Leo A. Boelens
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

From 4 April 1943 through 22 January 1944, First Lieutenant Leo A. Boelens was serving with the Philippine Guerilla Forces in the Philippine Islands.

1LT Boelens was captured by the Japanese and held as a Prisoner of War. He was one of 10 men including 2 Naval Officers, 3 Air Corps Officers, and 2 Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity following the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The 10 men evaded their captors for days until making contact with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. 1LT Boelens continued to serve with the guerrilla forces until his death on 22 January 1944. This was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by 1LT Boelens earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Leo A. Boelens (ASN: 0-426888), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the Philippine Guerilla Forces during the period from 4 April 1943 through 22 January 1944, in the Philippine Islands. Captured by the Japanese and held as a Prisoner of War, First Lieutenant Boelens was one of ten men including two Naval Officers, three Air Corps Officers, and two Marine Corps Officers who escaped after nearly a year in captivity following the fall of Bataan and Corregidor. The ten men evaded their captors for days until making contact with Filipino Guerillas under Wendell Fertig. Lieutenant Boelens continued to serve with the guerrilla forces until his death on 22 January 1944. This escape was the only mass escape from a Japanese prison camp during the war. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Boelens throughout this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Prisoner of War, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 22 (1944)

Burial

First Lieutenant Leo A. Boelens is buried at Mount View Cemetery in Basin, Big Horn County, WY.