William C. Blackledge was born on May 10, 1905 in Rush County, Indiana. He was the son of Amos Blacklidge and Lenora May Alexander Blacklidge. Capt. William Blackledge was held as a POW in the Philippine Islands. In December 1944, he was boarded onto the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. The ship was sunk by American planes at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on December 15, 1944. The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Enoura Maru which reached Takao, Formosa. While docked it was bombed by American planes on January 9, 1945. The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Brazil Maru and reached Japan on January 29, 1945. He died of wounds after arriving in Japan. CPT Blackledge is now buried in the East Hill Cemetery, Rushville, Rush County, Indiana, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com