1942 HELLSHIP DIARY
Kept by Jim Brown on the "Tottori Maru"



    Bill Joy and I were on the 2000 man detail of technicians that were picked to be shipped to Japan although we ended up in Manchuria.   Others from the 20th Pursuit on the detail were Lt. Chester Wake, T/Sgt Murry Jordan, T/Sgt Sam Latoz, S/Sgt William Mitchell, S/Sgt Roy Sperr, Cpl George Johnson, PFC John Zenda, Pvt Joseph Barna and James Helton.   Note: D. M. Shaw is reported to have died 10/6/42 enroute to Japan, so he must have been on the detail also.   Lt. Thurman Matthews, formerly a S/Sgt in the radio section of the 20th was also with us.

    On the morning of October 5, we rolled out of bed at 2:00 A.M. and after a hurried breakfast started marching to Cabanatuan.   There we were loaded on box cars and headed for Manila.   Our destination was unknown, at this time, but we assumed we were being sent to Japan.   We arrived in bomb torn Manila late in the afternoon and were marched through the once crowded metropolis, seeing only a few scattered carts and people.   We were bedded down in the office area of the Manila Pier 7 building.

    The following account of the prison ship trip is abstracted directly from a diary I have.   Any statements enclosed in ( ) will have been added at a later time.

    Oct. 6th-
    Lounged around the pier.   The Japs allowed us to purchase a few cigarettes and fruit.

    Oct. 7th-
    Loaded on the ship TOTTORI MARU today.   Our boat is a small, stinking freighter with makeshift bays about 2 1/2 feet high and we are packed in tighter than fish in a can.

    Oct. 8th-
    Sailed around 9:00 A.M.   Manila Bay, Corregidor and Luzon were in sight all day.

    Oct. 9th-
    Were shot at with two torpedoes today and later passed a floating mine. Our chow consists of stale ration crackers and water.   Much tension the remainder of the day.   (I was on a deck and saw the two torpedoes coming toward us.   The Jap captain did a masterful job of turning the ship into the direction of the torpedoes and had it not been for his quick action I believe both would have hit their mark.   A Jap destroyer immediately sped in the direction of the attack, dropping depth charges as it went.   All POWs were praying, "GOD, please let the ship scare the submarine away, but don't let it sink it.")

    Oct. 10th-
    Passed a crowded, uneventful day, no land in sight.

    Oct. 11th-
    Sailed all day on a rough sea, came in sight of land just at dark.

    Oct. 12th-
    At 1:30 this morning anchor was cast just outside the port of Takao.   After daybreak we pulled into the harbor and started the routine of loading coal and water.

    Oct. 13th-
    A few Jap troops left ship this morning.   More coal and water.

    Oct. 14th-
    Still in port today.

    Oct. 15th-
    We were supposed to sail today but didn't.   We were rationed our first cooked chow today.   One bowl of rice and onion soup.   Our previous rationings have been hard tack crackers, of Jap version and water.

    Oct. 16th-
    Pulled out of harbor about 6:00 A.M. for I don't know where.   Sailed north until 3:00 P.M., turned around and came back to Takao.   Arrived here about 12:00 midnight.

    Oct.17th-
    Woke up this morning in port.   Spent the day on ship.   Hot as Hell in the hole.

    Oct. 18th-
    Sunday.   Set out on our way again at 8:00 A.M., direction generally north.   Cast anchor off some fairly large island at dusk.

    Oct. 19th-
    Still riding at anchor this morning when we woke up.   Set on a calm sea until dark.   Just at dusk a ten ship convoy came in sight and we thought we would pull out, but we didn't.

    Oct. 20th-
    Sat at anchor all day again.

    Oct. 21st-
    Another day at anchor.   Two of our fellows passed away today and were buried in the deep.   (I think it should be mentioned that some of our Officers went to the Jap captain and requested permission to bury the dead with traditional sea ceremony and that the Jap broke out the American flag to use for the ceremony.)

    Oct. 22nd-
    Another day at anchor.   Monotonous as Hell!   A stiff wind came up late this afternoon and by 10:00 P.M. it was as cold as blazes.

