Categorie: Hellship Enoura Maru 1945

Rank and Name, Major Charles H. Wilson.

Unit/Placed in, Medical Corps.

Major Charles H. Wilson become a POW when the Japanese concurred the Philippines in 1942, he walked the Death march to be send to POW Camp Cabanatuan and went om transport to a POW Camp in Japan with Oryoko Maru, after the bombing at Subic Bay which he survived the POW were put in the Enoura Maru for transport where he died on.

Camp Cabanatuan(Pangatian)

(former HQ 91^st Philippine army Division)

After the Japanese occupation in 1942, the camp was converted by the Imperial Japanese Army into the Cabanatuan POW Camp. At its height, 8,000 prisoners were detained at this location. The prisoners also included some civilians including one British and one Norwegian citizen.  This POW Camp detained prisoners until liberated during the night of January 30, 1945.

 The rectangular camp spanned roughly 25 acres and was 800 yards deep by 600 yards wide, divided by a road in the center. The camp consisted of a barracks for Japanese guards, barracks for prisoners, a hospital and water tower enclosed by barbed wire with guard towers.

Oryoku Maru

Thomas Austin was one of 1619 prisoners of War onboard the Oryoku Maru at Manila. The ship sailed on December 13, 1944, for Japan and when It arrived at Subic Bay, the same day, it was bombed by American planes from the USS Hornet, while it was picking up Japanese personnel. When dusk came, the planes broke off the attack. Next the planes returned and resumed the attack. On Dec. 15, 1944 and sunk the Ship. The Japanese abandoned ship, even ordered the POWs to abandon ship during the air raid when the American pilots saw the large number of men climbing from the ship’s holds, they stopped their attack. As the POWs swam to shore, the POWs were shot at by Japanese soldiers with machine guns.

Enoura Maru

The Eunoura Maru was a Hell Ship for POW Transport.

After the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” was bombed at Fernando, Philippines (15 dec. 1944) The POWs were embarked to the “Hellships Enoura and Brazil Maru.

The “Hellship Enuora Maru arrived at Takao Harbor at 31 Dec. 1944 and was

 attacked by Fighters from the USS Hornet (CV12), the one Bomb killed about 330 POW’s, (about 900 survived it), the ship was severe damaged but not sunk.

Charles is born approx. on 11 Feb. 1889 in New York.

 

Charles enlisted the service in New York with service number # 0-137206.

 

Charles died onboard the “Hellship” Enoura Maru on 9 Jan. 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Charles is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

RANK: MAJOR. JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR FOR 32 MONTHS. SERVED WITH THE U.S. ARMY, MEDICAL CORPS ON LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINES. WHILE ENGAGED IN COMBAT DURING THE DEFENSE OF LUZON AND RETREATING TO THE BATAAN PENINSULA, THE JAPANESE INVADING FORCES CAPTURED HIM APRIL 9, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH AND WAS HELD CAPTIVE AT THE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP #1 CABANATUAN NUEVA PROVINCE, LUZON. ON DECEMBER 13, 1944 HE BOARDED THE JAPANESE ‘HELL SHIP’ ORYOKU MARU ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PRISONERS DESTINED FOR JAPAN VIA FORMOSA. WHILE ANCHORED IN THE SUBIC BAY HARBOR, IT WAS ATTACKED AND SUNK DECEMBER 15, 1944 BY U.S. NAVAL AIRCRAFT FIGHTERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS HORNET. HE SURVIVED THE ATTACK AND WAS LATER TRANSFERRED THE ENOURA MARU ANOTHER ‘HELL SHIP’ ON CHRISTMAS DAY. HE WAS BURIED AT SEA WHEN HE DIED JANUARY 9, 1945 WHILE EN-ROUTE TO JAPAN AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.

Rank and Name, Lieutenant Colonel Alvin Turner Wilson.

Unit/Placed in, 102nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Philippine Division.

