| Diary of Conrad Johnson, 1944, Part I |
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Civilian POW from Wake
Island. This diary covers time at the Tokyo Camp5-D [Kawasaki].
When this camp was destroyed, Johnson was sent to Omori. Diary begins 19 Feb 1944. Right hand pages are used first then the diary continues using the left hand pages. Diary ends on 22 Sep 1944. [Dates given in this transcript are yy/mm/dd] For most men, the daily wage was 10 sen. 100 Sen equals one Yen. A yen was supposed worth one dollar. Bear this number in mind when POWS are "allowed" to purchase treats or cigarettes. PART I Saturday February 19th [44.2.19] Today we were paid for work at the factory. The weather took a sudden change last night. About 2 inches of snow fell during the night although the temperature was very mild. The sun was shining all day. Not much snow left this evening it[‘s] a little colder. Today we were issued back our razors so we could shave after several weeks of no shaving. Sunday February 20th [44.2.20] Nothing unusual happened today. Just the regular routine of work. The weather is a little colder been out [of] cigarettes all day. Monday February 21st [44.2.21] No change in daily routine of work. The same as usual the weather is much warmer. Sweet potatoes came into camp today after several weeks of none. The snow is all gone. Tuesday February 22nd [44.2.22] Work routine the same as yesterday. Everybody work. One issue of bread came in- one loaf per man. Also apples came in less than one apple per man so they will put them in the rice tonight - a rare treat. The apples cost each man 6 sen. Wednesday February 23rd [44.2.23] Another day has passed with nothing happening. Working as usual. Curry powder was sold to the men, 55 Sen per man. Short ration of rice for supper. Thursday February 24th [44.2.24] Another day has passed- a very nice day- just like spring. Hope it continues like this. Cigarettes came out tonight - 10 per man- that is all we get a month-23 Sen per man. Another treat for supper tonight- noodles with curry in them. Nothing unusual happened today. Friday February 25th [44.2.25] The day shift on the air hammer had a day off today. They get a day off every 10 days. The rest of us worked as usual. The weather was a little colder today. Saturday February 26th [44.2.26] No change in the routine. Everybody working as usual. The weather is very good-warm. Tonight we had another issue of curry, the other half of what we paid for the other night. Also we had a very good fish stew tonight with our bowl of beans. There us a rumor floating around that we might get a half pound of Red Cross sugar per man in the next few days. It has been in camp since before Xmas [Christmas]. It will be nothing unusual if we don’t get it before a couple of months or not at all. Sunday February 27th [44.2.27] Sunday, the day of rest but no rest. It seems they don’t know the difference between Sunday or Monday here in Japan, Have been working in the steel factory 6 months today. Have been on the air hammer all the time. It is sure getting to be tiresome work. Summer weather out today- the best day for many months. Monday February 28th [44.2.28] Still no change in the work routine, 8 hours of it every day. Tonight, for the first time since December 9th, 1941, the most of us prisoners got one hot cake and it was very good. Of course we had no eggs or bacon to go with [the hot cakes]. We don’t get things like that around here but our day is coming soon I hope. A few boxes & bundles of shoes & clothing came in tonight. We can sure use the shoes. Tuesday February 29th [44.2.29] The last day of the month with no change in work routines. A few letters came into camp tonight but haven’t been put out yet- tomorrow I hope. Wednesday March 1st [44.3.1] Mail came out today. I received 5 letters, all of them written in 1942. It sure is good to hear from the folks. No changes in activities around camp. I got a box to put my tin cup & stuff in. There is a[n] inspection coming up I guess. Thursday March 2nd [44.3.2] They issued some of the Red Cross clothing today. There wasn’t very much but the men were sure glad to get it. I got a wool sweater and pair of sox and I sure needed them- so did everyone. There was only about 1/3rd enough to go around as usual. Friday March 3rd [44.3.3] Another [day] has passed and no change in the daily activities. They are getting ready for a big inspection tomorrow. Several of the men on night shift are getting sick due to the cold place we have to eat in at midnight. That and cold chow make