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Reflections of Ken Towery
Concerning the Voyage of The Oryoka Maru By R.K. Towery This is the story of what we might call "A Voyage of the Oryoka Maru", a converted prison ship on which American defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, plus some from Mindanao, all then prisoners of war of the Japanese, were transported from Manila to Japan during the final stages of America's return to the Philippines in late 1944 and early 1945, during World War 11.
At that time, in 1947, Americans had more to do than worry about, or even pay attention to, events that occurred in the (then) recent war. Aside from occasional news stories about the war crimes trials of Tojo and a few other military leaders of the Japanese, most Americans turned their attention elsewhere. This is an account of one such mostly forgotten story
We will offer very little in the way of editorial comment concerning the voyage of the Oryoka Maru. The official government press statement, released prior to War Crimes trials in Yokyo in February of 1947, tells the story without embellishment. It is essentially a statement issued by the Government of the United States concerning a bill of indictment against the named individuals. To some readers, the official account may appear dry, stark, even repulsive. The news release lay dormant in Pentagon files until uncovered by Carol Ames, the daughter of Captain Godfrey Ames, Commanding Officer of Battery "C" in the 60th Coast Artillery, doing research on the role of her father in the defense of Corregidor. She was born on Corregidor while her father was an officer in the Philippines.
We would not reprint the War Department's release now, except for the fact that we believe so little attention has been paid to the experience of American soldiers in that war. The American people have been inundated, for half a century, by television images of certain prison camps in Europe, and the horrors of those camps. Comparable horrors experienced by American soldiers have received scant attention. One reason, of course, is that there were no cameras present (thankfully) where and when the atrocities took place. Another reason is the stance American officials took toward the Japanese after the September 9, 1945 Peace Treaty. But we believe there are other reasons as well, and we will let our readers contemplate those reasons.
It should be noted early that the loss of life among prisoners on the Oryoka Maru was not unique. Other prison ships, unmarked, were sent to the bottom by American submarines, many with a loss of life greater than that suffered by the contingent aboard the Oryoka Maru. It was the practice of the Japanese, during their early, winning, stages of the war, to dispatch prisoners from the Philippine campaign, mostly those gathered at Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the main island of Luzon, to various work stations throughout Asia. My own prison ship, the Tottora Maru, left Cabanatuan, and Manila, for China in October of 1942. Other prison ships followed. Some prison ships were sunk with only a few, four or five, survivors. Some with no survivors. What made the voyage of the Oryoka Maru memorable, (as well as the subsequent prison ships, Brazil Maru and the Enoura Maru) was the horrible conditions under which prisoners lived during the voyages, and during the time they were alive. . Many were killed when Americans bombed their unmarked prison ship in Manila harbor, as it readied for departure. Many more were killed by Japanese machine gunners as they swam for shore after the Oryoka Maru was sunk. Many, many, more died in route to Japan aboard the prison ships Brazil Maru and the Enoura Maru, (both of which had picked up survivors of the Oryoka Maru), through suffocation and starvation deep within pitch-black darkness of closed hatches on the ship, wherein men went mad and drank the blood and urine of their fellow prisoners. According to the official records, 1619 men began the trip, 450 of whom were still alive when the contingent reached Japan. Of that 450 survivors, many died in various Japanese prison camps from the effects of the trip, one of whom was Captain Godfrey Ames, the Commanding Officer of my own Battery "C" of the 60th Coast Artillery Corp on Corregidor. One of the survivors, a soldier named Shifflet, from Georgia and also a member of Battery "C", ended up in our camp in Mukden, Manchuria, (along with 44 others from the Oryoka Maru) with an American .50 calibre machine slug in his leg. Shifflet survived the ordeal, and was freed along with the rest of us in that particular camp, on September 9, 1945.
So we offer the following account, not to gain sympathy for those involved, but as merely a historical footnote that might go unnoticed otherwise. Somewhere in my own files there is a letter from the Surgeon General of the United States, making certain inquiries, and stating that he had been asked many times how many American military men survived the original onslaught in the Philippines. He had no accurate number then, he said, but the best he could come up with was that some 60 percent had died after the soldiers became prisoners.
