Aton, Rex NUMBER 1
Rank and Name, Captain Rex Aton.
Unit/Placed in, 12th Medical Regiment, Philippine Scouts.
Camp Cabanatuan
After the Japanese occupation in 1942, the camp was converted by the Imperial Japanese Army into the Cabanatuan POW Camp. At its height, 8,000 prisoners were detained at this location. The prisoners also included some civilians including one British and one Norwegian citizen. This POW Camp detained prisoners until liberated during the night of January 30, 1945.
The rectangular camp spanned roughly 25 acres and was 800 yards deep by 600 yards wide, divided by a road in the center. The camp consisted of a barracks for Japanese guards, barracks for prisoners, a hospital and water tower enclosed by barbed wire with guard towers.
Enoura Maru
The Eunoura Maru was a Hell Ship for POW Transport.
After the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” was bombed at Fernando, Philippines (15 dec. 1944) The POWs were embarked to the “Hellships Enoura and Brazil Maru.
The “Hellship Enuora Maru arrived at Takao Harbor at 9 Jan. 1945 and was
attacked by Fighters from the USS Hornet (CV12), the one Bomb killed about 330 POW’s, (about 900 survived it).
Rex is born approx. on in North Dakota.
His genealogy is still under search.
Rex enlisted the service in North Dakota with service number # 0-277883.
Rex was KIA onboard the “Hellship Enoura Maru” when it was attacked by fighters from the USS Hornet at Takao Harbor, Taiwan on 9 May 1945, he is honored with a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, POW Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
Rex is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
Thanks to, http://www.powtaiwan.org/archives_detail.php?THE-STORY-OF-THE-BOMBING-OF-THE-ENOURA-MARU-17
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
Philippine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
In 1941 he became a POW and after the Death March was imprisonment in POW Camp Cabanatuan, in 14 Sep. 1944 he went on transport to a POW Camp in Japan with the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” when it was attacked (Fernando, Philippines) Surviours later (27 Dec.) embarked to the “Hellship Enoura Maru” (Tot. 1040 POW) towards Takao Harbor, Taiwan, but he died on 9 Jan. 1945.
Bataan Death March
(April 9, 1942)
Everybody who became a POW they gotto walked (60 miles) the Bataan Death March (together with 70.000 pow), Many walked this march and many died (aprox.600, lack of nutrition and water) to Prison Camps in the Philippines and was send to various camps, became part of a work detail.
Many Survived the March and the imprisonment, some died thereafter.
Anderson Jr. ,William Cleveland
Rank and Name, Captain William Cleveland Anderson Jr.
Unit/Placed in, 57th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts.
Camp Cabanatuan
After the Japanese occupation in 1942, the camp was converted by the Imperial Japanese Army into the Cabanatuan POW Camp. At its height, 8,000 prisoners were detained at this location. The prisoners also included some civilians including one British and one Norwegian citizen. This POW Camp detained prisoners until liberated during the night of January 30, 1945.
Oryoku Maru
The ship sailed on December 13, 1944, for Japan and arrived at Subic Bay. After arriving there, the same day, it was bombed by American planes from the USS Hornet, while it was picking up Japanese personnel. As dusk came, the planes broke off the attack. The planes returned and resumed the attack. On Dec. 15, 1944 and was sinking.
The Japanese abandoned ship. They then ordered the POWs to abandon ship. When the American pilots saw the large number of men climbing from the ship’s holds, they stopped their attack. As the POWs swam to shore, the POWs were shot at by Japanese soldiers with machine guns. For further journey they ordered the POW’s to the Enoura Maru
Enoura Maru
December 16, 1944 the ship left Subic Bay for Formosa, on 9 January 1945, while docked at the port of Takao in Formosa and loaded with Allied prisoners of war who had survived the earlier sinking of Ōryoku Maru, it was attacked by Allied aircraft resulting in the deaths of approximately 400 Allied POWs.
The Enoura Maru was permanently disabled by the air raid, but was hit again by United States Army Air Forces planes at Takao on 26 March 1945 and declared sunk. The ship actually survived afloat at the Takao dockside until the end of the war.
