Oryoku Maru Roster

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Roster of Allied Prisoners of War transported aboard the Oryoku Maru December 1944

Oryoku Maru--Manila to Subic Bay. 13 Dec – 15 December 1944

Enoura Maru and Brazil Maru—Lingayen Gulf to Takao, Formosa. 27 December 1944-January 6 1945

Enoura Maru—Takao Harbor, Formosa. January 6 – 13 1945

Brazil Maru—Takao, Formosa to Moji, Japan. January 13-30 1945

Summary table 1. Numbers of survivors and the death toll

	Total	Survived war	Died
American military and civilians	1556	374	1182
British military	35	19	16
Dutch military	15	10	5
Foreign Nationals in US service	16	0	16
Total	1622	403	1219

Summary table 2. Initial disbursements to POW camps

	Total	Survived war	Died
Taiwan camps (Takao & Heito)	37	28	9
Kokura Military Hospital (aka Moji hospital)	110	36	74
Fukuoka #1 (Fukuoka city)	193	138	55
Fukuoka #3 (Kokura)	100	76	24
Fukuoka #4 (Moji)	50	37	13
Fukuoka #17 (Omuta)	96	86	10
Total	586	401*	185

*2 men escaped during the evacuation of the Oryoku Maru 12/15/44 and were liberated from the Philippines.

Notes

The roster was prepared using numerous sources. These include POW rosters, POW camp records, and POW affidavits obtained from the US National Archives. Many printed sources were used, as were several unpublished personal memoirs. Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Sclachtofferregister online records provided much help with British and Dutch POWs. Numerous people contributed information, but Michael Hurst, Mark Kelso, John Lewis, Roger Mansell, Gregory Michno, and members of the POW Research Network, Japan merit special recognition. The current version does not include references, but specific information is available by request.

The roster is presented alphabetically in chart form with the following column headings: Last Name, First Name, Rank, Serial #, Branch, Unit, Unit info, Natl., Fate, Group, 1st Camp, 2nd Camp, Liberated, City, and State.

Natl. column refers to the nationality of the POW. Most were American, but British and Dutch military personal (survivors of the sunken hellship, Hofuku Maru) and civilians of Australian, British, Canadian, Czechoslovakian, German, and Norwegian descent were also taken aboard these ships.

Fate lists whether the men survived, and if not, marks the best estimate of the date of death. In many instances death dates listed here differ from official sources. These represent my best estimates based on examination of numerous records. Some dates are in error, but I am confident this represents the most accurate summation of the roster.

The Group column indicates position on the Oryoku Maru roster. Before transport to Japan the men were split into 3 groups (I think there were actually 4) for transport to different camps in Japan, Korea, and Manchuria. With very few exceptions, Groups I, II, and III indicate which hold of the Oryoku Maru the men were held in. Group I was loaded into the rear hold, Group II into the forward hold, and Group III into the middle hold. Group records are based on a Japanese roster arranged by group. The roster, however, does not mark the group boundaries so group assignments for many men (especially enlisted), have not been determined.

1st Camp, 2nd Camp, and Liberated represent locations where survivors were held after the voyages. Liberated refers to the camp from which the POW was liberated. 1st Camp represents the first camp or location the POW was sent. When POWs were sent to 3 or more camps this is reflected in the notations in the 2nd Camp and Liberated columns. Prisoners known to have died in Moji port or on the Moji docks have MjP listed under 1st Camp. Fukuoka POW camps #1 (Fukuoka city), #3 (Kokura), #4 (Moji), #17 (Omuta), and #22 (Honami) are Fk-1, Fk-3, Fk-4, Fk-17, and Fk-22. Kokura Military Hospital (more commonly known as Moji hospital) is KMH. Many survivors were later transported to Jinsen, Korea or Mukden, Manchuria. Taiwan camps are Takao, Heito, and Taihoku #6. Some British and Dutch from Taiwan were sent to Japan in Jan or Feb 45 and were held at Fk-17, or Maibara 10B.

