Andrew Fignar.............................From the Macomb Daily on 12-28-92

Andrew Fignar, 86, of Sterling Heights, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at his home. He was born Dec. 9, 1916, in Coaldale, Pa.

Master Sgt. Fignar graduated from Coaldale High School in 1935, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1937. On April 8, 1942, he was among 8,000 American and Philippines military personnel captured by the Japanese during World War II. He endured nine days of the Bataan Death March.

As a Japanese prisoner of war he was transferred to prison camps at Osaka and Omi, and worked in the iron ore and smelting region as a prison laborer. He was liberated during the surrender of Japan in September 1945 and returned to the United States for rehabilitation.

He was assigned to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in 1946 with the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, and was later assigned to Oscoda Air Base and to the 8th Fighter Bomb Wing in Korea.

He earned the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal with two bronze stars, the American Defense Service Medal, the Philippine Defense Medal with two bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and a Bronze Cluster with five loops. He later retired from Ford Motor Co. as a lathe operator.

"My father was the most generous and most unselfish person I've known," said Andrew Fignar Jr. "He was always there to help others in need."

He is survived by his sons, Andrew Jr. (Linda) and Dr. Walter Secosky of Newbern, N.C.; and grandchildren, David and Andrea Fignar and Forrest, Meredith and Jason Secosky, Lisa Young and Allison Morgan.

He was predeceased by his wife, Irene.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Bagnasco & Calcaterra Funeral Home, 13650 E. 15 Mile Road (at Schoenherr), Sterling Heights, with the family officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

Visitation is 2-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Webmaster's note: Andrew Fignar survived the World War 2 infamous Bataam Death March, he also served in the Korean conflict.