An American hero

I just received word that my cousin, Norman W. Lauchner, 90, died on Tuesday.

Norm was a Lieutenant (JG) in the U.S. Navy, stationed on Corregidor in Manila Bay when World War II began. When Corregidor fell to the Japanese in May, 1942, he was imprisoned in the notorious Bilibid POW camp near Manila where he languished for three terrible years.

After being liberated in 1945, he returned to the U.S., married his wife Gail, and raised two daughters and a son. He had a successful career in advertising and public relations. They made their home in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

Norm’s mother was my father’s sister. He was born in Frankfort, Ind.