World War II POW laid to rest in Santa Cruz after 80 years

Acquired Through MGN Online on 09/20/2019 — US Air Force / Dennis Rogers

Published August 15, 2025 10:49 PM

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A World War II Prisoner of War (POW) is being laid to rest on Saturday after eighty years since his death.

Captain Ralph Rowland was identified this past year as one of the bodies recovered from the Enoura Maru attack on January 9, 1945.

Captain Rowland was a POW during world war II and was assigned to Fort Mills of Corregidor Island of the Philippines.

He was held as a prisoner of war in the Phillipines and survived an attack on the Oryoku Maru.

Rowland will be laid next to his wife Flora, who passed in 1979.

The ceremony taking place at the Oakwood Memorial Park in Santa Cruz at 1 p.m. on August 16

Article Topic Follows: Santa Cruz County

prisoner of war

santa cruz county

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