The life of one soldier is as important as the life of another soldier, no matter his station in life or his contribution to his fellows. A soldier lost in battle is as important to his loved ones as a soldier lost in prisoner of war camps, or aboard prison ships bound for prison camps. In either case, to those who keep records, they end up as a statistic. In our opinion a soldier facing the enemy on a battlefield is no more courageous than his comrade simply because he steps on a mine and has his legs blown off, while his nearby comrade comes through the battle with his legs intact. Recognition may be accorded the one, because of his resulting incapacity, but in the area of courage, they are equal. With all that in mind, we invite you to read, and contemplate, the following. rkt
EXCERPTS FROM FILE NO. 014.13 PUBLIC RELATIONS INFORMATIONAL SUMMARY NO. 51D- GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, SUPREME COMMANDER FOR THE ALLIED POWERS, LEGAL SECTION
APO 500 25 FEB. 47
SUBJECT: U.S VS JUNSABURO TOSHINO, SHUSUKE WADA, KAZUTANO AIHARA (AIR RAID). SHIN KAJIYAMA, SUKETSOHI TANQUE, JIRO UEDA, HISAO YOSHIDA.
Charges and specifications for the trial of seven war criminals alleged to have been responsible for the deaths of more than 1300 American prisoners of war have been signed by Col. Alva C. Carpenter, chief of the Legal Section, General Headquarters, Supreme Command of the Allied Powers. These charges and specifications have been forwarded to the Commanding General of the Eighth Army who will appoint the military commission to hear the case. The Court is expected to convene on 27 Feb., 1947.
(1)Jusaburo Toshino heads the list of the accused. He was born in Nishimakajima-Mura, Onsen-Gun, Ehime-Ken, on 27 December 103. He took his early schooling in Ehime-Ken. He graduated from the Physical Education School of Japan, at Tokyo, in 1925. In March 1925 he was drafted into the Army as a private and served with the Matsuyama 22nd Infantry Regiment in Ehime-Ken. He was released from the Army in August 1926 as Probationary Officer in the Infantry.
In May 1941 he was again drafted into the Army, and stayed in Japan until November 1941, when he was sent to Fagi, Formosa. In December 1941 his unit left Formosa for Luzon. On 1 January 1942 the unit landed at Lingayen, Luzon. The unit was stationed in the northwest portion of Luzon Island. He became the adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Matsuama 122nd Infantry Regiment, and remained with the unit until August 1943. In September 1943 he was assigned to the Philippine Prisoner of War camp at Cabanatuan, Luzon. He worked in the office and took care of the Adjutant's duties, as no one had been assigned to this position. In December 1944 Toshino was ordered to escort some prisoners of war from Luzon to Japan, landing at Moji Kyushu, on 30 January 1945. During February 1945 he rested at Kamonso Hotel in Moji.
In March 1945 he came to Tokyo and went to the offices of the Prisoner of War Information Bureau where he reported the details of the voyage from Luzon to Japan to a Lt. Col., whose name is unknown. On 27 March he left Fukuoka, Kyushu, by plan for Formosa. On arrival in Formosa he joined the Taiwan 112th, Mixed Infantry Brigade.
Toshino was badly injured in a truck accident at Giran, Formosa, on 6 June 1945 and was put in the Giran Hospital. In October 1945 he was moved to the Taihoka Hospital. On 28 February 1946 he left Giran, Formosa, aboard a hospital ship and landed at Otake, Honshu Island. He stayed there until he was apprehended on 26 July 1946.
(2) Shusuke Wada was the official interpreter for the prisoner of war guard commander, Lt. Toshino. He is charged with failing and refusing on his own responsibility and neglecting to transmit to his superiors requests for adequate quarters, food, drinking water, clothing, sanitary and hygienic facilities, and medical attention so badly needed by the prisoners. In case of Lt. Toshino's absence Wada took command of any and all situations. He was merciless in his dealings with the prisoners. They received absolutely no consideration at all.
(3) Kazutano Aihara was a Lance Corporal in the Japanese Army. He performed the duties of a guard on the prisoner shipment. He is said to have been very viscous. The prisoners nicknamed him "Air Raid." When he came around, the prisoners would look for an excuse to get away from him. They did not even want to be within calling distance. He was in charge of the gardening detail and other details that the prisoners were working during their stay in Cabanatuan. He was one of the guards that accompanied the prisoners to San Fernando, La Union. He was the most hated guard at Cabanatuan.
