Killed in WWII Battle of the Points, Army Pvt. 1st Class Cox accounted for

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced recently that U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. 1st Class Orville J. Cox, 19, of Haskell, Texas, who was during World War II, was accounted for May 26, 2023.

In late 1941, Cox was a member of 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and of Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942.

According to historical records, Pfc. Cox died Feb. 8, 1942, during the Battle of the Points on the Bataan Peninsula, near Agloloma Point. Casualties from the battle were buried at several cemeteries on the Bataan Peninsula, including Mariveles #3 Cemetery.

Following the war, in November 1945, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) personnel exhumed 40 sets of remains from the American section of Mariveles #3. At the time, 17 individuals were identified, but 23 others remained as Unknowns. In subsequent analysis, five additional remains were identified, leaving 18 Unknowns. Those remaining Unknowns were buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial (MACM).

In December 2022, DPAA personnel exhumed remains from MACM, including X-143, believed to be Pfc. Cox, and accessioned them for analysis at the DPAA laboratory.

To identify Cox’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

Although interred as an Unknown in MACM, Cox’ grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), along with others still missing from WWII. Pfc. Cox is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at MACM and a rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Pfc. Cox will be buried in Haskell, Texas, on a date to be determined.