Private Cecil Raymond Vandiver joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit in 1939. He was assigned as a cook in Headquarters Company. On April 9, 1942 he was taken prisoner. He survived the Death March. At San Fernando they were loaded into steel boxcars to Capas and then the final march to Camp O'Donnell. He was later sent to Cabanatuan #1 and was on a work detail to rebuild bridges. He was later put on a Hell Ship bound for Korea but was turned around because of suspected submarine activity. They remained in the ships for days before setting sail again. They finally arrived at Puson where they were put on a train for Manchuria. At Mukden he unloaded sacks of cement and coal. He later worked in a steel mill. He eventually returned to Harrodsburg after the war. He died on 27 October 1999.
