John and Katherine’s would have two children, a son and a daughter. Their son was Joseph Lewis McClellan. He was born in 1917. Now, looking back at the previous page, I explained that his father was in World War I. Looking at the timeline, you can only guess what happened to his son, he joined the military as well. He was an accomplished basketball player at Billings High School in 1935. He attended Washington State College, in Washington State, and received his bachelor’s degree in June 1940. After college, he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army in September 1940 in Montana.
He then moved to San Diego at Moffett Field, California for basic training and received his commission as Second Lieutenant in May 1941. During this time, he was dating a young woman named Ann Page Armstrong, and they Joseph Lewis McClellan married Ann Page Armstrong in June 1941.
It was a brief marriage though, since Lt. McClellan left for the Philippines soon after in late June. His bride, Anne, would return to college.
Lt. McClellan was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor), 24th Pursuit Group, U.S. Army Air Corps in the Philippines. He was stationed at Nichols Field just outside of Manila. The United States Army was preparing for war against the Japanese and was hearing all about the potential targets they were going to attack. However, they were unknown of the enemy plans. On December 7, they attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 8th, the war came to the Philippines. Nicholas Field was bombed and dive-bombed by the enemy and numerous planes were destroyed.
Lt. McClellan would then be captured by the Japanese and would mark the seven days in the “March of Death” that followed the fall of Bataan, and then lived in a prisoner of war camp. Afterwards, Joseph McClellan was transferred to a U.S. Naval Hospital in Manila after being let go from the war camp in extremely ill condition, however never responded to the treatment. Joseph McClellan died on July 30, 1942, and is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
His wife was just as outgoing and dedicated to the armed forces. She would also join the military and become a pilot within World War II. Anne Page Armstrong McClellan joined AFTER she found out that her husband died within a POW camp. He joined the WASP, which is the meaning for Women Airforce Service Pilots. She was a bomber and carrier pilot.