|
Yodogawa Diary Major William B. Reardon |
|
Yodogawa-Sontag & Reardon Diary from 26 Nov 1942 to 10
January 1943 26 Nov 1942: Our group of 400 (400) arrived at our final destination this day. [Ex Nagato Maru] For record purposes we have under the very able leadership of Major William B. Reardon a total of 46 officers, 45 of which are Army personnel and 1 Naval officer; the balance 354 men are all enlisted personnel 9 [crossed out] (except) including all branches of the service. Upon arrival in Osaka we were very cold, disgruntled and hungry lot of men who were compelled to stand by and listen to instructions in Japanese commands. Their commands are much the same as ours. Strictly designed for military efficiency and carrying the same importance. We all then swore an oath that we would not attempt to escape and that to the best of our ability we would faithfully discharge our new duties. The camp we are at is called: OSAKA PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. YODOGAWA BRANCH CAMP OSAKA JAPAN. We are under the direct supervision of a young and likable Japanese Sergeant. His name is something like Yoshashira Hirose (San-Mr.) Our quarters are large and very airy. They are in the remote corner of a barrel factory. Comfort during the daylight hours is very difficult, due to the cold. Our bodies can't stand this weather on the diet we have been forced to subsist on. The Interpreter seems a nice fellow and has diligently tried to help us. He has told us we would move to more comfortable quarters. We hope so. 27 November 1942: Doctor examined half our number. He found beri-beri plentiful, pellagra, pneumonia, flu, and much dysentery and diarrhea. Medicine soon we hope. A hospital has been established and 38 patients were entered. Ensign Conley, [Conley, Harry F., Ens, 101155,USN, died 1 May 1943] our Naval officer present, was admitted suffering from intense and acute diarrhea. Captain Starnes [Starnes, Cameron S. Jr., Capt, O&291283, INF] relieved Ensign Conley as Group 6 leader. The hospital is run by Lt. Placko. [Placo, Frank, Capt, O&372230,SC] 29 November 1942: More medical examinations, but as yet still forthcoming. More men examined and their ailments recorded by the Japanese Medical. No medicines yet. Officer Group is now Group 1. 30 November 1942: The doctor completed his exam the A.M. and parted by again saying, "Medicine and adequate housing soon." All we can do is wait and hope. Weather is still cold.Two troops went outside today for physical drill. [Diary appears to have been taken over by Reardon at this point] Men were driven out. Yamada Choi came with his big sword and kicked men out of the blankets. Sick as well as well men. I caught his arm and protested [and] finally managed to get some men excused when I swore they had malaria. He could not talk English and I never learned Japanese. He did understand the word Malaria and evidently was impressed by it. Many times since I have wondered how it was I escaped a beating at this time. I was interfering, as the Japanese though, with an officer of the Imperial Army 1 December 1942: A year ago this month the war began. Wonder what next. A good office force is kept pretty busy all the days long writing reports, correspondence, new orders, requisitions and records. Released four men from the hospital back to duty. Major Reardon working hard. 2 December 1942: Today was a very busy day. We kept ourselves warmed by working at a very fast tempo for the Interpreter. We established an index file system for him. Submitted also a list of ranks, ratings, and pay of all branches and a part[ial] description of their jobs. Three men more [sic] admitted to the hospital today. Still no medicine. Maybe tomorrow? (We not only had no medicine, we had no doctor either. The Japanese who had examined the men was, we learned, and apprentice or first aid man who worked in the factory. Lt. Obourn [Oboorn, Robert Lyle, 2nd Lt, USA (CAC), O&418579] who hoped to study medicine volunteered and he took over care of the sick in the hospital for the men, Lt. Placo [sic] handled the administrative which consisted of making reports to the Japanese at Bango or Tenko time. I would try to treat diseases. For instance, we would give diarrhea cases charcoal from the fire, a treatment that the doctors had tried in the Philippines.) 