it pretty rough going for the night shift. Saturday March 4th [44.3.4] Big inspection today- lots of activities around the camp- getting things all fixed up so it will look good to the inspection party. Every thing else went along as usual- getting hungrier every day. Sunday March 5th [44.3.5] Today was a very bad day. It was very cold. It has been snowing all day and blowing the worst weather of the year. It[‘s] sure hell to have to work in this kind of weather- bad weather to get sick in- very little chow to eat doesn’t help matters at all. Everybody worked today as usual. Monday March 6th [44.3.6] It has quit snowing but still very cold. Today was pay day and we also got the radio we bought last December. It is a combination radio and phonograph but the radio isn’t working- only a few records to play. [I] have played it about 5 minutes all day. Tuesday March 7th [44.3.7] 30 personal boxes came in camp today for the Philippine men. One issue of bread came in today, the first in two weeks. Fish also came in. The snow is all gone again. The weather has warmed up again. It is starting to rain more. Wednesday March 8th [44.3.8] The 30 men who received personal boxes yesterday were given out to them today. It snowed and rained a little today. The weather is fairly warm today. A truck load of rice came into the camp. Otherwise, everything is going as usual- plenty of work and still hungry. Thursday March 9th [44.3.9] We were issued about one half pound of sugar per man today, the first sugar we had since Xmas. The war most surely coming to an end to get that much sugar again. The way they issue things out it is Red Cross sugar at that. The weather was sure swell today very warm very nice to work in. Soap was issued today one per man - toilet soap the first since Xmas. Friday March 10th [44.3.10] Nothing unusual happened today - work as usual. It’s a little bit cooler. They brought in several records for the phonograph that sure sound good - makes life a little more bearable if that’s possible in this place. Saturday March 11th [44.3.11] Today was just another dull day in prison of which there are many - work as usual that’s all they seem to have on their mind - the more we do the more they want done. The weather was very good today. Sunday March 12th [44.3.12] Today will be a memorable day for those of us who are imprisoned in remembrance of a fellow man who passed away early this morning - a friend of all of us. The cause of his death is unknown to the most of us but possibly do [due] to improper food - not enough of it. The very brief sermon was held officiated by one of the prisoners. Radio broadcasts were made today - I hope they get there. One of the men was caught out in the gally [galley] last night taking food and with usual procedure was beaten up by the Japanese and put in the guard house. Monday March 13th [44.3.13] Just another day in a prison camp - no excitement as usual, we were issued oranges today, some of us got 12, some 14, very small oranges. They cost 34 sen per man - just enough for one meal - that is the one time any of us get full for a meal. Tuesday March 14th [44.3.14] One more for them and one less for us, the weather is quite a little cooler today, misting and trying to rain. - One issue of bread came. They say it is in kind of bad shape but we will sure [serve] it - its never too bad for that. Wednesday March 15th [44.3.15] Five of our sick men left camp today to go to the hospital camp. The day shift had a day off today. The weather was sure swell today. Nothing else of importance happened. The rest of the camp worked. Thursday March 16th [44.3.16] Another dull day in camp. Nothing at all happened - just work and eat and dan [damn] little eating. Everyone was weighed today. Some of the men lost weight, some held their own. I held my own 57 kilos. Friday March 17th [44.3.17] We all had to turn in our leather shoes for canvas shoes. We won’t have and feet left when we get through this at the rate things are going. They are sure hell to work in. They have quit the light duty detail. From today, if you can walk, you can work. Everybody works - sick and all. Saturday March 18th [44.3.18] Another pay day in camp. I drawed [drew] 450 yen. That is two weeks pay. It rained all day and now is begin[n]ing to snow and getting colder, Bad weather to work in. Sunday March 19th [44.3.19] It snowed all night. About 8 inches of snow fell, the biggest snow of the year. The most of it melted today. We had a hard earth tremor this evening while we were eating. It sure made this building sway