News From Fort Schuyler

October 29, 2000 - Arne Bocksel Special

HONORING ARNE BOCKSEL - The Long Island Chapter of the Alumni Association invites you to attend a special pre-Veterans Day dinner meeting on Thursday, November 9, to honor one of the chapter's most distinguished members, ARNE BOCKSEL, Class of 1936. The keynote speaker for this event will be Lou Santanello, a WW II pilot who flew 24 missions in the European theater. A special presentation to Arne will be made on behalf of the LI Chapter by retired Maritime College President, RADM FLOYD "Hoss" MILLER, Class of 1953. The deadline for making a reservation to this event is October 31, if paid by check, or November 6 if paid by credit card ($30 in advance/$35 at the door.) Contact Tom Hall, Class of 1965, for details at: thall310@aol.com or phone him during business hours at (631) 598-8810.

According to an alumni association flyer: "ARNE BOCKSEL graduated from the New York State Maritime Academy in 1936. He was sailing in the merchant marine as a Chief Engineer when he volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1941. After attending the Army Mine Depot School, he was assigned as Chief Engineer on the Army mine planter HARRISON in Manila Bay. He arrived in Manila less than three months before the outbreak of World War II. Japanese dive bombers disabled his ship, killing four of the forty-seven crew members a month before Corregidor fell."

"On May 6, 1942 Arne Bocksel became a P.O.W. and remained one from the Bataan Death March to the liberation of his P.O.W. camp in Manchuria on August 17, 1945. Of the approximately 25,000 Americans taken prisoner by the Japanese, he was one of the 9,700 survivors. Of those who died, 1,000 Americans perished on the Bataan Death March." [NOTE: Arne recounted these experiences in his book, "Rice, Men and Barbed Wire," published in 1991, which is available for loan at the Luce Library and on sale at the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler Bookshop - http://www.maritimeindustrymuseum.org/store.htm ]

"Four years after returning home and recuperating from his war experience, he went to work for the FMC Corporation, Turbo-Pump Division. He retired in 1976 as General Sales Manager, Worldwide Sales. His profession involved a number of trips to Japan."

"Arne Bocksel was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Presidential Citation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Medal, American Defense Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, Asiatic Pacific Medal with two Bronze Stars, Philippine Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Philippine Presidential Citation, WW II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and Conspicuous Service Cross from New York State"

This special Long Island Chapter dinner to honor Arne Bocksel will take place at 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 9 at the Timber Point Country Club which is located in Great River, Long Island (631) 277-4919.