Robert Edward Ennis

Pre-WSC Life

Robert Edward Ennis was born on October 13, 1915 to Matthew and Elizabeth Copeland Ennis in Walla Walla, Washington.  He was the third of four children. During his childhood, the family relocated to Lewistown, Montana where the elder Ennis worked as a manager for a real estate office. Ennis graduated from Fergus County High School in 1934.

WSC Experience

Ennis attended Washington State College (WSC) from 1934 through 1939 as a General Studies major. He was a member of the Montezuma Club, the WSC Senate, Associated Engineers, the Newman Club, and Scabbard and Blade. He also served as a Cadet in the WSC R.O.T.C., attaining the rank of Captain. Ennis married Patria Johnson, but the date of their marriage is unknown.

Military Service

Following his graduation from WSC, Ennis was commissioned an officer in the United States Army Reserves.  He was assigned to the 101st Philippine Division, 103rd Infantry Regiment. It is unknown when exactly Ennis was taken by the Japanese as a prisoner of war (POW), but he was declared such on May 7, 1942 after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines. Given where his division was stationed, it is likely he survived the Bataan Death March and/or siege of Corregidor and he entered the Davao Penal Colony on Mindanao on November 7, 1942 along with 968 other American POWs. Ennis was moved to the cargo ship Shinyo Maru on August 20, 1944, and was still aboard on September 7, 1944 when the ship was torpedoed by the American submarine USS Paddle. He did not survive the attack.

Burial, Recognition, and Remembrance

Ennis is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He posthumously received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. 

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