Army Major honored at Miramar National Cemetery, decades after death in World War II
U S Army Maj James J O Donovan received a hero s welcome home on April when he was laid to rest with full military honors at Miramar National Cemetery Photo by Capt William Stroud via DVIDS A U S Army major who lost his life in World War II as a prisoner of war has been laid to rest with full military honors at Miramar National Cemetery Major James J O Donovan of Cohoes New York was honored Tuesday at the national cemetery more than years after his death O Donovan was a battalion commander with the famed st U S Infantry Regiment who survived the -mile Bataan Death March He died while being held at the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines His remains long unidentified were not long ago recovered and substantiated by the Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency bringing long-awaited closure to his family and population Among those who gathered at the facility were his daughter Gail Unwin and grandsons Steve and John who long stayed connected with military leaders in hopes that his remains could be discovered As the funeral procession made its way to the cemetery the Patriot Guard Riders a volunteer group of motorcycle escorts comprised of veterans and patriots escorted the hearse with flags flying in tribute Gail Unwin the daughter of U S Army Maj James J O Donovan accepts a flag during the April ceremony when he was laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery Photo by Capt William Stroud via DVIDS The U S Army Honor Guard participated in O Donovan s arrangement and after the ceremonial transfer of the flag-draped casket a rifle gang delivered a traditional three-volley salute followed by Taps played live on the trumpet The folded flag was then presented to Gail Unwin by a uniformed Army representative To see him honored like this with the flag the salutes the rifle volleys it was overwhelming stated Steve Unwin It was the homecoming he never got It means the world to our family and it s something I ll carry with me forever My grandfather s story will live on through my children and their children John Unwin reflected on the moment s impact Growing up we knew he was a hero but this this brought it full circle To stand at his gravesite and hear Taps play for him it made his story real It brought him home to all of us O Donovan enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in at just years old He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in and served as a professor of Military Science at LaSalle Institute in Troy New York After the U S entered World War II he was assigned to the th Infantry Regiment th Division Organized Reserve before deploying to the Philippines as Executive Officer with the st Infantry Regiment He was wounded in combat against Japanese forces and later earned the Distinguished Operation Cross for extraordinary heroism during a four-day battle at Abucay Hacienda Bataan His leadership helped three depleted companies hold the line and withdraw under heavy fire The headstone for U S Army Major James J O Donovan Photo by Capt William Stroud via DVIDS Despite his injuries he returned to duty and was captured when Bataan fell He endured the Bataan Death March surviving the -mile forced trek with thousands of other Americans and Filipinos only to face confinement at Camp O Donnell and later Cabanatuan POW Camp O Donovan died due to illness and malnourishment in In addition to the Distinguished Provision Cross his military decorations include the Silver Star Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts After his death a facility the Maj James J O Donovan U S Army Reserve Center in Albany New York was named in his honor He is remembered not only for his bravery but also for the words he reportedly shared before his death a declaration that has echoed through generations of his family I don t know a better reason to die than for your country
