LTC, USMC(Retired)

Husband of Lois Lorraine nee Bush Dobervich

(Military service information below provided by the original creator of this memorial.)

On 4 Apr 1943, American Air Corps pilots 2LT Samuel Grashio and LTC William Dyess, US Army Air Corps Officer 2LT Leo Boelens, USMC officers 1LT Michiel Dobervich, CPT Austin Shofner and 1LT Jack Hawkins, US Navy LCDR Melvin McCoy, US Coast Artillery MAJ Steve M Mellnik, US Army Sergeants Paul H Marshall and Robert Spielman, along with two Filipinos were able to escape from a POW work camp, Davao Region, in the Philippines. Over the course of the next few months, 7 were transported a few at a time by submarine to Australia while 3 stayed behind to continue fighting with the guerrillas. Leo Boelens, was eventually killed by the Japanese. This was the only successful mass escape from a Japanese POW camp. Along with recon information provided by these men, they also provided some of the first reports of the atrocities inflicted upon US military personnel by the Japanese.

Stephen M Mellnik retired as a BG, US Army, Stephen Michael Mellnik.

Melvyn McCoy retired as a Rear Admiral, US Navy, Melvyn McCoy.

Jack Hawkins retired as a COL, US Marine Corps, Jack Hawkins.

Austin Shofner retired as a BG, US Marine Corps, Austin Conner Shofner.

William Dyess, LTC was killed during the war in California trying to make a emergency landing, William Edwin Dyess.

Samuel Charles Grashio retired as a COL, US Air Force, Samuel Charles Grashio.

Paul H Marshall, Paul Herman Marshall

Robert B Spielman, retired as a COL, US Army, Robert Blake Spielman.

Leo A Boelens, 2LT, US Army, eventually found by the Japanese and killed, Leo A Boelens.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major Michiel Dobervich (MCSN: 0-6161), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy while serving with the Philippine Guerilla Forces in the Philippine Islands during the period 15 January 1943 to 13 November 1943. Although physically weakened by eleven months detention in a Japanese camp for American prisoners-of-war, Major Dobervich outwitted the Japanese guards on 4 April 1943, made his escape, eluded pursuing patrols, and made his way from Davao to northern Mindanao. Hearing of an American force still operating against the enemy, he continued on foot and by launch to its headquarters, with information of great military value on the defense of Bataan and the treatment of our prisoners-of-war in Japanese hands. He volunteered his services to the commander of this force and served for nearly six months in responsible staff duties. During this period, Major Dobervich exhibited great coolness and courage in the presence of the enemy and his services were of great value in effecting successful operations against the Japanese forces. His outstanding heroism and skill reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East, General Orders No. 78 (December 6, 1943)

Action Date: April 4 - November 15, 1943

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Major

Division: Philippine Guerilla Forces

POW Medal Citation

Major Michiel Dobervich (MCSN: 0-6161), United States Marine Corps, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Bataan in April 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until he successfully escaped from captivity on 4 April 1943.

General Orders: World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files, created, 4/2005 - 10/2007, documenting the period

ca. 1941 - ca. 1945

Action Date: April 1942 - April 4, 1943

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Major

Division: Prisoner of War (Philippine Islands)

Michiel Dobervich

FARGO — Michiel Dobervich, 83, of Fargo, N. D., died Monday, July 21, 1997, at the Veteran's Hospital in Fargo.

He was born Oct. 10, 1915, to Obrad and Mara (Odanovich) Dobervich in Crosby-Ironton where he grew up and attended school. He married Lois Lorraine Bush of Brainerd on June 4, 1943, in Quantico, Va. He graduated from NDAC in 1939 where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He received a Marine Corps Commission, was sworn in as a second lieutenant and assigned to the Marine Corps Officer's Training School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He graduated in June 1940. His first duty was with the 4th Marines in Shanghai, China, and departed for the Philippines on Nov. 27, 1941. He became a Japanese prisoner of war on April 9, 1942.

He was one of a group of 10 POWs who escaped from a Japanese prison camp and for eleven months fought the Japanese with the "Filipino Guerrillas" who had befriended them.

In November 1943, he was evacuated by submarine to Australia and to Gen. Douglas MacArthur's headquarters and was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for his military service in the Philippines. He served his country with the 1st Marine Division in the Palau Islands in 1944, and during the Korean War was with the 7th Fleet aboard the aircraft carrier Philippine Sea and the battleship New Jersey.

He was also commanding officer of the First Amphibian Tractor Battalion which was positioned at the fork of the Imjim and Hahn rivers.

He resigned from the Marine Corps in July 1954 and entered the food processing business for 16 years. He was also a staff member at the YMCA in Fargo until his retirement in June 1982.

He was a past and recent commander of the Dakota Plains Chapter of POWs, a life member of the DAV, VFW, the International War Veterans Alliance, American ex-POW, and the American Guerrillas of Mindanao.

He was a member of the Gethsemane Cathedral Church where he served on the cathedral chapter and taught Sunday school for many years.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Sam Dobervich, Fargo, Richard Dobervich, Moorhead, and Ronald Dobervich, Palatine, Ill.; three brothers, Dan Dobervich, Moorhead, Eli Dobervich, Devils Lake, N. D., and Robert Dobervich, Palisade, Colo.; seven grand children; and one great-grand child.

His parents, two sisters, Rose and Mabel; and his brothers, Sam and George, died earlier.

Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Gethsemane Cathedral Church in Fargo with the Rev. Harvey Henderson officiating. Burial was July 26 at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd. (Brainerd Daily Dispatch

Michiel O Dobervich (1915)