Camp Davao

Davao – Small port city on southeast coast of Mindanao. The POW camp was located some ten miles northwest of the port. Camp was closed in 1944 and the POWS were sent first to Cebu on the Yashu Maru. In Cebu, they were transferred to the Singoto Maru and moved to Manila and into Bilibid.

Enoura Maru

The Eunoura Maru was a Hell Ship for POW Transport.

After the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” was bombed at Fernando, Philippines (15 dec. 1944) The POWs were embarked to the “Hellships Enoura and Brazil Maru.

The “Hellship Enoura Maru arrived at Takao Harbor at 31 Dec. 1944 and was

Attacked on 9 Jan. 1945 by Fighters from the USS Hornet (CV12), the one Bomb killed about 330 POW’s, (about 900 survived it), the ship was severe damaged but not sunk.

 

Alvin is born approx. on 11 Feb. 1900 in Northampton, Pennsylvania.

Father, Winter Lincoln Wilson.

Mother, Mary M. (Turner) Wilson.

Brother(s), Maris Wright Wilson.

Spouse, Jane (Hatton) Wilson.

Daughter, Betty Jane Wilson.

 

Alvin enlisted the service in Pennsylvania with service number # 0-149499.

 

Alvin died when the “Hellship” Enoura Was Bombed by Fighters from the USS Hornet on 9 Jan. 1945, he is honored with an Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Alvin is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

Alvin also has a Memorial Grave at Fort Benning Post Cemetery

Fort Benning, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA.

 

Thanks to, https://www.familysearch.org

Jean Louis Vijgen, ww2-Pacific.com

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Seabees History Bob Smith  https://seabeehf.org/

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/ Robert Capistrano

National Historian

Navy Seal Memorial,  http://www.navysealmemorials.com

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Tank Destroyers, http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/

 

On December 13, 1944, Japanese forces in the Philippines began the transfer of 1,621 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) to Japan. The POWs were to make the journey aboard transport ships whose harsh conditions and extreme overcrowding led survivors to refer to them as “Hell Ships.” The ships also lacked markings that would distinguish them from any other military target, causing some of them to be attacked by Allied forces who could not identify them as POW transports. On December 14, 1944, Allied aircraft attacked the first ship, the Oryoku Maru, in Subic Bay in the Philippines, killing many Allied POWs who became lost in the water, sank with the ship, or were washed ashore. Survivors of the bombing were put aboard two other ships, the Enoura Maru and the Brazil Maru, to continue on to Japan. During the journey, while anchored in Takao Harbor, Formosa (present-day Taiwan), the Enoura Maru was attacked by Allied aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-8), killing Allied POWs who were lost in the water, on board the ship, or on the nearby shore. Survivors of the Enoura Maru bombing were loaded onto the Brazil Maru, and reached Japan on January 30, 1945. As a result of these incidents, Allied POWs were lost in the Philippines, at sea between the Philippines and Taiwan, while anchored in Taiwan, at sea between Taiwan and Japan, and in Japan. The attacks on these POW transports ultimately resulted in a series of death notifications from the Japanese government through the International Red Cross (IRC), and some casualties were given up to five different dates of death at various locations during the transfer. Witness accounts from surviving POWs offer detailed information for a handful of casualties, but the specific dates of loss and/or last-known locations for many of these POWs are based on the most recent reported date of death.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Alvin T. Wilson joined the U.S. Army from Pennsylvania and was serving with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Infantry Division (Philippine Scouts), in the Philippine Islands during World War II. He was taken as a POW following the Japanese invasion and was interned in the islands until December 1944, when he was put aboard the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. Records indicate LTC Wilson was killed several weeks later in the attack on the Enoura Maru; however, these reports often involve information solely furnished by enemy governments, with some casualties given multiple dates of death. Future research may determine that these reports were inaccurate. Lieutenant Colonel Wilson’s remains were not recovered or identified following the war. Today, Lieutenant Colonel Wilson is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

Rank and Name, Captain Rex Aton.