(4)Shin Kajiyama was the Master of the ship, Oryoku Maru. When Oryoku Maru was sunk he took charge of the Brazil Maru and completed the voyage to Moji Japan, via Takao, Formosa.
(5) Suketoshi Tanoue was a Sergeant Major in the Japanese Army and supposed to have performed the duties of a medical non-commissioned officer.
(6) Jiro Ueda was a private in the Japanese Army. He was a prisoner guard and is concerned in the mass execution that occurred at San Fernando, La Union.
(7) Hisao Yosheda was also a guard and a private in the Japanese Army. He is also concerned with the mass execution at San Fernando, La Union.
In the latter part of October 1944, the American forces began to push back to the Philippines. The air offensives began to make themselves felt by the Japanese. American carrier based planes were making daily raids into the heart of the Japanese strongholds in the Philippines. On or about October 1944, word came through that all able-bodied prisoners of war being held in Cabanatuan and Davao prisoner of war camps would be transferred to Bilibid Prison, Manila for eventual shipment to Japan. This group of prisoners gathered and stayed at Bilibid until 13 December 1944. On that date at 10:00 hours a total of 1619 American and Allied prisoners of war were assembled. This group was divided up into groups of about 500 men each. Of the 1619 about 1100 were officers, a majority being field grade. All of the group were American except 30 who were Allied nationals. At 10:00 hours the entire group marched in a column of fours through the main streets of Manila to Pier #7. Pier #7 was known as the million dollar pier because it is reputed to be the longest "covered" pier in the world. Lt. Toshino , the prisoner of war commander, was standing at the gate checking the number of prisoners as they left the camp. Toshino was not seen again until the prisoners arrived at the pier.
The group arrived at the pier at about 11"00 and waited several hours before they were loaded onto their ship. At 15:00 a combat laden ship moved out in convoy from the pier and Japanese civilians, some sailors, and a group of soldiers to man anti-aircraft guns, total numbering about 1500 persons, embarked. The prisoners were then loaded aboard. The ship was the Oryoku Maru, a new cabin type vessel which appeared to be designed for luxury travel in the Orient. Its capacity was about 15,000 tons. It was the best Japanese ship the Americans had seen until that time. The ship carried absolutely no markings of any sort. It was heavily armed fore and aft with 3" anti-aircraft guns, dual purpose, and pom-pom guns. The prisoners were put in three holds, fore, aft and mid-ship. The holds were about 20 feet below the main deck.
When the prisoners started to embark Mr. Wada, the Japanese interpreter, was supervising the loading. While waiting at the pier somehow the groups got mixed up so that when Commander Portz led his groups aboard the ship he had about 700 men in his group and they were placed in the after hold. It took about one and one-half hours to load group #1. Group 32 in charge of Lt. Col. Curtis T. Beecher started loading about 15:30 hours in the forward hold. In this group there were 600 prisoners. The hold was 60 feet by 100 feet. There were temporary troop accommodations built about four feet from the floor and extending out 12 feet from the bulkhead, and running around the entire hold area in a square, with no partition, and all wood. The prisoners went down into this hold via wooden steps from the hatch opening, which was about 20 feet by 20 feet. There were no ventilators, no port holes. Group #3 went aboard and were loaded in the hatch mid-ship with approximately 300 men. In group 2 conditions in the hold were crowded that the men, a few minutes after entering the hold, began fainting. The Japanese were asked to move some of the men out, the request was refused and they were told that there would be about 200 additional men put in the forward hold. There wasn't enough air and men were fainting due to the lack of air and intense heat. The Japanese were hurrying men into the hold, in some cases these men were being pushed down the stairs and beaten with rifle butts and shovels. Men were knocked down and off the ladder falling on the men already below. Aihara, one of the guards, is alleged to have been one of the men standing at the hatch entrance beating the prisoners as they entered. All during this time, Wada was present during the loading and without doubt observed the treatment being given the prisoners, although he did nothing to stop it.
At about 18:00 all the men were loaded. The weather in the Philippines is tropical and extremely hot. In the lower "bays" when all the men were in they had to assume a crouched position because they couldn't stand upright. No men were permitted in the center under the hatch by order of the Japanese guards. In the upper "bays" one could stand or crouch but could not lie down.
