George B. Capt. Purvis

George was born December 12, 1921 to parents, Ralph and May. His early childhood was spent on the family farm where he cultivated a love of nature.

As the Great Depression worsened, George took it upon himself to leave home at age 15 because, "there were too many mouths for my Dad to feed."

George then entered service in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He worked as an orderly to learn medicine. George did this until he was old enough to enter the United States Army at 17. Trained as a combat medic, George was stationed in the Philippines in 1939. With the onset of World War II, the Japanese military invaded the Philippines and expected a victory in 2 weeks.

Six months later, George and the other "Battling Bastards of Bataan" continued a gallant defense of the Bataan Peninsula without resupply or hope of evacuation. During this engagement, George was wounded while pulling another soldier to safety under heavy enemy fire. While recovering from his wounds, George asked for light duty in the hospital where he rendered aid to both allied and Japanese soldiers. On April 9, 1942 the American command on the Bataan Peninsula fell to the Japanese.

George and thousands of other American and Filipino soldiers then began the infamous Bataan Death March. Human cruelty, exposure, and murder claimed thousands, and George was fortunate enough to have survived. At the conclusion of the march, George was imprisoned at Camp Cabanatuan and O'Donnel where he spent 31/2 years as a POW. During that time, he battled starvation, disease, abuse, and neglect. Liberated in 1945, George returned to the United States.

While in a hospital recovering from the war, he met Minnie Choate. They married in November 1948. Together, they started a family and raised their son, Philip Albert and daughter, Pamela La Von.

For his actions during the war, George was commissioned an officer and retired from the United States Army as a Captain. After the military, he considered a career in education. Instead, he decided to use his talents to work for the state of Texas where he inspected nursing homes. He diligently ensured quality of life for those who could not demand it themselves.

After his retirement and until his passing, George cared for his beloved wife. He pursued his many interest from gardening and carpentry to history and politics. He also helped raise three grandchildren, teaching them the values he held dear; faith, love of country, and a compassion for all living things. George Purvis was a quiet American hero. He was a good soldier and served his country passionately. All who knew him can testify to his humble nature, and all he asked was for people to live good lives. The country has lost one of its best. Yet George Purvis' real legacy lay in his progeny. He inspired two generations into service in the military, health care, and education fields.

George is survived by his wife, Minnie; son, Philip and daughter Pamela; he had three grandchildren, Eric and Chris Wetmore and Theresa La Bonte. He also loved and cared for 4 great grandchildren, Camille and Valkyrie Wetmore, and Liam and Ailish Wetmore.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 16, 2010, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

9:45 A.M.

FT. SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS

MEMORIAL SERVICE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

11:00 A.M.

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH

16801 HUEBNER ROAD