Roy W. Whalen, Jr. enlisted in the Army on 16 December 1941 at Ft Thomas, Newport, KY.

He participated in the jump into Normandy o D-Day and was captured within a matter of houirs.  He ws held as a POW by the Germans until he was liberated on 8 May 1945 from Stalag 13B Weiden Bavaria 49-13.

On 12 June 1945 Pvt Whalen arrived in New York City Harbor aboard the USS Admiral W. S. Benson (see line 117).