Trooper J. D. Ellis -- Badge #45
Trooper J.D. Ellis was the only member of the Patrol to lose his life while serving in the military during World War II. Trooper Ellis was appointed to the Patrol in 1935, and assigned to General Headquarters in Jefferson City. On August 1, 1937, he transferred to Troop A, Lees Summit. On July 30, 1941, Trooper Ellis was granted a military leave of absence to join the U.S. Armed Forces. At that time, he was a captain, Field Artillery, 2nd Cavalry Division. Almost immediately, he was assigned to duty in the Philippines where he was wounded in the Battle of Bataan and taken prisoner by the Japanese Army. He died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp on October 16, 1942.