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On Thursday, May 23, the remains of U.S. Army Sergeant George F. Bishop will finally be laid to rest at Claquato Cemetery.

He died on July 28, 1942, according to a U.S Army Human Resources Command news release, and his remains were recently identified. 

The public is invited to attend his funeral ceremony, which will begin at 1 p.m. at Claquato Cemetery, located at 142 Stearns Road in Chehalis. Funeral arrangements have been made by Newell-Hoerling’s Mortuary and Claquato Cemetery Manager Lacie Jendryka.

Bishop died in a World War II Imperial Japanese Prisoner of War (POW) camp in the Philippines after being forced on the Bataan Death March. He was buried in one of the POW camp’s mass graves. Following the war, his remains were never positively identified and were left at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial as Unknowns.

Following renewed efforts using DNA analysis by the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency and scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Bishop’s remains were finally identified. Since being notified, his surviving family has been preparing a shadow box for his funeral. They are still looking for a photo of him.

The only remaining mementos they have from Bishop are a Christmas card and a small Filipino doll he sent Stanley Yocom’s mother, who was Bishop’s younger sister, before he was captured and eventually killed.

While no photos have surfaced, Yocom made the shadow box with Bishop’s medals, the Christmas card and doll for the funeral.

Born on Jan. 25, 1920, in Centralia, Bishop enlisted in the U.S. Army on Dec. 29, 1939, just before his 20th birthday.

After getting stationed at Fort Lewis, Bishop deployed and was attached to “K” Battery of the 59th Coast Artillery Regiment at Fort Mills on Corregidor Island, located at the entrance of Manila Bay on the Island of Luzon in the Philippines.   

There, he helped operate fixed seacoast 3-inch artillery guns facing Bataan to the north, along with 30-inch and 60-inch searchlights used to illuminate mine markers in Manila Bay.

On Dec. 22, 1941, Imperial Japanese forces invaded Luzon, and bitter fighting ensued over the next four months until Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, followed by the fall of Fort Mills and Corregidor less than a month later on May 6.

Bishop was officially listed as missing in action the following day. Along with his fellow American and Filipino soldiers, Bishop was forced on the infamous 65-mile Bataan Death March before being sent to the Cabanatuan POW Camp in central Luzon.

Being a POW meant being subjected to inhumane conditions on top of being starved and denied clean drinking water.

It wasn’t long before Bishop contracted diphtheria and dysentery and died in the prison’s hospital on July 28 at the age of 22. He was buried in Cabanatuan’s Common Grave 215.

According to prison hospital records accessed after the Cabanatuan POW Camp was liberated in early 1945, Bishop was one of 22 prisoners who died that day. More than 2,500 American prisoners died at Cabanatuan throughout WWII.

After the Imperial Japanese surrendered and World War II ended, any remains that could be found at Cabanatuan were disinterred by the American Graves Registration Service and brought to a temporary U.S. military mausoleum near Manila to attempt to identify them in 1947.

Five bodies from Common Grave 215 were identified, but the rest were declared unidentifiable and buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial as Unknowns.

Bishop’s old U.S. Army Individual Deceased Personnel File stated, “George is most likely buried in the Manila American Cemetery as a ‘Known but to God.’ There are 953 men like Sgt. Bishop who were not identified after the war, ‘Unknowns,’ permanently interred in the Manila American Cemetery from Cabanatuan.”

The grave of the Unknowns at the Manila American Cemetery is cared for by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

While in the Navy himself, Yocom served aboard the U.S.S. Winston Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in 1965, just north of Manila Bay on Luzon.

“I spent a year in Subic Bay in the Philippines, and I didn’t even know he was there,” Yocom previously told The Chronicle.

In 2018, renewed efforts by the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency and scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and y-chromosome DNA analysis to positively identify Unknown remains.

Other surviving family members of Bishop will also be in attendance at the funeral along with Yocom.

Shoppers at the Winlock Liquidation Warehouse are likely to see new items on the shelves every time they visit.

According to owners Nicholas and Amy Delin, the surprise, coupled with discounts of up to 70% of retail, is what makes their store different.

“It’s almost like a Christmas adventure every day because you’re opening a new package,” Nicholas Delin said Thursday.

Open for roughly a month, the store features a constantly changing supply of inventory, which Delin described as “just a little bit of everything.”

Liquidation stores like the Winlock Liquidation Warehouse purchase items that either don’t sell, are returned or are damaged at discounted rates, then pass those savings on to customers.

The Delins also own and operate the SLC Liquidation Warehouse located in Raymond, which opened in 2018.

According to the Delins, there’s a “huge demand” for the low prices that their store can offer. On Thursday, for example, a large display of Easter candy was marked 50% off.

“Everybody wants a bargain,” Delin said. “Everyone wants to save some money.”

When walking down the aisles, shoppers with a keen eye are likely to notice products past their expiration date.

In addition to buying inventory with damaged packaging, the Delins will also purchase items that are either near or past their expiration date. The food, though, remains safe to eat unless it shows obvious signs of spoilage, they said.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, food “should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident. Spoiled foods will develop an off-odor, flavor, or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten.”