    Oct. 23rd-
    Same position as yesterday.   The wind of yesterday has turned into a typhoon.   The weather is really cold to us tropical Sons.

    Oct. 24th-
    Around and round our anchor we blow.   The sky is starting to break up this afternoon.

    Oct. 25th-
    The storm is nearly over, the sun is shining and there are less than 60 SHOPPING DAYS TILL XMAS!   Still at anchor.

    Oct. 26th-
    Storm all gone, but we haven't moved yet.

    Oct. 27th-
    Hauled anchor this morning and by 7:00 A.M. were under way.   Came into the port of Takao, which we have been in twice before, about 4:30 P.M. Another man died today, and ten were said to be sent to the hospital. Loading coal, water and grub tonight.

    Oct. 28th-
    In port all day today.   Took on water most of the morning.

    Oct. 29th-
    A busy day today.   We were supposed to go ashore at 6:30 A.M. but it was noon when we finally made it.   Had our stool taken and a fresh water bath.   The natives are interesting to look at.   Saw my first Rick-shaw today.   We boarded ship after dark.   There is a blackout in port tonight.   (I don't know why I didn't write more on this, because it was the only fun day we had in our 3 1/2 years with the Japs.   The fresh water bath was a riot.   The Japs had us take all our clothes off and put them in rows.   There we stood in a busy port, skin and bones, and naked as blue-jays!   As the native girls walked past they would stop, look, laugh, point at us and jabber.   The Japs used fire hoses to wet us down and except when they pointed it point blank at us, it felt pretty good.   The port city was very pretty.   There were Japanese arches on the slopes running down to the water; water taxis were scurrying every direction and on nights when there wasn't a blackout, the lights made the sight even more beautiful.)

    Oct. 30th-
    Set sail again and arrived in our little port of Mako at dark.   Pauline's birthday today!

    Oct. 31st-
    Lay at anchor today until 3:30 and set out on our way again for I don't know where.   The end of a trying month.

    Nov. 1st-
    On an open sea all day, going generally north.

    Nov. 2nd-
    Sailed steadily northward all day.   Islands in sight constantly.

    Nov. 3rd-
    Chugged on all day.   More islands.   Two more men died today.

    Nov. 4th-
    Sailed steadily on.   No land in sight today.

    Nov. 5th-
    An uneventful day on the water.

    Nov. 6th-
    Islands all around.   Rumors that two ships were sunk in our convoy by subs.   The Japs have manned a triple watch.   Another of our number died today.

    Nov. 7th-
    After a hard day yesterday and last night, we pulled safely into harbor about 8:30 A.M.   Another died today.   The port is Fusan on the Chosan Pen.

    Nov. 8th-
    Left ship early and were issued winter clothes by the Japs.   God knows we need them because it is cold as hell and many of the fellows have only one pair of shorts to their name.   Boarded trains at 3:30 P.M., after being paraded through town.   (This was a victory parade where the Japs were showing the Koreans their trophies of war.   Many sick were left in Fusan to be hospitalized.   In later months, some who lived, were brought up to Mukden. There were many white boxes also brought to Mukden containing the ashes of those who didn't make it.)

    Nov. 9th-
    Saw my first frost and ice in many, many months.   Later in the day, the train passed through an area of freshly fallen snow.   Our new clothes are rough but warm and the coach is hot.   With the heat the lice are multiplying by the millions.

    Nov. 10th-
    The train chugged slowly on today.   Land pretty flat.   A lot of grain seems to be grown hereabouts.

    Nov. 11th-
    Debarked today in a strange city.   Many strange sights.   Saw a few white people in the city.   Arrived at our new camp in a drizzling rain.   The barracks are low, mud covered, wooden affairs.   The sight is rather depressing, but we are all sincerely glad to hit the rough board bays that take the place of beds in this GOD forsaken country.

    (This ends the diary of my trip from the Philippine Islands to Mukden, Manchuria.   I might add that the drizzle turned into snow the night of November 11th and the same snow, with 41 other snow storms was still on the ground the following spring.)