Roy Bruce Bechtold Jr. was born on June 7, 1922, in Amarillo, Potter County, Texas. He was the son of Roy Oliver Bechtold and Nancy Jane Morris Bechtold. He was employed as a motion picture projectionist before enlisting in the Army on November 16, 1939. He served in the 28th Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group, as a Technician 3rd Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T3 Bechtold was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

T3 Bechtold was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on June 23, 1942. He is now buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Source of information: www.livescience.com