Private First Class James P. Shockman (MCSN: 275167), United States Marine Corps, served with an anti-aircraft crew at Fort Hughes (Caballo Island) during the defense of Corregidor.
When Corregidor fell at noon on 6 May 1942, the garrisons of the outlying islands laid down their arms and awaited their captors. A body was spotted floating in the bay; Shockman and PFC George R. Bilhardt swam out to the rescue, but couldn’t reach their man. As they rested on a rock out in the bay, a flight of Japanese bombers dumped their payloads on Fort Hughes.
The two men were blown off the rock and into the water. Bilhardt resurfaced and quickly swam back to shore, but Shockman did not reappear. With the menacing bombers overhead, nobody was able to search for him.
Several days later, a body thought to be Shockman’s washed ashore and was buried at Fort Hughes – however, the identity was never confirmed, and the location of burial is not known. Source: MissingMarines and affidavit of his death.
When Corregidor fell at noon on 6 May 1942, the garrisons of the outlying islands laid down their arms and awaited their captors. A body was spotted floating in the bay; Shockman and PFC George R. Bilhardt swam out to the rescue, but couldn’t reach their man. As they rested on a rock out in the bay, a flight of Japanese bombers dumped their payloads on Fort Hughes.
The two men were blown off the rock and into the water. Bilhardt resurfaced and quickly swam back to shore, but Shockman did not reappear. With the menacing bombers overhead, nobody was able to search for him.
Several days later, a body thought to be Shockman’s washed ashore and was buried at Fort Hughes – however, the identity was never confirmed, and the location of burial is not known. Source: MissingMarines and affidavit of his death.
Private First Class James P. Shockman (MCSN: 275167), United States Marine Corps, served with an anti-aircraft crew at Fort Hughes (Caballo Island) during the defense of Corregidor.
When Corregidor fell at noon on 6 May 1942, the garrisons of the outlying islands laid down their arms and awaited their captors. A body was spotted floating in the bay; Shockman and PFC George R. Bilhardt swam out to the rescue, but couldn’t reach their man. As they rested on a rock out in the bay, a flight of Japanese bombers dumped their payloads on Fort Hughes.
The two men were blown off the rock and into the water. Bilhardt resurfaced and quickly swam back to shore, but Shockman did not reappear. With the menacing bombers overhead, nobody was able to search for him.
Several days later, a body thought to be Shockman’s washed ashore and was buried at Fort Hughes – however, the identity was never confirmed, and the location of burial is not known. Source: MissingMarines and affidavit of his death.
When Corregidor fell at noon on 6 May 1942, the garrisons of the outlying islands laid down their arms and awaited their captors. A body was spotted floating in the bay; Shockman and PFC George R. Bilhardt swam out to the rescue, but couldn’t reach their man. As they rested on a rock out in the bay, a flight of Japanese bombers dumped their payloads on Fort Hughes.
The two men were blown off the rock and into the water. Bilhardt resurfaced and quickly swam back to shore, but Shockman did not reappear. With the menacing bombers overhead, nobody was able to search for him.
Several days later, a body thought to be Shockman’s washed ashore and was buried at Fort Hughes – however, the identity was never confirmed, and the location of burial is not known. Source: MissingMarines and affidavit of his death.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Colorado.
Family Members
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