Jim Erickson

3 Jan 2007

Please contact me for additional information or corrections. Questions and comments are welcome. Email: J. Erickson or contact me via the Japanese-POW Home Page webmaster John Lewis.

Last Name

First Name

Rank

Serial #

Branch

Unit

Unit Info.

Natl.

Fate

Group

1st Camp

2nd Camp

Liberated

City

State

Aalbergsbert

Wynard R.

Cpl

Royal Neth Marines

Dutch

lived

III

Heito

Taihoku-6

Aaron

Reid S.

2nd Lt

O&389278

AC

48th Matl Sqdn

USA

1/21/45

I

Martinsville

Virginia

Aasheim

Bjarne

Civilian

none

M/S Kattegat

Norwegian MM

Norwegian

1/5/45

Stavanger

Norway

Abney

Cary M. Jr.

Capt

O&316451

USA

1/26/45

I

Marshall

Texas

Abston

Aaron A.

Capt

O&021391

CAC

60th CA Regt (AA)

G Btry-CO

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Coker

Alabama

Adams

John P.

Lt Col

4

USMC

4th Marine Regt

Hq Co 3rd Bn

USA

1/4/45

II

New Bloomfield

Pennsylvania

Affleck

David C.

1st Lt

O&890052

QMC

Cebu Brigade

QM Depot

USA

1/9/45

II

Norwood

Ohio

Agne

George W.

Pfc

6729057

Med

USA

12/15/44

Alhambra

California

Aguilar

Lorenzo Jr.

Sgt

18022856

AC

34th Pursuit Sqdn

USA

lived

Fk-4

Weslaco

Texas

Aigrisse

Frank G.

Maj

O&306790

Phil Dept

Hq

USA

2/4/45

II

KMH

Toledo

Ohio

Aikman

Robert P.

1st Lt

O&225747

CAC

59th CA Regt

D Btry

USA

1/9/45

II

Forsyth

Missouri

Akins

William T.

2nd Lt

O&426546

AC

20th Purs Sqdn

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Lubbock

Texas

Alder

Dwayne W.

1st Lt

O&364807

FA

11th FA Regt (PA)

USA

1/24/45

II

Midvale

Utah

Alexander

Irvin

Lt Col

O&012414

1st Inf Regt (PC)

CO

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

JInsen

San Antonio

Texas

Allen

Charles D.

2nd Lt

O&890384

Inf

43rd Inf Regt (PA)

USA

lived

II

KMH

Fk-22

Mukden

Cameron

Texas

Allen

Joseph A.

CWO

W&2101193

Cebu Brigade

Med Supply Depot

USA

1/15/45

Spangle

Washington

Allen

Lloyd C.

Capt

O&278831

FA

88th FA Regt (PS)

USA

lived

I

Fk-3

Mukden

Stuart

Iowa

Alsobrook

James E.

2nd Lt

O&417922

AC

3rd Purs Sqdn

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Marilyn

Arkansas

Amato

Ralph Jr.

Capt

O&362255

Inf

45th Inf Regt (PS)

USA

1/9/45

II

Portland

Oregon

Ames

Godfrey Roland

Capt

O&020671

CAC

60th CA Regt (AA)

C Btry-CO

USA

1/31/45

II

KMH

Rockaway Beach

New York

Amoroso

Arnold

Lt Col

O&010777

CAC

60th CA Regt (AA)

1st Bn-CO

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Charles Town

West Virginia

Amos

Jak

Capt

O&358741

QMC

Phil Dept Ft. Mills

USA

1/18/45

II

Savannah

Georgia

Andersen

Harald Aksel Edvin

Civilian

none

Norwegian MM

Stoker

Norwegian

1/9/45

Bodo

Norway

Anderson

Don R.

Pvt

20948698

Med

31st Inf Regt (US) Med

Hq Co

USA

lived

Fk-17

Illinois

Anderson

Herman R.

Lt Col

14

USMC

4th Marine Regt

Hq Co 2nd Bn

USA

1/27/45

II

Madera

California

Anderson

William C. Jr.

