Frederick G. Corbett
Frederick G. Corbett of Pennsauken, NJ.
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces
Serial Number: 06978272
Unit: 745th Ordnance Company, Aviation, Clark Field, Philippines
Entered service from: New Jersey
Captured: December 8, 1941, near Manila, Philippines
Died:
Location of death: Cabanatuan POW Camp, Philippines
Corporal Frederick G. Corbett was the grandson of a Spanish-American War hero whose grandfather died “a hero’s death” at Manila during the Spanish-American War, according to the Camden Courier-Post on December 11, 1941.
Fred Corbett was the son of James E. and Catherine M. Corbett of 3725 King Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ. The elder Corbett worked as a “bridgeman” on steel structures in the 1930 Census. Fred Corbett enlisted on January 15, 1939, at the age of 18. At the outbreak of the war, he was serving as company clerk for the 745th Ordnance Company, Army Air Force, at Clark Field, Fort Stotsenburg, in the Philippines.
“In a letter received December 9th by China Clipper and mailed December 1st, Corbett wrote that the men had been wearing steel helmets and gas masks for the past three weeks.” — Camden Courier-Post, December 11, 1941
Corporal Corbett was taken prisoner when the Philippines fell. He died as a result of inhumane treatment by the Japanese while a prisoner on July 9, 1942, at the Cabanatuan POW Camp. His body was never identified.
Corporal Corbett was survived by his parents, brother Alfred E., and sisters Catherine G. and Regina M. Corbett. His mother was working as a clerk at Fort Dix as of May 1942.
After the war, Corbett Road in Pennsauken, NJ, was named in his memory.
Photos
The Corbett family home at 3725 King Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ. Frederick Corbett lived in the right half of this twin home.
3 In Camden Area Missing In Action
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Young Soldiers Were Serving in Defense of Philippines
Three Camden area servicemen were reported missing in action yesterday by the War and Navy departments. Corporal Frederick G. Corbett, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Corbett, of 3725 King avenue, Pennsauken, was reported missing in action in the Philippines. He is believed to have been on duty in Bataan when the American forces there were obliged to surrender. Corp. Corbett had been on duty in the islands for two years. His enlistment was to have expired last month. On Dec. 29, the parents received a cablegram dated Dec. 24, from their son. It read “All well.”
The last letter from him was accompanied by a photograph showing he had grown a beard. Corp. Corbett enlisted in the Air Corps while a junior in Merchantville High school, where his sister, Catherine, 16, is a sophomore.
Mother Fort Dix Aide. Mrs. Corbett is a clerk at Fort Dix and is former Democratic county committeewoman from Pennsauken.
Mass To Be Sung For 12 Dead Heroes
Camden Courier-Post —
Service To Take Place Tomorrow At Church Here
A Solemn Requiem High Mass for 12 sons of Newfoundland-American parents who died in the war will be celebrated tomorrow at 8 a.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Broadway and Ferry avenue. The Mass will be celebrated at requests of the Newfoundland-American Club women’s auxiliary headed by Mrs. Agnes V. Kehoe, 1257 Whitman avenue.
The men include a Bronze Star winner, the late Harold S. McLean, 28, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry McLean, Third and Chapel avenue, Merchantville, who was killed in France in June, 1944. He was awarded the decoration posthumously for meritorious service in combat. One of the first South Jersey men to die in the war was Cpl. Frederick G. Corbett, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Corbett, 3725 King avenue, Pennsauken. Corbett was captured near Manila by the Japanese on Dec. 8, 1941. He died in an enemy prison camp in July, 1942. His parents recently were visited by Cpl. Herbert Black, Tutwiler, Miss., who was with Fredrick at the prison camp and assisted in his burial.
Pvt. George D. Flynn, 36, of 18 South Sussex street, Gloucester, died in June, 1944, of wounds received during action in France after 29 months service. Edward F. Keenan, 312 Broadway, Gloucester, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Keenan, was killed in Germany during November, 1944. Pvt. Joseph V. Moore, 25, whose sister, Margaret, lives at 925 Penn street, was drowned in the Panama Canal. Pvt. William McDonald, 34, son of Michael McDonald, 1110 Marion street, was killed in August, 1945, in France. His mother, Elizabeth, is living in Newfoundland. Michael F. Mahoney, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Mahoney, 709 Morgan boulevard, was killed on Tarawa when the bomber of which he was a crew member exploded during a take-off. His widow, Anna, lives at 1234 Jackson street.
Daniel Skain, 19, of 3 Troy avenue, Bellmawr, was lost in October, 1944, when his destroyer was torpedoed in the Pacific. Four Philadelphia men will also be remembered in the Mass. S/Sgt. William Mahoney, 26, son of Mrs. Phillip McDonald, 2244 East Monmouth street, was killed on Luzon in May, 1945. John Keating, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Keating, 2998 Chatham street, was killed in January, 1945, while serving with the Rainbow Division in France. Vincent Rotchford, 24, of 2994 Chatham street, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rotchford, was killed while serving with the Army in the Pacific. He was employed at the New York Shipyard. Cpl. Raymond Welsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Welsh, 2927 Weikel street, was killed in January, 1945, in Germany.