William is born approx. on May 19, 1918 in Pulaski County, Missouri.
Father, William C. Anderson.
Mother, Mary E. (Hill) Anderson.
Brother(s), Andrew G. and Charles A. Anderson.
William enlisted the service in Missouri with service number # 0-383446.
William died of his wounds sustained during the Bombing of the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” on Jan. 20, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Army & Air Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
William is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
And he has a Memorial Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.
He also has a Memorial Grave at Waynesville Memorial Park, Waynesville, Pulaski County, Missouri, USA.
Thanks to,
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Info, https://www.pacificwrecks.com/
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Aikman, Robert Paul
Rank and Name, First Lieutenant Robert Paul Aikman.
Unit/Placed in, 59th Coast artillery Regiment.
From the time of his capture, in May 1942, his place of internment was Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines.
The next stop was a Camp in Japan, transportation with the “Hellship“ Oryko Maru, First Lieutenant Aikman and 1,760 other American prisoners aboard.
The next two days American planes battered the ship and she Sunk at Subic Bay, after the attack he went a board the “HellShip“ Enoura Maru and headed for Japan . Again the Ship was Bombed by the US Air Force , but escaped from further damage to Takao Dockside.
But Lt. Robert P. Aikman died during the attacked.
Robert is born approx. on Jan. 23, 1904 in Kansas.
Father, Claude F. Aikman.
Mother, Anna M. (Cannon) Aikman.
Sister(s), Lois C. Marjorie L. and Ruth H. Aikman.
Brother(s), Carl F. Aikman.
Robert enlisted the service in Missouri with service number # O-225747.
Robert was KIA as a pow onboard the Enoura Maru on Jan. 9, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, Silver Star Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
Robert Is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
Thanks to,
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Parker, William R.
Rank and Name, Private First-Class William R. Parker.
Unit/Placed in, 200th Coast Artillery Regiment.
Oryoku Maru
The Hell Ships Oryoku Maru left Manila on Dec. 14, 1944 with 1619 POW onboard.
She was attacked by a plane in contact with the USS Hornet, several times.
On Dec. 14, 1944 she was near Subic Bay, Bombed and Strafed rapidly but not sunk it. the next day they the plane retuned and Sunk the Crippled ship, more then 300 POW Perished.
Enoura Maru
The POW who survived on the “Hellship Oryoku Maru” were assembled at San Fernando La Union and placed on 2 Ships (“Brazil Maru”) to continue their Journey to Japan.
The Enoura Maru was a Hell Ship (former Cargo, now used for Transport POW’s to other Camps) left Philippine on Dec. 27, 1944.
The Enoura Maru, arrived in Takao, Formosa Dec. 31, 1944.
During the Japanese New Year Celebrations Jan. 6 and the departure nearly 30 POW died from diseases, in Takao port the pow’s from the Brazil Maru were transported to the Enoura Maru.
Then again at Jan. 9, 1945 the Takao Harbor came under attack from planes from the USS Hornet.
Many POW were killed then (unknown) and a POW wrote later; “The Japs provided no medical supplies for the care of the wounded, and just left us in that hold with those hundreds of mutilated bodies for two days.”
Also the Enoura Maru was badly damaged to go further on the Trip.
So on Jan. 14, 1945 all the POW were transported to the “Brazil Maru”.
William is born approx. on 1918 in Crosby, Texas.
Father, William Parker.
Mother, Mallie Parker.
Brother(s), Avery P. Parker.
William enlisted the service in New Mexico with service number # 38012515.
William died as a POW onboard the “Hellship Enoura Maru” on Jan. 9, 1945, he is honored with a Purple Heart, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal.
William is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Walls of the missing.
Thanks to,
Jean Louis Vijgen, WW2-Pacific Website.
Air Force Info, Rolland Swank.
ABMC Website, https://abmc.gov
Navy Info, http://navylog.navymemorial.org
POW Info, http://www.mansell.com Dwight Rider and Wes injerd.
