Robert Edward Ennis

Robert Edward Ennis was born on October 13, 1915 to Matthew and Elizabeth Copeland Ennis in Walla Walla, Washington. He moved with his family to Lewistown, Montana during his childhood, and graduated from Fergus County High School in 1934.  Ennis attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1934 to 1939, graduating with a degree in General Studies. While at WSC, he was a member of the Montezuma Club, the WSC Senate, Associated Engineers, the Newman Club, and Scabbard and Blade.  He was an R.O.T.C. cadet, achieving the rank of Captain while in college. He was commissioned an officer in the United States Army Reserves following his graduation, and he was assigned to the 101st Philippine Division, 103rd Infantry.  Following the fall of Bataan and Corregidor in 1942, Ennis was listed as a prisoner of war (POW) effective May 7, 1942 and he was sent to the penal colony of Davao on Mindanao, Philippines. He was on the cargo ship Shinyo Maru when it was torpedoed by an American submarine on September 7, 1944 and he was killed. He is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.