See UPDATES below dated:  17 Aug 2000 and 12 Oct 2000


    29 July 2000
    Ray Colemon wrote:

    I am writing articles for my hometown newspaper about the servicemen who died during time of war and whose names are listed on the town's war memorial.   The town is Hogansville, Georgia, and the newspaper is the West Georgia Beacon published in Hogansville.

    The Hogansville man I am researching is an Army officer, Blueford Fowler Daniel of Hogansville.   I don't know what his rank was or what he did for the Army but in Hogansville prior to going on active duty he owned a drug store and was a pharmacist.   The story passed down to now-distant relatives is that Fowler was captured, endured the death march, and died aboard one of the Japanese transports.   The marker in the Hogansville cemetery, next to his wife Kathleen, shows Fowler died 24 October 1944.   I don't know the origin or authenticity of this information but suspect it came from official notification during or after the war.   The date makes it almost certain Fowler was lost aboard the Arisan Maru sunk by an American submarine on that date.

    If you have Blueford Fowler Daniel in any of your records I would appreciate your e-mailing them or calling me collect at (770)-939-1442, or writing:
    Ray Colemon,
    2391 Crestcliff Drive, Tucker, GA 30084.

    My series in the West Georgia Beacon newspaper will be under the theme, "Not in Vain," taken from a Churchill quote, "Not in vain may be the ride of those who served and the epitaph of those who died," carved on the Hogansville monument.   One correspondent has told me of a Buford J. Daniel listed on the Arisan Maru passenger list, and I am almost certain that is the man I am looking for but can't be sure.   Would greatly appreciate your help.

    I have enjoyed reading your web page and the individual stories of people who have found information about their loved ones.   I wish you success.

    Sincerely,
    Ray Colemon
    e-mail: ray.colemon@worldnet.att.net

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    UPDATE:
    17 August 2000

    I have learned from Bill Bowen and others in ADBC that Captain Daniel, known as
    Fowler, was interned and later put aboard the Arisan Maru where he died.

    For my newspaper article about Fowler I need any additional information available such as his organizational unit, its duties/missions, commanding officer, what was their role in the battle for Bataan, which prison camps Fowler may have been confined in, anything about his treatment/condition at the time of embarking on the Arisan Maru, and anyone who might have known Fowler personally.

    I am scheduled to meet/interview Fowler's only child, a daughter now living in Tucson, on Friday 18 August.   Among other things, she has some pictures of Fowler which she promised to let me copy.   If there is any other information available or any other sources for the type of information I am seeking, please E-mail me or phone me collect at your earliest convenience.   I will of course make available to ADBC any information I learn from Fowler's daughter, with her consent, and a copy of my article when published if anyone is interested.

    Thanks,
    Ray Colemon
    2391 Crestcliff Drive
    Tucker, GA 30084
    Phone: (770)-939-1442
    E-Mail:  ray.colemon@worldnet.att.net

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    UPDATE:
    12 October 2000

    While visiting the daughter of Captain Blueford Fowler Daniel last summer, I found a few details about several POWs.   The information is from the October 1945 edition of the Emory University Alumni bulletin or magazine under the headline, "War's End Reveals Prisoners' Fate."

    First paragraph:
    "The fate of alumni who fell into the hands of the Japanese with the fall of the Philippines is coming to light.   Five are dead and four are known to be alive and in good health.   Lt. Col. Ralph Townsend Artman  '30;  Capt. Edward S. (Bill) Miller  '35-38M;  Chaplain Ridgely Hall  '38 and Capt. Alvah L. Hamilton Jr.  '40D, have been liberated and are on various stages of the journey home.

    "Capt. Blueford F. Daniel  '23;  Capt Russell W. Genung  '31D;  Maj. Cyrus W. DeLong  '40D;  Lt. L. Talmadge Whiddon  '40 and Ens. Jack B. Gordon Jr.  '42, have been reported dead...."

    The remainder of the one-page article gives brief biographical sketches of the individuals named, and has a one-column photo of Capt. Daniel in uniform.   Capt. Daniel died in the sinking of the Arisan Maru 24 October 1944.

    If anyone is interested in these individuals I'll be glad to mail them a copy of the article, or e-mail them the paragraphs describing individual servicemen.   I hope to visit Emory University Alumni organization within a day or two to continue looking for Capt. Daniel-related information, and will also try to capture any information available there on these or other Bataan/Corregidor servicemen.

    I hope to publish Capt. Daniel's story in the Hogansville, GA, Beacon on or around Oct. 24, the anniversary of his death.   But there are huge gaps in the information available on his personal life and Army life.

    Sincerely,
    Ray Colemon
    e-mail: ray.colemon@worldnet.att.net