Maywood in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

192nd Tank Battalion Memorial

Photographed By Sean Flynn

1. 192nd Tank Battalion Memorial Marker

Inscription.
In memory of our Illinois comrades of the 192nd Tank Battalion who gave their lives in the service of their country on Bataan and in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.

Bainbridge, J. · Ball, J. · Bertrand, D. · Boardman, E. · Boni, D. · Bronge, R. · Brown, L. · Burns, W. · Byars, F. · Cahill, J.A. · Camfferman, M. · Cigoi, W. · Corr, C. · Ellis, R. · Danca, R. · Deckert, H. · Dettmer, H. · Edwards, A. · Ehrhardt, C. · Gorr, A. · Graff, R. · Griffin, J. · Griswold, J. · Hanes, D. · Heilig, R. · Hepburn, A. · Heuel, C. · Marchese, N. · Hildebrandt. W. · Holland, A. · Hopple, J. · Hullihan, W. · Jannish, F. · Jendrysik, F. · Jennings, W. · Jerele, H. · King, H. · Kolb, L. · Kwiatkowski, J. · Lovering, E. · Mahr, W. · Moczarny, J. · Mason, R. · McArthur, A. · Mueller, H. · Peterson, C. · Schwass, R. · Schweinsberg, F. · Spencer, N. · Swartz, M. · Swift W. · Van Pelt, A. · Vertuno, R. · Von Bergen, W. · Winger, E. · Wisnowski, J.

Erected 1946.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.

Location. 41° 53.193′ N, 87° 50.077′ W. Marker is in Maywood, Illinois, in Cook County

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. Memorial is at the intersection of Oak Street and 1st Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Oak Street. The marker is on the eastern edge of a large group of monuments and artifacts honoring Maywood's veterans of the world wars. It is flanked on the left and right by two markers for individuals, and behind it by a marker to 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Morin, S.J., who was raised in Maywood and was a tank commander in the 192nd. A tank is placed behind those monuments. A separate, newer marker dedicated to both survivors and dead of Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion is about 10 yards away at the center of the memorial park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 132 Oak Street, Maywood IL 60153, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Benjamin R. Morin, S.J., Memorial (here, next to this marker); Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Maywood World War I Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Frederick Allen Hampton (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ten Mile Freedom House (about 800 feet away); Bicentennial Bandstand (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Historic Maywood Home for Soldiers' Widows (approx. 0.2 miles away); Waller Gates (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maywood.

Regarding 192nd Tank Battalion Memorial. The 192nd Tank Battalion's

192nd Tank Battalion Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 7, 2023

2. 192nd Tank Battalion Memorial

The memorial is flanked by three individual monuments, to Sgt. George Dravo (left), 2nd Lt. Ben Morin (rear) and Capt. Emmett Gibson (right). The four monuments are placed in front of a tank.

Company B originated as the 33rd Tank Company, 33rd Infantry Division of the Illinois National Guard, based out of Maywood, a suburb about 11 miles west of Chicago. The Maywood National Guard Armory was located about a half-mile south of the park, across the street from Proviso Township High School (now Proviso East), from which it drew many of its members.

The unit was incorporated into the U.S. Army in late 1940 and became Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion. The battalion was one of two tank battalions sent to the Philippines in November 1941 and was in camp there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7. Later that month, Company B was the first tank unit to engage forces in World War II.

As the U.S. Army retreated to the Bataan Peninsula, most unit members were either killed, escaped to the jungle, or taken prisoner, many participating in the Bataan Death March. Those who survived as prisoners of war were released in late 1944 and 1945.

This marker was dedicated in 1946 (likely at the current location or near it) alongside a tank commonly used by the battalion. It became part of Maywood's Veterans Memorial in 1999, when another marker dedicated to Company B was moved from its original location in front of the old armory to its new spot, about 10 yards away.

Also see . . .
1. Bataan Project

Maywood Park Veterans Memorial: "Remember Bataan" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, July 7, 2023

3. Maywood Park Veterans Memorial: "Remember Bataan"

The monument's location is visible in the picture, to the left of the sign and the tank.

. This site was created by former teachers at Proviso East High School (formerly Proviso Township) with information about the 192nd Tank Battalion and its World War II experiences.

"This site is dedicated to the men of Company B, 192nd Tank Battalion, Illinois Army National Guard."

(Submitted on July 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. The Origins of Maywood's Bataan Day. Maywood held its first Bataan Day in 1942, when parents of imprisoned or missing soldiers hosted a parade and rally. In 1946, war survivors marched at the front of the parade. (Submitted on July 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. POW

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 47 times this year. Last updated on July 21, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on July 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.