July 23, 1999

My Uncle, Conrad G. Russell, Service No. 263602 served with "H" Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai, China from 10 January 1941 to 25 September 1941.   He was transferred to 1st Separate Battalion, Marine Barracks, Cavite, P.I. on 4 October to 26 December 1941.   On the 26th the Battalion arrived on Corregidor and was redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines.   He was assigned to "I" Company and served in the Ramsey Ravine Area on Beach Defense.

He was a prisoner of war from 6 May 1942 to 25 August 1945.   Initially held in "The 92nd Garage Area", he participated in the march up Dewey Boulevard to Old Bilibid Prison where he went on th Tayabas Road Detail.   Surviving the detail, he was sent to Cabanatuan #3; while there, he was taken to the "Double Zero Ward" with diphtheria.

In October, 1943, he arrived in Japan with 800 other Americans aboard the Coral Maru, it survived a typhoon, the trip lasted 36 days and landed in Nagasaki.   He was one of the 50 Marines in the American detail composed of 100 prisoners that arrived at Camp Sakurajima and worked as shipfitters and laborers in the Osaka Ironworks, a factory which produced steel for Japanese destroyers and fuel tankers.   He stayed there until he was part of a detail of 96 Americans who were the first prisoners of record to occupy Akenobe#6-B.   Arriving 17 May 1945, he was there working in a copper mine until liberation 25 August 1945.
Conrad Russell died of multiple sclerosis on 31 January 1961 in Santa Barbara, California.

Sketch of Conrad Russell while a POW
by Artist Ted Broad while in POW camp

Information on Coral Maru and Osaka-area POW camps
Written by Conrad Russell

I would like to hear from anyone who may have known my uncle in Shanghai or in any of the prison camps.   Information these men may have would be greatly appreciated by our family.

Thank you,
Jeffrey L. Russell
Please contact me at my E-Mail Address:
jeffandbethrussell@comcast.net