3 December 1942: Our log begins in earnest this day. The first entry marks the beginning of our downward track: Second Lieutenant Francis Gurney Smith, 92nd Coast Artillery Corp [O&412202] died at 2:23 A.M. His untimely and unfortunate death was due to a series of diseases both mental and physical. The physical dealt with such ailments as Scurvy [&] Pellagra. His mental condition was in a disturbed state and his heart was played out. We, those of us who are left, wonder who is next? The Japanese Commandant payed [sic] us a visit this morning and with loud and apeish [sic] utterances, forced sick and well outside for physical exercise. Some of the men are not in condition for such drill and might, as a result, become serious liabilities to the Japanese government. The doctor paid another visit here and promised medicine soon. Major Reardon spoke to the Japanese Medical Corp Representative who came to perform a post mortem exam on Lt. Smith. His requests were perfectly respectful and within reason. They were received icily and with "What can we do?" They apparently would have us believe we are very fortunate to be receiving the treatment we are. What a laugh. I wonder if Uncle Sammie is starving and causing the Japanese that he has [as] prisoners so much discomfort and misery. Yesterday I picked up a line on what our work might be. We were not brought here for recuperation but to fill in the blank spaces the men who have gone to war have left in the factories. I imagine we will have to do real labor, carrying, piling, to and fro assisting in the manufacture of articles usable against our country, Cruel and unjust as hell. Yet what can we do? Here's hoping. 4 December 1942: This day another of our small group walked his last mile. A young lad by the name of Akerman died at 11:30 P.M. [as a] result of dysentery and a combination of pellagra, malnutrition and worry. [Ackerman, Carl E., PFC, 6573720, Camp No 206 Army (60th CAC, F Battery)] The Japanese gave him a Christian burial and all men turned out in final tribute. Still cold as Hell and lousy chow. (I should make remarks about the Christian burial. Ackerman, like everyone who died, was cremated. There were no services. No prayers.) 5 December 1942: Happenings here are very mechanical and systematic. Whenever you find yourself with nothing to do, some Japanese guard will noisily saunter over and suddenly you will find yourself all mixed up in physical exercises. And [that] is so today. Ten men were sent to a military hospital. (The ten men were sent to the Osaka Military Hospital [Itchioka] in the stadium. All ten died as did most of the others who were sent out from our camp to that hospital. A good British doctor, Commander Jackson, but no medicine, help, heat, food or [anything] to work with. Incidently, the Japanese were "tyso" - exercise happy. If a man were to die, they would take him out to exercise to get him in shape for the journey. 6 December 1942: Promises of cigarettes, baths, better food still just mere words. We are one month dirty. Soon, however, our skin will shed and so the dirt will disappear. More exercise and cold and soup and rice. (The last time we had a chance to clean up was before we left Cabanatuan on Nov 6, 1942. A few of us had cleaned up by standing at the water faucet in the open and bathing with cold water, This took guts- we were all ready [sic] cold and the temperature was below freezing. We were dirty, lousy, and above all, have you ever gone over a month without washing your teeth?) 7 December 1942: As an afterthought: The day young Ackerman died, Major Reardon accompanied the Japanese Lieutenant to the crematory for services. It may be mentioned here that it was the Major's first ride in a hearse and the Japanese further showed their good faith by presenting our fine leader with a package of cigarettes. Here too, we received another surprise. All men able to work went to the various jobs today, 232 strong. Clothing scarce, cold as the Devil and only soup and rice under their belts. Hours are long and the work is dreary and amounts to manual labor. The officers too participated. The fellows all complained after the day was ended as to the cold and the lack of warm clothing. This they further told the Japanese factory owner who had leased our services in a letter entitled "IMPRESSIONS OF THE FIRST DAY OF WORK". Hope it doesn't excite any ill feelings; things are bad enough as it is. We get paid for our labor. How much we don't know yet, but we can easily name a figure like 25 sen a day and almost be exactly correct. The fellows are pretty disgusted with everything, working in a factory