Prior to embarking, the last meal that the prisoners were given was on the night of December 12th. at about 19:00 hours in Bilibad Prison. For this meal they were fed 1/2 canteen cup of soup. There was also an issue of 1/2 canteen cup of rice to be eaten the morning of the 13th. The meal amounted to nearly a full canteen cup of steamed rice, a spoonful of salt and seaweed for each man, and one cup of water for one whole "bay" of approximately 45 men. Each man received the equivalent of three teaspoonful of water. The distribution of the food and water was left entirely up to the Americans, the Japanese had nothing to do with it. Never were the Japanese ever physically present in the holds. Other than this meager ration no food was received while the prisoners were aboard the Oryoku Maru, except on 14th December men in the center of the hold received morning chow.
When the prisoners first boarded the ship there were a few cases of active diarrhea and dysentery. No provisions had been made for any latrine facilities in the holds. After repeated requests were made to the Japanese, four five-gallon buckets were lowered into the holds. They were placed in the corners, although repeated requests were made to the Japanese for more buckets no action resulted. The four buckets that they received were overflowing within 1 1/2 hours, and requests to empty them were refused. By 24:00 the lower floor in the vicinity of the latrine was a sea of human waste. The stench in the hold at about 24:00 due to the lack of air and human waste was overpowering.
When the men first entered the ship the temperature was between 100 and 110 degrees. About 02:00 on the 14th., due to the noise and excitement , the hatch, which was the only opening for air, was completely battened down, cutting off all air except that which seeped through the hatch cover. The temperature then rose to about 120 degrees. Men against the bulkheads in the "bays" were passing out for lack of air. These men were moved to the front of the bay where they were revived. For the remaining time on the Oryoku Maru the air situation became worse, because of the dehydration, weakness, thirst, and stench. No sick bay had been designated. There was no room for it. Repeated requests were made for permission to bring the most aggravated cases of heat prostration and dehydration on deck where they would at least be able to get some air. All the requests were denied by Wada.
During the night of the 13th and 14th men became deranged and would wander about the hold stepping on other prisoners, screaming for water and air. Some became violent to the extent that they lashed out with canteens or striking with their fists or feet anyone with whom they came in contact. It was pitch black in the hold. In this chaos there was no possibility for much needed sleep. On this first night about 40 to 50 men went out of their minds.
About 03:00 on the morning of the 14th., the Oryoku Maru weighed anchor and headed out towards the China Sea. At dawn of the 14th, the forward hatch was opened and in the forward hold there were 8 or 10 men who had died during the night. At about 08:00 an air raid alarm sounded. The ship was strafed, ricochets began flying into the holds. The ship had been damaged and it was moving now with difficulty. Several men had been wounded during the raid by the ricochets. During the air raid it was learned that at least 30 men had died in the aft hold the night of the 13th, mostly due to suffocation. After the raid medical corps were called on deck to treat the Japanese wounded. Those groups were severely beaten because "American planes were sinking Japanese shipping." When requests were made by the medical officers for medical aid for the men in the holds, and food and water, they were beaten and told that the Japanese would do nothing for the prisoners.
On the night of the 14th, and the morning of the 15th, conditions grew worse. Men were suffering from thirst so acutely that many went out of their minds. Much screaming was audible. There was almost a complete lack of discipline, no matter how hard the "hold leaders" tried to restore order. The need for water was so acute that the men were drinking their own urine and sewerage running in the open drains along side of the ship. These hideous actions were revealed to the Japanese but there was no action taken. The hold was a bedlam with screaming, swearing, and fighting. Men went berserk and the conditions were like some fantastic nightmare.
On the nights of the 13th and 14th the ship was bombed. The Japanese beached it making minor repairs, and discharged all Japanese passengers, moving back into Subic Bay. The prisoners were still aboard. It was felt that the Japanese knew that the ship would be bombed again and for that reason they took the Japanese passengers off and left the prisoners on.
