United States Navy Pharmacist's Mate Second Class John Horsfore Hoover with the service number 3212496 was a prisoner of Japan during World War II. Assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment. Sources of information and archival notes include: Bill Bowen's Arisan Maru Roster, Died On Arisan Maru On 10/24/44. The Navy Department exceedingly regrets to advise you that your son, John Horsford Hoover, Phar. Mate 2nd Class, U.S.N., was performing his duty in the service of his country in the Manilla Bay area when that station capitulated. He will be carried on the records of the Navy Department as missing pending further information. No report of his death or injury has been received and he may be a prisoner of war. It will probably be several months before definite official information can be expected concering his status. Sincere sympathy is extended to you in your anxiety and you are assured that any report received will be communicated to you promptly.
Rear Admiral Randall Jones,
Chief of Naval Personnel" The U.S. Navy officially announced, Saturday that John Hoover, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hoover of this city had lost his life when a Japanese freighter on which he with other American prisoners was being transported from the Philippine Islands to Japan was torpedoed off the coast of China, Oct. 24, 1944, by an American submarine. John was captured at the Cavite naval base hospital in December of 1941.

John H Hoover