Family Info, https://www.familysearch.org
Marines Info, https://missingmarines.com/ Geoffrey Roecker
Medals Info, https://www.honorstates.org
Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
Philppine Info, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com
Adams, John Porter
Adams, John Porter
Rank/Name, Colonel John Porter Adams.
Unit/placed, POW & MP Det. HQ USMC Wash. DC., United States Marine Corps.
He took command over the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines,when the Japanese forces attacked, but was taken Prisoner by the Japanese on the Philipinne Islands on May 8, 1942 and died on board the Hellship Enoura Maru on Jan. 9, 1945.
John was born on July 19, 1893 in New Bloomfield, Perry County, Pennsylvania.
Father, John R. Adams, Mother, Mary E. (Owens) Adams.
Wife, Edna P. (De Sanchez) Adams, Son, John P. Adams Jr.
John entered the service from Pennsylvania with service number # 0-000004.
John P. Adams died on board the Hellship Enoura Maru when it was torpedoed and Sunk, on Jan. 9, 1945, and he is honored with the Purple Heart.
Thanks to http://www.powtaiwan.org/archives_detail.php?THE-STORY-OF-THE-BOMBING-OF-THE-ENOURA-MARU-17 Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC, https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.
Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html
NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel John Porter Adams United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving as District Marine Officer, SIXTEENTH Naval District, Cavite (P.I.) Navy Yard, during the bombardment and occupation of the Philippine Islands by enemy Japanese forces beginning on 10 December 1941. Courageous and untiring under repeated and sustained hostile bombing and strafing attacks, Lieutenant Colonel Adams rendered valiant service during the gallant stand by our forces against a prolonged and determined siege by the Japanese. His inspiring leadership, outstanding fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Affleck, David C.
Affleck, C. David
Rank and Name, . First Lieutenant David C. Affleck
Unit/Placed, Quartermaster Corps, United States Army.
From the time of his capture, in May 1942, his place of internment was Cabanatuan Prison in the Philippines.
The next stop was a Camp in Japan, transportation with the “Hellship“ Oryko Maru, First Lieutenant Affleck and 1,760 other American prisoners aboard.
The next two days American planes battered the ship and she Sunk at Subic Bay, after the attack he went a board the “HellShip“ Enoura Maru and headed for Japan . Again the Ship was Bombed by the US Air Force , but escaped from further damage to Takao Dockside.
David was born in, 1907 Hamilton County, Ohio.
Father, William W. Affleck.
Mother, Nettie M. Affleck.
David enlisted the service in Ohio with service number # O-890052.
David was KIA on board the “HellShip“ Enoura Maru, when it was Bombed by the US Air Force in Takao Harbor on Jan. 9, 1945, First Lieutenant David C. Affleck is honored with a Purple Heart and a POW Medal.
David is buried/mentioned at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Philippines.
Tablets Of The Missing.
Thanks to Jean Louis Vijgen, ABMC, https://abmc.gov Info P.O.W.
Wes Injerd, Dwight Rider: http://www.mansell.com/pow-index.html
NavyLog, http://navylog.navymemorial.org Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, Sean Conjenos, http://www.philippine-scouts.org/
Familysearch.com, https://www.familysearch.org Navy Marines Info Geoffrey Roecker, https://missingmarines.com/ Medals Info, http://www.honorstates.org Website, https://hendrikswebdesign.nl/
“Each day an attempt was made to clear each barracks of the dying. They were removed to “zero” ward, laid on the bare floor entirely naked. These patients usually were profoundly emaciated, in fact, little better than skeletons with a feeble spark of life. Heroic corpsmen and doctors did what they could to alleviate the indescribable conditions. They tied grass onto sticks and attempted to cleanse the floors. They used the same method of cleansing the body. Occasionally a big puddle of rainwater would provide enough water to wash the floor. At this time the use of the regular water supply system was strictly forbidden by the Japanese. The few laymen who saw these conditions were utterly horrified. Even the Japanese doctors would not enter these wards and the Japanese staff at Headquarters gave it a wide berth. “.
Report courtesy of Jim Burnett, nephew to Camp 17 POW Billy Alvin Ayers #195