On the morning of the 15th while the ship was anchored in Subic Bay about 300 yards off shore from Olongapo naval reservation, about 08:30, Wada came around and told the men that the prisoners would be evacuated from the ship shortly; that they would not be able to take shoes or any other gear as they would have to swim. He said that the Japanese guards were instructed to "shoot to kill" so they, the prisoners, had better be very careful. Several of the guards fired into the holds prior to evacuation. About 09:30 the order for the evacuation of the ship came through. Prior to this order there had been an air raid in which a direct hit on the aft hold of the ship, and about 100 men killed. There were no life preservers for life boats in evidence. Men were forced over the side of the ship with no regard given to whether or not they could swim. While the men were leaving the ship six U.S. planes dived on the ship but just prior to the bomb release point the lead plane zoomed up and wagged its wings in recognition. No bombs were released. During the swim for shore some of the men got aboard the debris from the ship and attempted to float ashore. In one case a raft with five men on it headed for the shore, was fired upon by a machine gun set up on the shore. Two of the men on the raft leaped off into the water. The remaining three men were killed.
During the disorder of the evacuation some of the half-starved men attempted to salvage whatever food and medical supplies were available on the ship. While going in the compartments in search of food they observed American cigarettes, candy usually in Red Cross parcels.
Whatever food and medical supplies they managed to salvage were confiscated by the Japanese. During this salvage operation some Japanese came upon the prisoners in the compartments and began firing on them. Lt. Toshino came upon Lt. Wm. H. Brewster in one of the compartments and shot, killing him instantly.
Once on shore the prisoners were assembled and the men were permitted to fill their canteens at a water tap outside the tennis court, but to do this they had to stand in line four to six hours. Fifty percent of the prisoners received their first water since the night of the 13th. The rest of the men didn't get any because the Japanese as a result of the confusion chased them back into their assembly area. About 30 minutes later Wada came around and had the prisoners marched to the tennis court so that a count of men could be made against the rosters. Placing such a large group of men in the area of a tennis court was almost impossible. The court was surrounded by a chicken wire fence, a small area had been set aside for the sick and wounded. There was not enough space for a person to stretch out and lie down. Rosters were called off several times. All personnel were told to give any information available to them on persons not present so as to be able to determine how many men were dead or missing and how many present. In the gathering at the tennis court it was learned that the conditions in the aft hold had been worse if possible than in the forward hold. Many of the deaths in this (aft) hold were caused by suffocation. At the roll call there were between 1300 and 1350 prisoners still alive out of the 1619 that had left Manila. At 14:30 hours American planes came back and bombed the Oryoku Maru, all of the prisoners by this time having been evacuated. No food was issued on the 15th or the 16th. And the water situation was still very bad. On the evening of the 17th one sack of uncooked rice was issued for all 1350 men, this amounted to about two tablespoons, all of which was eaten raw, although facilities for cooking were stored close by and within sight.
While the prisoners were kept at the tennis court there was no provision made for protection against the sun. On the third day the men were allowed to leave the court and go into the shade for a few hours. Most of the men had only a pair of shorts; some were fortunate and had shirts and some trousers. There were no blankets, shoes, or hats. At night it was very cold and since there were no blankets the prisoners were forced to lie on the hard concrete and suffer from the cold. While waiting at the tennis court six or seven men died from wounds and exhaustion and were buried nearby.
About 19:00 a truck was brought to where the group was waiting and the sick were driven in the truck to a small cemetery on the outskirts of San Fernando, Pampanga. When they arrived at the cemetery there were a group of soldiers who had dug a hole about 15 feet square. When the guards on the truck had dismounted they took up positions around the hole. Two of the guards brought one of the prisoners to the hole. He was told to kneel at the edge of the hole and to take a position as though in prayer. The prisoner was then decapitated, and allowed to fall into the hole. Another prisoner was brought to the hole and bayonetted and decapitated. This procedure was followed until all fifteen of the prisoners had been either decapitated or bayonetted. It is alleged that at this execution both Wada and Toshino were present, that they supervised and took part in it. From San Fernando, Pampanga the prisoners were moved by train to San Fernando, La Union, on the 24th of December. The prisoners were marched to the railroad station. At the station the men were loaded into box cars. Wada and Toshino by this time having returned from the scene of the executions. Wada again apparently in command, instructed the group commanders that 170 to 180 men would be put in each box car which was actually physically impossible. However 40 men who were the sickest were allowed to be placed on top of the cars. During the trip in the train conditions were very bad. The heat was terrific and due to crowding and lack of air many men passed out. When a man became unconscious he was passed from hand to hand to the door of the box car to be revived. The train arrived at San Fernando, La Union about five o'clock on Christmas Morning of 25th December, 1944. The weather was bitterly cold. The men were marched from the train to the schoolhouse about three miles from the railroad station. When the group arrived at the schoolhouse, Wada announced that there was no water available. A detail of men were ordered to dig for water. After digging five feet below the surface water was found and iodine was used for purification.
