Parker, William R. – ww2 Pacific

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,