If spoiled food is purchased from the store, the Delins offer returns and exchanges.

Sitting in his office, Nicholas showed an example of the process he uses to buy inventory. An email from Bayer advertised gummies and other over-the-counter products for sale through an online auction. The gummies, valued at around $10,000, could be had for just $2,000.

After receiving an offer, the Delins then decide if the product could sell and whether to place a bid.

“It’s not what you want, it’s what the customer wants,” Nicholas said.

The Winlock Liquidation Warehouse is located at 307 NW Kerron St. and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sundays, the store is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pointing to boxes of inventory waiting to be stocked, Nicholas said the items move fast.

“You could get those sodas in the store today, and tomorrow we might not have them,” he said. “It’s that quick.”

Follow the business on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/winlockliquidation. 

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Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) holds essay contests for middle and high school students. The contests offer cash prizes and scholarship opportunities, with different essay themes each year.

Rochester Middle School eighth grader Emily Hammack entered the 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen essay competitions for middle schoolers and won the local Centralia VFW Post 2200’s contest, which qualified her for the district level.

Hammack won that, too, and then took first place in the Washington state VFW’s contest. As the state level winner, she went on to compete nationally representing Washington, where she wound up placing sixth overall.

Her essay was one of more than 73,000 essays submitted nationally for the 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen contest, according to the VFW’s website.

On Tuesday, May 14, Hammack and her family were in downtown Centralia’s American Legion Grant Hodge Post 17, where she was honored and congratulated by local and state-level VFW members.

She was also given her final prize check from Washington state VFW Commander Craig Dougherty, state VFW Vice Commander Perry Taylor, state VFW Judge Advocate Frank Persa and VFW Post 2200 Commander Roger Towers.

“Sixth place winner Emily Hammack of Rochester represented the VFW Department of Washington, and was awarded the $2,000 Clyde A. Lewis Department of New York and Auxiliary Award,” Dougherty said.

Along with the check, Hammack received an award certificate paired with a portrait of the National VFW Commander-in-Chief Duane Sarmiento and VFW Auxiliary National President Carla Martinez.

“I am here on their behalf to congratulate you and thank you very much for entering,” Dougherty said.

The theme for the 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen essay contest asked students “how are you inspired by America?”

“Democracy and the different features are what inspired me, like its rich history,” Hammack told The Chronicle. “History is definitely one of the things that inspired me about it.”

The essay Hammack wrote and submitted for the Patriot’s Pen contest is as follows:

“America inspires me in countless ways. Its rich history, diverse culture, and the values it upholds ignite a fire within me to pursue my dreams and make a difference in the world. The American dream, the belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work, resonates deeply with me. It serves as a constant reminder that no matter where we come from or what our circumstances may be, we have the power to shape our own destinies.

“One of the aspects of American democracy that inspires me the most is the freedom of speech. This fundamental right allows individuals to express their thoughts, opinions, and ideas without fear of persecution. It is through the freedom of speech that progress is made, as it encourages open dialog, the exchange of diverse perspectives, and the challenges of established norms. “This freedom empowers individuals to stand up for what they believe, to advocate for change, and contribute to the betterment of society.

“Another attribute of American democracy that inspires me is the pursuit of equal justice. The United States has a history of fighting for civil rights and striving towards equality for citizens. The principles of fairness, equality, and justice are deeply ingrained in the American ethos. This commitment to equal justice inspires me to be an advocate for those who are marginalized or oppressed, fight against discrimination, and work towards creating a more equal and inclusive society.

“Freedom of speech and individual rights are closely intertwined but not the same. While freedom of speech is one aspect of individual rights, it encompasses much more. Individual rights include a range of freedoms and protections, such as the right to privacy, the right to due process, and the right to equal treatment under law. These rights are essential in upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

In conclusion, America’s history, culture, and commitment to freedom and justice inspires me to be a better person, and to strive for a better world. The American dream reminds me that anything is possible with hard work. The freedom of speech empowers me to express my thoughts and make my voice heard. The pursuit of equal justice motivates me to fight for equality and stand up against injustice. America’s inspiration fuels my passion to make a positive impact and contribute to a society that upholds the values of freedom, equality, and justice for all.”

On top of the $2,000 check she received Tuesday, Hammack had already won an additional $750 in cash prizes for winning the local, district and state level VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contests leading up to her competing nationally. 

While getting ready to start high school after this summer, Hammack is planning on saving the prize money for college.

Though Hammack is no longer eligible to compete in the Patriot’s Pen contest, she will be able to compete in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio essay contest for high school students.

There, she can compete for a share of more than $1 million in scholarship opportunities, including a $35,000 scholarship for the contest winner.

To learn more about both the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy contests, including how to enter and submission deadlines, visit https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships. 

The VFW is a national nonprofit organization that aims to foster fellowship among U.S. veterans of overseas conflicts along with advocating for veterans resources and programs at the federal level. For more information, visit https://www.vfw.org/.