Following the Allied surrender on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines on April 9, 1942, the Japanese began the forcible transfer of American and Filipino prisoners of war (POWs) to various prison camps on Luzon Island. Many prisoners were forced to undertake the Bataan Death March to arrive at Camp O'Donnell, a former Filipino training post that would serve as a POW camp. Prisoners began to reach Camp O'Donnell on April 11, 1942, and would continue to arrive until June 4. Those who arrived at the camp were already in a weakened condition following the Death March, and the Japanese were unprepared to handle the massive number of prisoners they had taken. The squalid conditions and lack of food and clean water caused disease to run rampant at the camp. These factors, in combination with abuse at the hands of Japanese guards, led to a significant number of deaths among the prisoners. Eventually, overcrowding prompted the Japanese to transfer American prisoners to camps near Cabanatuan, Luzon, but not before over 1,000 American POWs had died at Camp O'Donnell.

Private First Class William I. Coleman Jr. who entered the U.S. Army from Virginia, was a member of the Signal Air Warning Company. He was taken as a prisoner of war at some point in the Province of Bataan, following the American surrender in the Philippines. He died of disease while captive at Camp O'Donnell on May 23, 1942, although the circumstances leading to and following his final moments are unknown. Searches in the loss area for PFC Coleman's remains after the war have been unsuccessful, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Private First Class Coleman is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

If you are a family member of this service member, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.