for a few seconds. Monday March 20th [44.3.20] Nothing unusual happened to day. Work went along as before. It rained for a while and it looks like it may rain some more. Tuesday March 21st [44.3.21] The first day of Spring. A very warm day - sun shone most of the day. I had very little sleep today. To [Too] nice a day to sleep. I guess I pay for it tonight out on the job. Every body worked today as usual. No let up in the work. Wednesday March 22nd [44.3.22] We were issued one small tangerene [tangerine] today. There was no charge. Very unusual. Other than that, nothing unusual happened. Routine as before. The weather was very nice today. Thursday March 23rd [44.3.24] 24 months a prisoner. It seems like 27 years. It sure [has] been a rough go. Hungry most of the time. One issue of bread came in today in very bad shape. Also a few pair of shoes came in. Salt and soup bone came is. We should have a bone soup tonight. We very seldom get salt in our chow. Friday March 24th [44.3.24] Another [day] gone by and it’s the same old grind of work as usual. Not even a good rumor floating around. The marked our bed sheets so we would know which is head and foot of it. The weather is a little cooler this evening. Saturday March 25th [44.3.25] The day shift on the air hammers had a day off rather it was a change day but nobody went off the night shift. Smoking pipes were issued today. 8 pipes per section. No smoking tobacco was issued. A few vegetable came in today. We get about a spoon full of vegetable per meal. We have been short the last few days. Sunday March 26th [44.3.26] A few pair of new shoes were issued to day to some of the men who don’t work out[side] of camp, the dog robbers and office force. A few vegetables came in today. Nothing new took place around to mention. The weather was very good today. Work went on as usual. [A "dog robber" was generally an officer's aide whose specialty was obtaining needed items - no questions asked.] Monday March 27th [44.3.27] All men were issued letter [sic] shoes. Some new shoes, some old shoes. I was fortunate to get a new pair but we cannot wear them until they give us permission. When that will be nobody knows. Tuesday March 28th [44.3.28] They had a camp inspection today. All the details quit work at 3:30. Otherwise, there was no change in camp life around here. It rained most of the day. Wednesday March 29th [44.3.29] The same old story, work as usual. The weather was very warm today. Thursday March 30th [44.3.30] Another day has passed and we are still able to work, getting weaker every day. Can’t keep this up much longer on the chow we are getting. Friday March 31st [44.3.31] The last day of another month has passed. The month passed with nothing but work to write about and a lot of that. A few vegetables came in today. Prison life is getting [older?] every day but things will brighten one of these days. Saturday April 1st [44.4.1] One of the men from the hospital camp came back today. The weather was very warm today. Spring must be here at last. Sunday April 2nd [44.4.2] One of the men was taken to the hospital today to have an appendix operation. They are giving the men fairly good treatment over there. Camp is still the same - nothing exiting ever happens. Monday April 3rd [44.4.3] A few boxes of noodles came in today, enough for about 3 meals, if we get them before they are used up. Otherwise work routine the same. That never changes. Tuesday April 4th [44.4.4] Fish & vegetables came in today, enough for a few meals. Fish one meal. The weather is very calm. It got a little chilly last night but warmed up today. Work is the same. Wednesday April 5th [44.4.5] The day shift on the air hammers had the day off today. No day off for the night shift. Everyone else worked the same as usual. A few vegetables came in again today, enough for about 8 meals. Thursday April 6th [44.4.6] Fish came in today so we had fish and rice tonight for supper. They just bring in enough fish for one meal. We had a bowl of beans and a bowl of fish & rice for supper tonight. They don’t have any vegetables. Friday April 7th [44.4.7] Sox were issued to some of the men today, the second time since we have been here. They got a few vegetables in today so we had our regular meals of rice soup again today. Saturday, April 8th [44.4.8] Fish came in today so we had fried fish for supper tonight & a bowl & a half of rice, one bowl of beans. They don’t have any vegetables so the [sic] gave us the beans instead. Sunday April 9th [44.4.9] Easter Sunday & everybody has to work like every other day. We