helping to make bombs to drop on our friends. It isn't a thing to their or my liking. Some day, dear God granting, we will have our chance at full repayment. Keeping our chins up is all we can do. Our sick list is steadily mounting. How some of these men carry on is remarkable. Fever ridden, bodies worn down with fatigue, on starvation rations and not enough clothing to stay war. Come on Uncle Sam. Please. We got a bath today. An American doctor, Captain Richardson A.C. [Army Air Corps] and a corpsman were brought into camp from Camp Meda [sic Umeda] 8 December 1942:Another day. So what? Working in the cold, Poor hot soup and rice our daily feast. Clothes shabby and filthy. The rest of men are bathing tonight. First time in over a month. We were promised better food, meat and sugar. Haven't seen it yet. Just another idle promise. This country is really poor. Tomorrow what? I found [out] how the Japanese regarded diaries. I took over the keeping of one myself. I did not feel that I could ask Sontag or one of my clerks to stick his neck out. Keeping a record was not an occupation that was favored by the Japanese. During the period of the lapse between Sontag's record and where I picked it up, the Japanese got a little rough. Yamada Choi, the Japanese officer who was Camp Commander, beat up on Captain Olson, who at the time was acting Duty Officer, because there was a fire burning in the new barrack into which we moved. The fire had been built by Japanese workmen and Olson had nothing to do with it. Olson was beaten and I had to write a letter of apology for Olson's actions. [Olson, John E., Capt, O&22125, USA(INF), 57th Inf] A Private Maughn was also beaten by the Sgt. Hiroso, noncom in charge of the camp under Yamado. Maughn was beaten for stealing a pair of Japanese socks. The Japanese were beginning to get tough. [Maughn, Walter John, Pvt, 17012224, USA (CAC), 60th F Btry] 9 to 13 December 1942: Period of four days during which we moved from our former quarters, in a corner of the foundry form room, to a new second floor in another building. (A floor had been built over piles of tin in a steel warehouse. It was a corrugated iron building that was full of holes and extremely dirty.) We are warmer that the first quarters but we are allowed no fires. We are being disciplined. Captain Olson was cuffed around because a fire was built before orders authorizing a fire [was] given. Now fires only tow hours a day. (At that time we didn't know when we were lucky. The next year and from then on out, we were never allowed fires until after 1 January.) Editors note: For some strange reason, the Japanese high command set specific dates in advance as to when warm clothing was to be issued, when it was to be turned in for summer weight and when fires can be allowed in barracks. These inflexible and stupid rules also applied to the Japanese military. Everyone is cold, lousy, hungry and half sick. Pellagra and scurvy are prevalent. Men are on labor parties carrying loads in baskets, moving pig iron [and] loading or unloading barges. December 12th, one man, Wilkinson USMC Camp Number 142, injured. Broken leg when a stack of pig iron fell and pinned him beneath it. He was left in quarters for five hours and then taken to the hospital in a taxi. Later, he was brought [back] and left in quarters. [Wilkinson, Henry E., PFC, 4th Marines H Company - rescued at Oeyama] (Red broke his leg in three places. He was left [to] lay without attention for five hours and then taken to the hospital, X-rayed and his leg set and [was then] brought back to lay on boards without attention other than that which we could give him for the next three months. Red is a tough boy to have live through that. Along with Red's injury, I think I did the bravest thing that I had done in the war. I saw Red was not getting attention. The Japanese office force and the medical corpsman refused to do naything. They were afraid of Yamada. Even the interpreter, Mr. Suii, who was friendly, was afraid and refused to go with me to see Yamada I went to the office. I could not speak a word of Japanese and he knew no English. I grabbed him by the belt and started pulling. Every minute I expected to be hit, beat or cut.... [page missing] 26 December 1942: Camp No. 190 Pvt E.M. Polidoro who was admitted to the Camp hospital suffering from diarrhea, died this morning. Yesterday, he walked into the hospital and carried all his possessions. [PFC Louis M. Polidoro, 11008138, 60th CAC