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YODOGAWA POW Camp Notes from RG 389 Box 2129 |
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RG 389 Box 2129 Reports from Delegate C.A. Kengelbacher Despatch 7346, 21 Feb 1944, American legation, Bern Further File Contents: Yodogawa- affidavit of Sam R. Swor, 4th Marines- 264034; home- Jackson MS; said officer was Major Leslie O. Deane O-375885 Location: between Osaka and Kobe; south bank of Yodogawa River. Adjacent to last bridge going out to bay. First occupied 26 Nov 1942; Approx 400 Americans (300-Army; 40-Navy; 60 Marines); Size: 60 ft x 80 ft with tin fence. One barracks bldg 160 departed 20 Apr 1945 Sketch: blue-river and canals; black-roads and bldg; Red-high board fence around factory; Green= barracks and compound outline[scanned and on file] Major John S. Coleman Jr., O-243526 Affidavit: 400 POWS ex-Philippines arrived 26 Nov 1942 (46 Officers, 354 Enlisted); Jap Army changed control on 10 Mar 1943 to Yodogawa Seiko Company; originally quartered in corner of factory- moved on 10 Dec 1942 to new loft in upper part of another factory building.- no doctors Work- heavy carrying, blast furnaces, rolling mills, etc Major beating of men- 11 May 1943- Japs noticed shoes sold to civilian- all stripped naked, kneel for 2 hours (incl sick with beriberi, etc)- when discovered, man severely beaten, strung up by arms in back all night. (no name given) Jap Staff: Capt Mosu- District Medical Officer Sub-camp: 2nd Lt Yamada Shoi-CO from 26 Nov 42 to 10 Mar 1943. Sgt Hirose-CO from 10 Mar 43 to 16 Jun 45; Sgt Tanaka-CO from 16 Jun 43 to end Gunzoka: Akamatsu (brutal SOB-delighted in beating men), Nakagima, Eto (Warrant Officer) and Miashita Interpreter: Asui, Seewa (Suwa) and Shitagawa Sketches by Sgt Ragan, USMC (See main page) Ragan affidavit: Location at 135' 26" East, 34' 41.3"North; 150 yards north of the largest river that runs thru the north part of Osaka and borders Yanks only until 17 May 1945; SAr officer Major Reardon, USA (NM NAtl Guard) 250 Army, 75 Navy, 75 MArines Barracks 120' x 50', 15 ft high All officers worked- were transferred out late 43 Ragan sent to Itchioka 10 May 43-returned; sent to Oeyama, Suzu on 17 May 1945- camp with 261 men or early 44 Oeyama was one KM west of Suzu on Honshu Island Robert G. Ragan, PlSgt, 274109, USMC, 2017 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City MO Affidavit of Corp William L. Esurin, 280872, Hq 2nd Bn, 4th Marines: left Yodogawa on 12 May 1945- CYeo H.H. Daniels in charge- final destination Ezuka [Iruka] on Kyushu Work Details: Sei Bon- work at steel furnaces and rollers- hot, inadequate shoes Sei Tetsu-smeltering, blast furnaces, molds and castings Michi Han- processed and corrogated tin, Wet, cold and feet infected by acidss Como- Machine shop- forge & lathes Ke Ki- Electrical- repair motors, etc Sei Kon- Manufacturing nuts, bolts & steel helmits Sei Bon Ro Han- armor plating- heavy lifting and danger of overhead cranes Umpan- All weather outside detail: heavy lifting, carrying 120 lb baskets of coal on and off barges, pulling heavy carts, logs, bags- over planks to barges- many fell in; mentions Corp Mel Zahler- Silverton, OR; Sgt Milton Johnson, Seattle WA; Corp Bill Melbourne, Bell CA. Open compound was approx 50' x 50' Gny Sgt James A. Tootle, 2653291, USMC, home-Glennville GA- rescued at Oeyama END OF YODOGAWA |