had two bowls of rice & one bowl of soup for breakfast. They are sure giving us the chow. The day shift don’t have time to eat before they go to work. We only have a few minutes to eat it. Two bowls of beans & rice and soup for supper. One bowl was sweet. Monday April 10th [44.4.10] Another big chow day. Two bowls of rice & soup for breakfast - plain rice, two bowls of rice & soup for supper, one bowl with fish in it and it is sure good [??] work routine the same as usual. Tuesday April 11th [44.4.11] Back to normal chow rations again. It was too good to last. We had fish in the rice again tonight and a bowl of beans for soup. No vegetables came in. Wednesday April 12th [44.4.12] We had our finger prints taken today. The night shift - there was supposed to be a big inspection today but nobody showed up. Work routine the same as usual. Thursday April 13th [44.4.13] We had noodles and fish soup tonight. Camp life the same as usual, no excitement. Work went on like every other day. Friday April 14th [44.4.14] We had oranges & apples & sugar in the rice this morning and it was very good & a bowl of beans for soup. They haven’t got any vegetables in camp. A bowl of beans & bowl of rice for dinner. All the men are getting beri beri medicine now. All it is is yeast. It sure is appetizing. A very small ration of meat came in this afternoon. We had it in the soup tonight. No vegetables. Saturday April 15th [44.4.15] Some canteen supplies came out today - tea, fish powder, mustard & yeast pills. Day shift had a day off today. We had a clam soup for dinner, shells & all. Work routine the same. Sunday April 16th [44.4.16] Just another day in prison camp, no change in work routine. Everything went along as before not much chow. Monday April 17th [44.4.17] No more heat in the barracks. The steam was shut off today. I hope we are not here for another winter. Work routine the same. PAGES MISSING - Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday Apparently two men were caught at the nearby factory, most likely seeking to steal food. Thursday April 21st [44.4.21] PARTIAL ...camp and were caught over at the factory. They got all the men up and had roll call at 3 A.M. this morning for punishment. They were beat up pretty bad. One of them was turned loose and the other was put in the guard house. We had two bowls of noodles and a small piece of fried fish for supper tonight. They had an inspection today and kept the night shift from getting much sleep. Friday April 21st [44.4.21] No change in work routine today. Straight beans & soup for supper tonight. Vegetables came in today. A few letters came in today for the old men. Saturday April 22nd [44.4.22] Some more mail came in today. It was for some of the Shanghai men. The list isn’t out yet. Work routine the same as before. We got more beri beri medicine tonight. Sunday April 23rd [44.4.23 Work routine the same as before. It rained for a few minutes today. Fried fish for supper & beans & soup, corn & rice for breakfast & dinner. No barley. Mail was put out this morning. Monday April 24th [44.4.24] Ciggarettes [sic] were issued out today, 8 per man @ 24 sen per man. One of the men in the guard house [see April 21st] was carried out today, unable to walk from punishment and taken to the hospital for treatment. Badly beaten up by the Japanese. Work routine the same as before. Tuesday April 25th [44.4.25] The day shift on the air hammers had another day off. The day shift get [sic] 3 days a month off. The night shift don’t get any time off- work every night. The British doctor left camp today. He went up to the prisoner’s hospital camp. He was replaced this afternoon by an American doctor from the Philippines. He is an army lieutenant. All men were weighed tonight. I gained 1 ½ kilos. I now weigh 58.8. kilos [129.6 pounds]. Work routine the same as usual. Oranges were issued one per man- large ones - 8 sen each. Wednesday April 26th [44.4.26] Work routine the same today as before. Cigerettes [sic] were issued again today, 5 per man, 12 sen per man. We were also given 1 ½ doughnuts each tonight. Pork soup & soya in the rice. Thursday April 27th [44.4.27] Fried fish for supper again tonight, Work routine the same as usual. Apples came in to camp today but weren’t issued out. There is not enough to go around. 1 apple per man will be put in the rice in the next day or so, I hope. Friday April 28th [44.4.28] A truck load of Red Cross supplys [sic] came in this evening consisting of 100 individual boxes. PAGE MISSING Continue with Part II May 1st to September 22nd 1944 |