Hq 3 Bn], T41 Mr. A. Polidoro, 31 Colchester St, Springfield MASSHe died at 6:00 A.M. 27 December 1942: Drew Red Cross packages - three men per package. I ate a full meal for the first time since the capture. Lt. Tommy Harrison, en enlisted ma and myself are sharing the package. We drew hair cutting tools. (This was another first. All razors, knives and scissors had been taken away from us. Some of us, like myself, had managed to hold out on a razor blade. I had two [that] I had hid in the waist band of my trousers. On the whole, we were a rough looking crew. The Red Cross packages that we received were Canadian Red Cross. The regular five pound Red Cross box. It contained tea instead of coffee, no cigarettes, and slightly more cheese than the American box. It was also the first Red Cross that we received. Boxes were given out by Yamada Choi. His method was to make everyone take his place in his bay [sleeping area]. Each man had to sit cross legged on his blankets. Then Yamada walked down the isle of the barracks and to each third man he gave a box. In my case, Tom Harrison, who was my adjutant, and myself were the first two men in our bay. The Private Chesselet, who was sick, was the last man in the bay before ours, the length of the barracks from us. [Chesselet, Alan, Cpl, 6575135, USA (DML) Chesselet died of Tuberculosis on 45.05.22] Like I said, Chesselet was sick. I used to quan his share of the Red Cross for him and take it to him. He was very proud of the fact that he, as a sick Private, had a Major dog robbing for him.) Sick men 100 Work party 44 Total 384 We received our first medicine today. 28 December 1942: PFC Harmon, Raymond Donald, died 7:30 12/28/42 of Diarrhea. POW No. 209, USMC. [4th Marines Svc Company, ASN 269691] Started the day by getting the men up at First Call. (Until this time Japanese soldiers were responsible for getting the men up. They would come up, start shouting and would beat the men driving them out of their blankets with noise, confusion and brutality. I felt that I could save the men. I got permission and took the responsibility of having the men up, dressed, and ready for Tenko. From this time on I took over getting the men up. They would be in formation by the time that the Japanese Officer of the Day came in for his morning inspection. We managed to keep the soldiers out and as a s result there were no more beatings and no noise. I would waken at 4:30, dress and then at 5:00 A.M., would call the men so they could go to the latrine. The diet of soup and rice made such trips a necessity immediately on waking. At 5:25 the camp would be formed in Tenko formation, The section leaders would have had a chance to check their men to see who was present, who had taken sick or died during the night. The result was their reports were more accurate and we did get away from the bother of the Japanese soldiers climbing through the bays shouting and kicking the sleeping men.) Sick men: 109 Working Party ?? Total 373 12/28/42 Raymond Donald Harmon, 4th Marines, Lafayette Colorado died this A.M. from acute diarrhea. I turned over his wallet for safe keeping to Sgt Louis Sontag, USMC. His wife's address and name: -Mrs- EKATERINA DIMITRIEVNA. 118 Route Des Siures, Shanghai, China. Written on December 31, 1942: 12/28/42 Corporal Montgomery. Marine Corporal died. Sick a long time, For the first time since we have been here had service for the dead, Lt Hall acting as Chaplain. [Hall, Ridgley L., 1st Lt, USA (CAC), O&370168, 220th CA] Montgomery, Warren A., M.S.N. 273429 Corporal USMC [273449] Mother: Mrs Cella Thurber, Box 211, RR 2, Mesa ArizonaDied December 28, 1942. Acute diarrhea, malnutrition December 29th I took the body of Montgomery to the crematory. I was allowed to buy some cigarettes on the way back. (Lt. Hall had studied for the ministry. I had asked im to take charge of the service for Montgomery. I had spoken to the men and told them that we would have some type of ceremony out of respect for the men who died. Eventually, the ceremony became repeating the Lord's Prayer by the camp followed by a right hand salute, by the numbers.) 