R.L. Tyler

Sgt. R.L. Tyler (1920 – 1942) has finally come home. He was the third of five children born to Clinton and Edna Tyler (now all deceased). Ten years after the oldest child died in infancy, the family moved to West Texas from the Ft. Worth area, and lived on various farms around O’Donnell and Tahoka. R.L. is survived by children and grandchildren of his late brothers, Ira Graham and Truett.

R.L. was captivated by flying and joined the Army Air Corp in 1939. He was attached to the Headquarters Squadron of the 19th Bombardment Group while stationed in the Philippines, attained the rank of Sergeant, and was captured by Japanese forces following the Allies' surrender on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942. He survived the Bataan Death March, but succumbed to malaria in Camp Cabanatuan in July where he was buried in a common grave.

His death was only confirmed after the war, and his presumed remains were then recovered and interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. They were disinterred in 2018 for DNA analysis, and some were identified in 2019.

A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at O’Donnell First Baptist Church where friends and family will gather to pay tribute. Services will be livestreamed. A link will be provided on his webpage at www.combestfamilyfuneralhomes.com. 

Following the service, R.L. will be laid to rest in the family plot at the O’Donnell Cemetery. It will be a sacred moment as we honor his sacrifice and service to our nation.