the ten graves associated with the Cabanatuan Common Grave 717. On August28, 2014 the remains were accessioned into the laboratory. To date, DNA analyses have shown that each casket contains the remains of an average of three different individuals.

PFC Nichols’s awards consist of the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal,Prisoner of War Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation,American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Philippine Defense Ribbon.

Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport

Old Delta Cargo Terminal Gate

8100 International Dr
Jackson, Mississippi 39208

Roger (Roadranger) Barrett

601-826-5205

Mandatory briefing 11:30 a.m.

Colonial Chapel Funeral Home

3077 Simpson Hwy 13
Mendenhall, Mississippi 39044

Roger (Roadranger) Barrett

601-826-5205

Visitation 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Colonial Chapel Funeral Home

3077 Simpson Hwy 13
Mendenhall, Mississippi 39044

Roger (Roadranger) Barrett

601-826-5205

Escort PFC Nichols to Funeral Service at Calvary Baptist Church, Hwy 49 Braxton MS