White S. Goings, Jr.

 White Spotswood Goings, Jr, the youngest of nine children, was born August 29, 1919, to White S. and Ella Goings on a farm south of Peru, Nebraska.

 He graduated from Peru Training High School in 1937 and then attended Peru State Training College for 2 years.

 White joined the Army Air Corps on March 15, 1940, and was with the 93rd Bombardment Squadron stationed on the island of Luzon in the Philippines at Clark Field.

 This group was part of a buildup of U.S. forces in response to growing tensions between the United States and Japan. Junior, as he was called, was waiting with his squadron on the delivery of B-17 bomber aircraft from the U.S. for reinforcements. Junior’s unit had only 35 bombers at Clark Field at the time Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Within a few hours of that attack, Clark Field was under a raid as well. This destroyed most of the bombers there. Japan continued raids around other bases on Luzon.

 On December 29, 1941, most of Junior’s squadron relocated to Australia, but his unit ground echelon moved to the Battan peninsula to help defend against Japan’s advances. After two months, the U.S. troops surrendered to Japanese forces becoming POW’s.

 By summer of 1942, most prisoners of Bataan, including Sgt. Goings, joined those at Camp Cabanatuan. It was there he died July 19, 1942, of reported malaria. Sgt. Goings passed away a decorated hero. He was awarded the "Prisoner of War" medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and "Good Conduct" medal.

 He was preceded in death by his mother Ella and brother William. He was survived at this time by his father, White, sisters Nita (George) Crooker, Olive (William) Craig, Edyth (BJ) Lewis and brothers Floyd, Dwight, Harlan, and Robert.

 As part of an ongoing research at Cabanatuan, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency determined in 2014 that there was sufficient scientific evidence to begin their research again.

 Through DNA samples of 4 nephews and 1 cousin, a match was found from some of the bone remains which had been recovered from the POW camp graves, with White’s being in Cabanatuan Grave #312. Some partial bones and bone dust confirmed they belonged to Sgt. White S. Goings, Jr. Those providing DNA samples were nephews Duane R. and John B. Lewis, Glade and Harley Goings, plus a cousin Helen C. Schille.

 A graveside committal service with military honors and burial of cremated remains will be Friday, July 26, 10:30 a.m. at Glenrock Cemetery near Brock, Nebraska.