Capt

O&383446

Inf

57th Inf Regt (PS)

F Co

USA

1/20/45

I

Waynesville

Missouri

Andreassen

Egil

Civilian

none

Norwegian MM

Norwegian

12/15/44

PR-Fredrichsted

Norway

Andrews

Graham H.

Pfc

6933454

Med

Hosp #2

USA

lived

Fk-1

Jinsen

Ft. Benning

Georgia

Anloff

Garry G. Jr.

Capt

O&269779

Luzon Force

Hq

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Los Angeles

California

Armour

Charles W.

Ens

95822

USN

USA

lived

II

Fk-1

Jinsen

Little Rock

Arkansas

Arnao

Charles

2nd Lt

O&888466

AC

Air Warning Svc Co

USA

1/9/45

I

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Arsenault

Fab

2nd Lt

O&890170

Inf

52nd Inf Regt (PA)

USA

1/20/45

II

Orange

Massachusetts

Aschenbrenner

Reinholdt

Pfc

286073

USMC

4th Marine Regt

Marine Air Warning Co

USA

lived

Fk-17

Lincoln

Nebraska

Ashcraft

J. W.

S/Sgt

38012469

CAC

515th CA Regt (AA)

Hq Btry 1st Bn

USA

lived

Fk-4

Dimmitt

Texas

Asmussen

Hubert

Pvt

Roy Neth Ind Army

Dutch

lived

III

Heito

Taihoku-6

Asmussen

William F.

Pvt

Roy Neth Ind Army

Dutch

lived

III

Heito

Taihoku-6

Atkinson

John J.

Lt Col

O&005600

FA

USA

2/24/45

II

Fk-1

Goliad

Texas

Aton

Rex

Capt

O&277883

MAC

12th Med Regt (PS)

MAC

USA

1/12/45

Minot

North Dakota

Atteberry

Charles S.

2nd Lt

O&890120

Inf

51st Div (PA)

USA

1/17/45

II

Wilder

Idaho

Austin

John E.

S/Sgt

R&1013050

Inf

31st Inf Regt (US)

F Co

USA

1/30/45

Mj-P

Illinois

Austin

Paul J.

Pvt

6983562

CAC

59th CA Regt

B Btry

USA

1/17/45

New York

Austin

Tomas U. (V?)

2nd Lt

O2031895

FA

USA

1/28/45

I

Marshall

Texas

Ayers

Andrew J.

Pvt

7002669

AC

27th Bomb Gp (L)

Hq & Hq Sqdn

USA

lived

Fk-17

San Pedro

California

Babcock

David S.

Lt Col

O&015339

FA

2nd Prov FA Gp

CO

USA

1/24/45

II

Lynn

Indiana

Babcock

Elliott C.

Maj

O&264191

Inf

52nd Inf Regt (PA)

USA

1/10/45

I

St. Augustine

Florida

Backhaus

Fred H.

SC3c

3286010

USN

USA

lived

Fk-17

St. Paul

Minnesota

Baehr

Carl Jr.

Maj

O&020280

FA

24th FA Regt (PS)

USA

12/15/44

I

Tulsa

Oklahoma

Baldwin

Jack O.

Maj

O&272703

FA

91st FA Regt (PA)

USA

1/16/45

I

Pana

Illinois

Baldwin

Lawrence C.

Capt

O&021171

CAC

60th CA Regt (AA)

1st Bn

USA

2/4/45

II

KMH

Kansas

Baldwin

Lee

Capt

O&890478

HDM&SB

USA

12/15/44

I

Shreveport

Lousiana

Baldwin

William P.

Maj

O&020660

Inf

102nd Inf Regt (PA)

2nd Bn CO

USA

12/15/44

I

NewYork

New York

Balfanz

A.W. Jr.

2nd Lt

O&413561

AC

17th Purs Sqdn

USA

lived

II

KMH

Fk-22

Mukden

Brownfield

Texas

Ball

Herbert H.

1st Lt

O&351229

AC

21st Purs Sqdn

USA

1/30/45

I

Mj-P

St. Louis

Missouri

Bania

Francis M.

Pfc

6913034