At 9:00 a.m. on 25 December, orders were received that the men were to line up and prepare for a march to the beach. After remaining on the beach for two days and two nights, on the morning of the 27 December the first group of 236 men were loaded aboard the Brazil Maru. The remainder of the men on the beach were loaded aboard the Enoura Maru. The men were marched to the piers where landing barges were waiting to carry the men to the transports. While loading into barges men were compelled to jump from the pier. In several instances men broke their legs, in one case one man missed the barge completely, hitting his head on the side of the barge and falling into the water. When this man was finally dragged into the barge he was dead. All during the time that the loading proceeded, it is alleged that Toshino and Wada were present on the pier and witnessed all the incidents which occurred during the loading operations.
The Brazil Maru was an old freighter of about 10,000 tons. It was armed and was loaded with sick and healthy Japanese soldiers. During the six day trip from the Philippines to Takao, Formosa, no food was received during the first two days except the food leavings of the five Formosan guards. This amounted to about one teaspoon of rice per man. On the third day an issue was made which was three men per mess kit of food. On the fourth day there was no food at all. The fifth day the prisoners were issued five Japanese rolls per man. These rolls were the type of hard tack infested with maggots and were moldy.
All of the prisoners on the Enoura Maru were confined to one hold with two levels, forward of amid-ship. The condition was very crowded but not as bad as those on the Oryoku Maru. A man could lie down by doubling up his legs. The food was scarce and there was a little water and soup available at least once a day. The amounts received were small but were much greater than those received by the prisoners aboard the Brazil Maru. During the period of the trip between San Fernando and Takeo, Formosa, there were 16 deaths. Those 16 deceased were buried at sea. Some of the 236 were moved from the Brazil Maru to the Enoura Maru in Takeo Harbor, on or about the 6th January.
During the 7th, 8th, and 9th of January, the men received one mess kit of rice for every four men with one-half cup of soup for each four men. On the 8th of January in the afternoon, the Japanese ordered all men in the lower level of the hold to be moved into the forward hold so that sugar could be stored in the lower level. Approximately two-thirds of the men had been moved from the hold when the Japanese guards on the deck indicated that the other one-third would be absorbed into the upper level, which created an even more over-crowded condition than initially.
Men were so hungry that they stole sugar despite the threat by Wada that drastic punishment would be meted out. Wada stated "anyone who stole sugar would be severely punished individually and balance of group would be punished collectively for unspecified time."
On the 9th of January, in mid-morning, during the completion of morning meal, anti-aircraft fire was heard from the Enoura Maru and all the ships in the harbor. Soon the drone of planes was heard and almost simultaneously the whistle of bombs was heard. The Enoura Maru rocked violently from the near miss causing a flail of bomb fragments, and steel fragments from the sides of the ship, which killed about 300 men outright and injured a considerable number. After the bombing such first aid as could be rendered to men was made available by the prisoners of war doctors and corpsmen aboard. This aid consisted of collecting dirty towels, undershirts, or anything that could be used for bandages that the other prisoners would contribute. Outside of a few first aid kits which the doctors and corpsmen may have had there were no medicines made available by the Japanese. In fact, no aid was rendered until 11 January when two Japanese enlisted corpsmen announced they would treat those with minor wounds for injuries only. Treatment consisted of dabbing injuries with mercurochrome. They further stated that they were not interested in treating the more seriously injured.
The dead bodies in the holds were stacked in the center of the hatch area like a stack of cord wood. They remained there until the 12th of January. During this time, a majority of the men who were wounded and soon thereafter died from these wounds could have been saved with proper medical attention but because of the lack of bandages and medicines it was impossible for the doctors to do much for them.
Finally in the mid-morning of the 12th, January, permission was granted to remove the dead bodies from the ship. The bodies were removed by placing them into a cargo sling and lowering over the side of the ship into barges. Some of the dead were removed individually by tying ropes around the legs or arms and hauling them up on the deck, then lowering them into the barges. The scene in the holds was like a page from Dant's Inferno-Dark, but one could see writhlike figures wandering dazedly through a maze of stacked corpses. It was not uncommon prior to the removal of the dead to sit on the dead and eat meals due to the overcrowded conditions. Items of salvageable clothing that could be removed from the dead were removed. Many of the bodies were in various stages of decomposition when they were finally removed.