30 December 1942: My birthday - 38 years old. Lt. Hall was taken out of sick bay and disciplined- accused of hitting one of the guards. (Hall was taken by the Lt Yamado Choi from the sick bay out into the factory area near the big blast furnace. Here he was beaten first with Yamado's fist and then with his saber. A day or two previous, Hall had been in a working party at the big blast [furnace]. One of the foremen struck at Hall and to protect himself, Hall put his arms in front of his head. The foreman reported that Hall had offered resistence. Hall was not allowed to explain. He was beaten in front of the Japanese and made to write a letter of apology addressed to the Camp Commander. I was also required to write a letter of apology. I had to apologize because I had a man like Hall under my command. I knew Hall and I know that he would never have made an attempt to fight.) Spent some time talking to Jack Post. He hopes to start a school for boys when he returns. [Post, Jack E., 1st Lt, O&367447, USA (CAC), died 43.01.15 of malnutrition, beri beri and dysentery] Made a round (of the working places) with Yamado. Carried yo-yo pole. I didn't do so hot and neither did he [or] the coolies. (I was taken around the factory by a guard and Yamado. He was starting me to work. We got at places where men were working and he filled a double yo-yo basket with iron ore and motioned me to walk up a plank. A double basket takes practice and training. I lost my balance and fell off. First he was mad then he decided to show me how it was done. He filled the basket and he starts up the plank. He fell off. That was the end of our working that day although he did try to get me to agree to have the officers work. The officers were working but under protest. The Geneva Convention specifies that Officers were to be on a non-working basis. We had a great number of officers and naturally all wanted the rights guaranteed to them. Myself, I felt taht [the] Japanese should follow International Law. I refused to volunteer my officers for work. However, they were forced out in spite of what I wanted. In time, I did manage to get all of the working officers appointed as group leaders. This meant that, in some cases, they were overseers. In others, they worked as usual.) 1 January 1943: Only 44 men worked. Remainder of the group were taken out (onto an open place [where] the winter wind had a clean sweep.) To express good wishes to the Emperor. Yamada presided. Editors Note: Traditionally, New Years Day is celebrated as the Emperor's birthday and is one of the most important holidays in Japan. In the afternoon, overcoats [were] issued to the working men. I drew one. (We were marched out into the factory grounds and there forced to listen to a long speech by Yamado. The one thing about it was that it was loud. Then we had to listen while the speech was interpreted by Mr. Suii who could hardly speak English. During this time, we were at attention. Next, we faced the east and led by Yamado- and stimulated by the guards - the whole camp assumed the frog like position and ‘Bonzaied" the Emperor. The interpreter had trouble with Yamado when he called is people Japanese instead of Nipponese. In the afternoon, overcoats were issued. They were Japanese Army coasts and were a godsend to the men who were dressed in what was left of the clothing they had worn in the tropics after a year of being in captivity and having nothing new issued during this period. Coast were given only to those men that were classified as workers They served the double purpose of clothing during the day and [as] a covering over the bunks at night. This first winter, the work details were allowed to wear overcoats when they went out to work. The years following, no coats were allowed outside the barracks except with individual permission.) 2 January 1943: Still a Japanese vacation. (The factory workers did not work on New Years [day]. This first year, they had a carnival and big dinner) Only three details of 88 men are working. Cigarettes were issued to the men who worked. They had to return the packages and paper (that the cigarettes were wrapped in) Windy replaced the stuff he had borrowed. (Windy was a Japanese guard, so named because he made a lot of noise. On the whole though, he was a pretty good sort. Windy had gone through some equipment and had taken things out of the haversacks. One of these haversacks happened to be mine. For some reason or other, Windy was worried. He replaced everything to the best of his ability and gave me a small bottle of "sake" to boot. However, I just couldn't get interested in the "Sake". I think that I took a taste and then gave the rest away.. I was afraid that a little alcohol on my empty stomach would have a bad affect. One hig Commanding Officer could go bad for the camp and me. 6 January 1943: |