Unit/Placed in, 12th Medical Regiment, Philippine Scouts.

Camp Cabanatuan

After the Japanese occupation in 1942, the camp was converted by the Imperial Japanese Army into the Cabanatuan POW Camp. At its height, 8,000 prisoners were detained at this location. The prisoners also included some civilians including one British and one Norwegian citizen.  This POW Camp detained prisoners until liberated during the night of January 30, 1945.

The rectangular camp spanned roughly 25 acres and was 800 yards deep by 600 yards wide, divided by a road in the center. The camp consisted of a barracks for Japanese guards, barracks for prisoners, a hospital and water tower enclosed by barbed wire with guard towers.

Enoura Maru

The Eunoura Maru was a Hell Ship for POW Transport.

After the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” was bombed at Fernando, Philippines (15 dec. 1944) The POWs were embarked to the “Hellships Enoura and Brazil Maru.

The “Hellship Enuora Maru arrived at Takao Harbor at 9 Jan. 1945 and was

attacked by Fighters from the USS Hornet (CV12), the one Bomb killed about 330 POW’s, (about 900 survived it).

 

Rex is born approx. on in North Dakota.

His genealogy is still under search.

 

Rex enlisted the service in North Dakota with service number # 0-277883.

 

Rex was KIA onboard the “Hellship Enoura Maru” when it was attacked by fighters from the USS Hornet at Takao Harbor, Taiwan on 9 May 1945, he is honored with a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Rex is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to, http://www.powtaiwan.org/archives_detail.php?THE-STORY-OF-THE-BOMBING-OF-THE-ENOURA-MARU-17

http://www.mansell.com/

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

In 1941 he became a POW and after the Death March was imprisonment in POW Camp Cabanatuan, in 14 Sep. 1944 he went on transport to a POW Camp in Japan with the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” when it was attacked (Fernando, Philippines) Surviours later (27 Dec.) embarked to the “Hellship Enoura Maru” (Tot. 1040 POW) towards Takao Harbor, Taiwan, but he died on 9 Jan. 1945.

Bataan Death March

(April 9, 1942)

Everybody who became a POW they gotto walked (60 miles) the Bataan Death March (together with 70.000 pow), Many walked this march and many died (aprox.600, lack of nutrition and water) to Prison Camps in the Philippines and was send to various camps, became part of a work detail.

Many Survived the March and the imprisonment, some died thereafter.

Rank and Name, Captain William Cleveland Anderson Jr.

Unit/Placed in, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts.

Camp Cabanatuan

After the Japanese occupation in 1942, the camp was converted by the Imperial Japanese Army into the Cabanatuan POW Camp. At its height, 8,000 prisoners were detained at this location. The prisoners also included some civilians including one British and one Norwegian citizen.  This POW Camp detained prisoners until liberated during the night of January 30, 1945.

Oryoku Maru

The ship sailed on December 13, 1944, for Japan and arrived at Subic Bay. After arriving there, the same day, it was bombed by American planes from the USS Hornet, while it was picking up Japanese personnel. As dusk came, the planes broke off the attack. The planes returned and resumed the attack. On Dec. 15, 1944 and was sinking.

The Japanese abandoned ship. They then ordered the POWs to abandon ship. When the American pilots saw the large number of men climbing from the ship’s holds, they stopped their attack. As the POWs swam to shore, the POWs were shot at by Japanese soldiers with machine guns. For further journey they ordered the POW’s to the Enoura Maru

Enoura Maru

December 16, 1944 the ship left Subic Bay for Formosa, on 9 January 1945, while docked at the port of Takao in Formosa and loaded with Allied prisoners of war who had survived the earlier sinking of Ōryoku Maru, it was attacked by Allied aircraft resulting in the deaths of approximately 400 Allied POWs.

