The family of Charles Eldon Prigmore has requested the participation of the Patriot Guard Riders in the honoring of this hero. It would be our pleasure to do so.
Our hero was born July 17, 1919 in Bloomington Township, Kansas, and at a young early age, understood the meaning of hard work and sacrifice, not uncommon in those days, especially in the farmlands of the Midwest. Because of the lack of work during the Great Depression Mr. Prigmore, along with three others, including two future brother in laws who were themselves brothers, joined the US Army in 1940. His destiny would be as a personal clerk to Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Ernest King in the Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor.
When the US and Philippine forces surrendered to the Japanese, history has vividly recalled what transpired during the transport of POWs in the sweltering boxcars of POW trains, the Bataan Death March to Camp O'Donnell, the POW "Hell Ships" to Japan, and the infamous POW camps in Japan. Not only did our hero survive all these tragic incidents, but his three buddies did as well. They all returned to the fields of Kansas.
Our hero also survived the bombing of the Hell Ship in which he was being transported. With the signing of the peace treaty and the release of POW's our hero weighed a mere 70 pounds from a normal 190. He returned to a recruiting role for 8 years in Kansas.
He proposed to his wife Ruth at the age of 9. Though the horrifying years of the war, and PTSD which was unknown of back then, took its toll on he and his wife, they remained close even despite being divorced for 57 years. They both lived in the same hospice at the end of his life. The years of torture during his POW years took its final toll on the body of our hero. Despite living in pain he never complained or requested pain medicine.
Fiercely independent, but with a gentle spirit and a love for God, family, and country, and animals as well (he could feed a coyote by hand), our hero settled in the High Desert being active in real estate and mining. He was one of the persons responsible for the town of Apple Valley being what it is today.
Only a handful of men are still alive from the Bataan Death March. Best estimates are between 10-100. The odds of surviving the horrors that our hero experienced are astronomical. He may be in a better place today, but America is a better place because of men, and women, who sacrificed as they did. May God's mercy be upon them and their families.
Mr. Prigmore was awarded the Bronze Star, POW Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with a bronze clasp and three loops, the American Defense Service medal, and many more, including a Presidential Letter and Certificate from Harry S. Truman. Many of these awards were not presented until May of this year, 70 years after WW2.
Mr. Prigmore is survived by his daughter Pamela, stepson Larry, 6 grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his childhood friend, former wife, and the mother of Pamela & Larry, E. Ruth Hamlin Bullock.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this Military Veteran. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the mortuary to his final resting place. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the cemetery, we will meet you there.
Timetable for Wednesday 21 AUG 13: 1200 - Stage at Victor Valley Mortuary 15609 11th St (D & 11th), Victorville, CA
http://goo.gl/maps/vqGe3 1215 - Mission Briefing
1230 - KSU to accompany hero and family to Riverside National Cemetery (RNC), 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA , Staging Area #1 for family, Staging Area #8 for PGR
http://goo.gl/maps/0xSZL 1315 - Approximate arrival to RNC
1400 - KSU to assigned shelter for Flag Line, Services, and Military Honors at RNC
RC Brian "Spyderman" Zane 760-953-9915
brianzane@verizon.net
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
