Two Southland Men Awarded Bronze Star
Two Southern Californians who survived the 1942 Bataan Death March were belatedly awarded the Bronze Star during an informal ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base.
Retired Master Sgts. Joseph Stanko, 64, of Lancaster, and Harold Newton, 65, of Tehachapi, received the medals--awarded for gallantry during their years as prisoners of war--during a 15-minute presentation before family members and friends on Friday, base spokesman Don Haley said.
Both men were stationed in the Philippines when Allied troops surrendered to Japanese soldiers during World War II. About 60,000 Allied soldiers were forced to march 70 miles to prisoner of war camps after the surrender. About 10,000 of the men died of starvation and heat prostration during the march.
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