The Enoura Maru was permanently disabled by the air raid, but was hit again by United States Army Air Forces planes at Takao on 26 March 1945 and declared sunk. The ship actually survived afloat at the Takao dockside until the end of the war.

 

William is born approx. on May 19, 1918 in Pulaski County, Missouri.

Father, William C. Anderson.

Mother, Mary E. (Hill) Anderson.

Brother(s), Andrew G. and Charles A. Anderson.

 

William enlisted the service in Missouri with service number # 0-383446.

 

William died of his wounds sustained during the Bombing of the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” on Jan. 20, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army & Air Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

William is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

And he has a Memorial Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

He also has a Memorial Grave at Waynesville Memorial Park, Waynesville, Pulaski County, Missouri, USA.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Robert Paul Aikman.

Unit/Placed in, 59^th Coast artillery Regiment.

From the time of his capture, in May 1942, his place of internment was Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines.

The next stop was a Camp in Japan, transportation with the “Hellship“ Oryko Maru,  First Lieutenant Aikman and 1,760 other American prisoners aboard.

The next two days American planes battered the ship and she Sunk at Subic Bay, after the attack he went a board the “HellShip“ Enoura Maru and headed for Japan . Again the Ship was Bombed by the US Air Force , but escaped from further damage to Takao Dockside.

But Lt. Robert P. Aikman died during the attacked.

 

Robert is born approx. on Jan. 23, 1904 in Kansas.

Father, Claude F. Aikman.

Mother, Anna M. (Cannon) Aikman.

Sister(s), Lois C. Marjorie L. and Ruth H. Aikman.

Brother(s), Carl F. Aikman.

 

Robert enlisted the service in Missouri with service number # O-225747.

 

Robert was KIA as a pow onboard the Enoura Maru on Jan. 9, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Silver Star Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

Robert Is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com

 

 

 

 

 

Rank and Name, Private First-Class William R. Parker.

Unit/Placed in, 200^th Coast Artillery Regiment.

Oryoku Maru

The Hell Ships Oryoku Maru left Manila on Dec. 14, 1944 with 1619 POW onboard.

She was attacked by a plane in contact with the USS Hornet, several times.

On Dec. 14, 1944 she was near Subic Bay, Bombed and Strafed rapidly but not sunk it. the next day they the plane retuned and Sunk the Crippled ship, more then 300 POW Perished.

 

Enoura Maru

The POW who survived on the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” were assembled at San Fernando La Union and placed on 2 Ships (“Brazil Maru”) to continue their Journey to Japan.

The Enoura Maru was a Hell Ship (former Cargo, now used for Transport POW’s to other Camps) left Philippine on Dec. 27, 1944.

The Enoura Maru, arrived in Takao, Formosa Dec. 31, 1944.

During the Japanese New Year Celebrations Jan. 6 and the departure nearly 30 POW died from diseases, in Takao port the pow’s from the Brazil Maru were transported to the Enoura Maru.

Then again at Jan. 9, 1945 the Takao Harbor came under attack from planes from the USS Hornet.

Many POW were killed then (unknown) and a POW wrote later; “The Japs provided no medical supplies for the care of the wounded, and just left us in that hold with those hundreds of mutilated bodies for two days.”

Also the Enoura Maru was badly damaged to go further on the Trip.

So on Jan. 14, 1945 all the POW were transported to the “Brazil Maru”.

 

William is born approx. on 1918 in Crosby, Texas.

Father, William Parker.

Mother, Mallie Parker.

Brother(s), Avery P. Parker.

 

William enlisted the service in New Mexico with service number # 38012515.

 

William died as a POW onboard the “Hellship Enoura Maru” on Jan. 9, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

 

William is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.

Walls of the missing.

 

Thanks to,

Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.

Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.

ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov

Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org

POW Info, http://www.mansell.com    Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.

Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org

Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/    Geoffrey Roecker

Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org

Website,

Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/

Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com