William Fredrick Harris: Marine Corps hero of WW2

Swam 8 ½ hours across Manila Bay, fought in two wars

When the Japanese attacked the Philippines in WW2, Harris and the Americans were caught by surprise and on the defensive. When he was cut off by superior Japanese forces, he and another soldier swam across Manila Bay to Bataan. They swam all night for 81/2 hours approximately 25 miles with sharks bumping and nipping at their feet. They escaped but were later captured by the Japanese where Harris was subjected to torture. Louis Zamperini (from the book Unbroken) was another POW who nursed Harris back to health after a particularly bad beating. Harris was a genius and could speak 5 languages and had a photographic memory, so he would steal newspapers and translate them to keep up morale. After the war he continued to serve in the Marines in Korea where during a daring defense against overwhelming Chinese forces, he went missing. His body was never found and he remains missing to this day.

He was awarded the Navy Cross for his valiant defense in Korea, but his real legacy is as an example of Valor untainted and unbroken. Valor is in you. Set it free.