| Tanagawa Time Line |
| Note:
The following
time line is based upon the Nixon and Meyers diaries, copies of which
were provided by Dr. Thomas Nixon. The Emerson Diary is at the
University of Texas. The A. Wessel Meyers diary is on exhibit at the
U.S. Navy Historical Museum, Navy Yard, Washington DC. Sources: M=Meyers, N= Nixon, E=Emerson Memoir Area Map Port Detail Map 1942 27 Nov 1942: First men from Philippines arrive- 500 men (178 Officers and 322 enlisted) arrive per 2nd Lt Ben Morin from the hell ship Nagato Maru. Other men from Nagato Maru sent to Mitsushima, Kobe and Osaka (Hirohata). Senior Officer is Lt. Col Ernest B. Miller (192nd Tank) 6 Dec 1942: Buettner, Albert, Pvt., 16021794, CAC, dies 6:15 P.M., Beri Beri & Malaria of the Brain (Source: Wolpert diary) 20 Dec 1942 Dr. George Campbell and Dr. William Marsico arrive (Source: Emerson Notes) 25 Dec 1943: One Red Cross box given per 6-7 men. Japanese personnel looted and kept 2-3rds of all boxes and contents. 1943 6 Jan 1943: Captain Clinton W. "Pappy" Kuhns and Lieutenant Charles H. Smith arrive from Moji- had also come on the Nagato Maru. 16 Jan 1943: 50 Guam men depart Zentsuji 1850, via Takamatsu (2030), boat to Uno- arrive 2230, depart train to Osaka (0015) - [M] 16 Jan 1943: 150 Officers depart Tanagawa for Zentsuji [Morin] 17 Jan 1943: Carlos McAfee assumes command from Lt. Col Miller 17 Jan 1943: 50 Guam men arrive Osaka at 0500; arrive Tanagawa 0815 hours [M, N] 19 Jan 1943: 1st Lt Mallot dies- dysentary [M] 22 Jan 1943: Lile, CSK dies 1425 hr, diarrhea and malnutrition [M] 23 Jan 1943: Osaka Jap Medical officer inspection [M] 24 Jan 1943: Lt. Rowden, USA dies 1715; diarrhea and malnutrition [M] 25 Jan 1943: Landes, Pvt, USA dies 2300; diarrhea and malnutrition [M] 27 Jan 1943: Anness, Pvt, USA, died 0215; diarrhea and malnutrition [M] 02 Feb 1943: Capt Tinley, Lt. Pipkin died [M] 03 Feb 1943: Lt. Barry Baldwin dies 0105; gangrene of thigh [M] 05 Feb 1943: Bloxon dies, 1345 [M] 06 Feb 1943: Munn dies 2030, diarrhea and pneumonia [M] 8 Feb 1943: Jap general's inspection [N,M] 11. Feb 1943: Lt Preble dies 0505 [M] 11 Feb 1943: Barner dies 1625 [M] 14 Feb 1943: Hass dies 1355 - gangrene [M] 15 Feb 1943: Lt. Longmire dies 0230 [M] 15 Feb 1943: Sayer dies 2330 [M] 16 Feb 1943: Irwin, CMM dies 1225; pneumonia [M] 17 Feb 1943: Lt Mowick dies 1045 (Possibly Mowiek) [M] 19 Feb 1943: Capt [LeGrand] Frank dies, 1830; convulsions [M] 21 Feb 1943: McIntire, Pvt dies, 0610; diarrhea and malnutrition [M] 27 Feb 1943: Meyers learns "that seven of the 140 who went to Osaka from Zentsiji, died there, do not know identity or cause - Honcho told me" [editor note: This was not true.] [M] 06 Mar 1943: Meyers sends 20 patients to Osaka hospital. [M] 09 Mar 1943: Hyashi departs (honcho) Marsaki and Toyama relieved him. [M] 14 Mar 1943: Threat dies, 0855; pneumonia [M] 19 Mar 1943: Meyers starts to teach Marsaki English. [M] 20 Mar 1943: Orr, William assumes command from McAfee McAfee became Sr Officer when group of officers left in January but was a lawyer (JAG) hence senior became Bill Orr on 43.03.20 23 Mar 1943: Tharp dies, 2000; "Jacksonian epilepsy and diarrhrea [M] 28 Mar 1943: Selvig, RM1c dies 1600; diarrhea (Donald Allen Selvig) [M] 31 Mar 1943: Iaeger dies, 2130; diarrhea [M] 01 April 1943: Meyers receives sulphaquanadine from Japs [M] xx April 1943: No deaths recorded by Meyers [M] 01 May 1943: Broadhead (?) ACMM dies 1100; pneumonia [M] 01 May 1943: Hospital moved to barracks 9 [M] 10 May 1945: McKnight returned from Osaka hospital; heard rumor that Germany had surrendered. [M] 16 May 1943: 160 Navy and Marines leave Tanagawa, 0700 in rain. Train to Osaka, subway to Umeda Bunsho, approx 5 KM from Osaka Nanba. Meyers joins Doctors Nell and Brown as only Corpsman. [M] (Editor note: Japanese decided to separate Army men from Navy and Marine prisoners) 03 Sep 1943: 25 officers [List] transferred to Zensuji [E] 14 Oct 1943: Pvt. Joseph Moczarny (192nd Tank, Hq Co) dies of malnutrition Note: By summer of 1943, 22 officers and 47 enlisted men had died in this camp 31 Aug 1943- Pvt Everett L. Tyler beaten to death. 25 Apr 1944: camp closed. POWS transferred to Omi and Fukuoka #11. |