On the 13th of January, during the afternoon, orders came through from Wada that all remaining prisoners aboard the Enoura Maru would be transferred to the Brazil Maru. Reasons for this change were that the Enoura Maru had been badly damaged during the bombing. Transfer to the Brazil was affected by landing barges. The move was completed in late afternoon. The wounded men, fractured cases, etc., suffered great pain in the transfer as in some cases they were lowered into boats by ropes and hoisted aboard ship in the same manner. At this time, there were approximately 900 men remaining alive out of the original group of 1619. The ship sailed from Takao on the 13th of January for Japan.
The trip from Takao to Moji, Japan lasted from 13th January until 29th January. During the trip there were two issues of cooked rice a day. There were two or three men to a lightly packed canteen cup of rice. No soup was issued at all. This diet was augmented by whatever sugar the men could steal. Numerous protests to the prisoner commanders brought no results. A diagnosis for the cause of the high rate of deaths aboard the Brazil Maru was that it was caused by a combination of malnutrition, dehydration and exposure.
During the journey there was active trading for rings, watches and fountain pens between the prisoners and the Japanese guards and the ship's crew for food, water and cigarettes. A lot of West Point, and other graduation rings were traded for a cup of water or ten cigarettes. Anyone who had anything to trade did so.
The water situation was very acute for the first two days out of Takao Harbor, no liquids of any kind were issued. On the 15th., approximately twice a day until the 29th., water was spooned out. It was salty, black and unpalatable. At no time, even when the death rate was at its highest, was the amount of water increased.
Medical facilities aboard the ship were nil, only the more seriously sick were placed under the hatch which was considered as the hospital area. It was the coldest spot on the ship. Whenever a man was placed in the "sick bay" it was almost a certainty that he would die. Only the men in the last stages were sent there. The doctor and medical corpsmen had nothing whatever to work with..no medicines, no bandages. It is said than one large bottle of sulfatniezol pills aboard the Brazil Maru probably would have saved at least 100 men whose diarrhea was a contributing cause to their death.
When the ship left Takao on the night of the 13th January, about 15 men died. Bodies were stacked in the hospital area after first being stripped of all clothing by the hospital corpsmen under orders. Available clothing was then distributed to the men who most needed it. Bodies were collected over a two or three period before permission was obtained from Wada to get a burial detail to throw them overboard. The first group of dead was about fifty. Generally, bodies would be taken up on deck and buried daily. In the beginning the death rate was between ten and fifteen men per day and it got progressively worse, finally reaching a maximum of about forty per day a few days prior to arrival in Japan. The men outside of the hospital area who had previously shown no evidence of suffering more than the rest would be found deal in the morning. This became so commonplace that a hospital corpsman would make a circuit at all bays each morning and shout "roll out your dead." Bay leaders would then check their "bays."
A Chaplain prisoner led the men in prayer every night until he died five days out of Takao. Another Chaplain gave away all of his food and water until he too died. Another Chaplain, who overtaxed his strength by helping the sick, died.
Two or three times a day the roll would be called and if a man's name was called without an answer, someone would say "dead" or give the circumstances regarding his death, such as "suffocation aboard the Oryoku Maru" even though the list had been called many times previously this was done by orders of the Japanese.
The ship finally arrived in Moji, Japan, on 29th., January 1945. It was met by a large boarding party of officers, enlisted men and civilians. It was announced in mid-morning that clothing would be issued top-side. There were about 450 men alive then. It was bitterly cold. The prisoners were issued a pair of wool trousers, a blouse, a suit of cotton underwear, but no socks. Shoes were "captured British shoes" and were issued without regard to size.
This was the first time since 13th December that there was enough water available for each man to have as much as he wanted. However, the men were cautioned that the water might be contaminated and that they had better take it easy. Later on, food was issued but many of the men were so sick they were unable to eat.
When the men debarked from the ship they were walking skeletons. The Japanese corpsmen seemed to have a look of astonishment and there were shocked expressions on the faces of the people at Moji as the prisoners were marched through the streets. Men shuffled, some walked with the support of others. The men were infested with lice and had not shaved since 13th of December.
When the prisoners died aboard the Brazil Maru they were stacked like cord wood and all of them presented a uniform appearance; lips were drawn back exposing teeth in a half snarl due to skin contraction. Ribs seemed to be bursting out of the bodies and where the stomach would normally be was a hollow--leg and arms were pipe stems. A combination of cold and rigor mortis gave them a rigid unreal appearance. The eyes were sunken. Most of them were stripped nude and all of them gave a definite appearance of starvation.
******** Subsequently the trials were held and the High Command issued the following summary.
SUBJECT: RESULT OF THE TRIAL OF JUSABURA TOSHINO, ET.AL.
Death by hanging for two: Live, 25, 20, and 10 years imprisonment at hard labor were for four, and the remaining two of the eight defendants were acquitted. These were the verdicts handed down by the Military Commission hearing the case against the eight Japanese charged with being concerned in the deaths of more than 1300 prisoners of war being transported from Namila to Moji, Japan, where they were destined to be disposed throughout Japan for use in labor battalions.
Junsaburo Toshino, former Lieutenant and Guard Commandant aboard the "Hell Ship" was found guilty of murdering and supervising the murder of at least 16 men. In other specifications the accused was found guilty of causing the deaths of numerous other prisoners of war. Toshino was the first to receive the death sentence. The other was Katutano Aihara, Lance corporal. The prisoners nicknamed him "Air-Raid" and all would take cover in order to escape being beaten by Aihara. He was in charge of the gardening (400 acre farm) detail and other details the prisoners were working on during the stay in Cabanatuan. He was sentenced to hang for killing numerous American prisoners of war and participated in the decapitation and stabbing of 15 others.
Shusuke Wada, whose charges paralleled those of Toshino, was the official interpreter for the guard group. He was found guilty of causing the deaths of numerous American and Allied prisoners of war by neglecting to transmit to his superiors requests for adequate quarters, food, drinking water, and medical attention. Wada was sentenced to life imprisonment at hard labor.
Suketoshi Tanoue, Sergeant Major, was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years at hard labor. He was found guilty of the charge and specification charging him with the killing of 15 prisoners of war at the San Fernando cemetery by decapitation and stabbing.
Jiro Ueda, Private, was found guilty of the charge and specifications and was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment at hard labor. He was also connected with the killing of the 15 prisoners of war at the San Fernando cemetery.
Sho Hattori, Sergeant of the Guard, was found guilty of the charge and specification (four). As Sergeant of the Guard he deprived the prisoners of drinking water and failed to restrain Japanese military personnel subject to his supervision from beating the prisoners. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at hard labor.
Hiso Yoshida, Guard, and Risaku Kobayashe, Medical Corpsmen, were acquitted. They were charged with being connected in the murder of the 15 sick prisoners of war at San Fernando cemetery.
There were originally nine defendants in this case. When the prosecution rested its case, the defense made a motion for the dismissal of the case against Shin Kajiyama, Captain of the Oryoku Maru. The motion was sustained by the Commission on the ground that, it was developed in the course of the trial that Kajiyama had protested taking prisoners aboard the ship at the start and continued to protest and was threatened with court martial if he did not take the prisoners aboard without further argument. The evidence further indicates that he had made several attempts to alleviate the condition of the POW's, but, inasmuch as he was a civilian merchantman in command of a ship chartered by the army, the Group Commander refused to let him do anything on behalf of the prisoners and threatened him with shooting if he even so much as approached any of the prisoners. The court therefore saw nothing for which he could be held.
In making a statement on the case, Mr. Alva C. Carpenter, Chief for the Legal Section, General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, says:
"Of all the cases of brutality and mistreatment accorded prisoners of war that have come out of World War II, none can compare with the torment and torture suffered by our soldier, who were prisoners of war of the Japanese, aboard the ships Oryoku Maru, Brazil Maru, and Enoura Maur on the voyage from Manila to Japan during the months of December and January 1944-45. It is a saga of men driven to madness by sadistic and sensual captors. Today, of the 1619 men who set sail on the voyage, less than 200 are alive. I have read diaries, written at the time, tomes of recorded testimony, have talked to survivors, and no place in recorded history can one find anything so gruesome and horrible. No mitigating circumstances can explain or condone such cruelty. The callous and vile conduct of the captors will live in infamy."
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