Reports of visits to Japan of POWs |
Former American POWs visit Japan at the fourth invitation of the Japanese Government
2013-10-13/21
Four former POWs, three widows of POWs and their family members visited Japan from 13 to 21 October 2013. This is the fourth program that the Japanese government has run for former Australian POWs. They were warmheartedly welcomed wherever they visited and enjoyed the fruitful trip. Many media in Tokyo and local areas reported about their visit. It was a good opportunity to appeal about POW issue.
Description of the participants
Mr. Robert Heer (ex-POW) Age:92 |
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He became a POW on Mindanao Island, ThePhilippins. He was sent to Taiwan on Lima Maru and interned in Karenko Camp in September 1942, then to Heito Camp and No.6 Branch Camp in Taipei. He was transferred to Japan on Taiko Maru and interned in Kameda Camp (Hakodate 2-D, Hokkaido) in February 1945. He was moved to Akabira Camp in May 1945 where he was liberated. |
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Mr. Phillip Coon (ex-POW) Age:94 |
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He became a POW in the Philippines and experienced “Bataan Death March”. He was transferred to Taiwan on Hokusen Maru and was interned in Inrin Camp in October 1944. He was transferred to Japan on Melbourne Maru and was interned in Kosaka Camp, Akita Prefecture in January 1945 where he was liberated. |
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Mr. Marvin Roslansky (ex-POW) Age:91 |
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He became a POW on Guam Island. He was transferred to Japan on Argentina Maru and was interned in Zentsuji Camp in Kagawa Prefecture in January where he was liberated. |
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Mr. Erwin Johnson (ex-POW) Age:92 |
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He became a POW in the Philippines and experienced “Bataan Death March”. He was transferred to Pusan (Korea) on Tottori Maru in October 1942 and sent to Mukden Camp in Manchuria where he was liberated. |
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Mrs. Marjean McGrew(ex-POW's widow) Age:86 |
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Her late husband was Mr. Alfred McGrew. He became a POW on Corregidor Island, the Philippines. He was transferred to Japan on Noto Maru and was interned in August 1944. He was interned some camps such as Omori Camp in Tokyo, Tokyo 24-D in Kawasaki and Suwa Camp in Nagano Prefecture where he was liberated. |
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Mrs. Esther Jennings(ex-POW's widow) Age:90 |
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Her late husband was Mr. Clinton Jennings. He became a POW on Corregidor Island, the Philippines. He was transferred to Japan on Nissho Maru in July 1944 and was interned in Fukuoka 23-B in Keisen. He was moved to Fukuoka 1-B and Fukuoka 9-B in Miyata where he was liberated. |
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Mrs. Lora Cummins (ex-POW's widow) Age:87 |
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Her late husband was Mr. Ferron Cummins. He became a POW in the Philippines. He was transferred to Japan on Noto Maru in August 1944 and interned in Mukaishima Camp in Hiroshima Prefecture where he was liberate. |
Schedule
Oct. 13 (Sun): Arrive at Narita airport
Oct. 14 (Mon)
Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokoyama In the Cremation Memorial, the ashes of 48 Americans, who were victims of Oryoku-maru, Enoura-Maru and Burazil-Maru series, are enshrined. Solemn memorial service was held by a chaplain and a bagpiper from the US Naval Base in Yokosuka. |
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At the Cremation Memorial in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokoyama |
Oct. 15 (Tue)
Morning: Pay a courtesy visit with the Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.
Please see the website of MOFA >>Link
Afternoon: Press conference
Please see the website >>Link
Evening: Meeting at the Temple University in Tokyo
Please see the youtube >>Link
Oct. 16 (Wed)
Morning: Visit the Australian Embassy
Afternoon: Friendship Meeting with Japanese Citizens in Tokyo
Please see the detailed report >>Link
And you can see the NHK News titled as "News Line" >>Link
Friendship meeting with Japanese citizens in Tokyo |
Oct. 17 (Thu) - 18 (Fri) Individual visits to the cities concerned
Hakodate: Mr.Heer, Mrs McGrew
Kosaka: Mr. Coon, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jennings
Zentsuji and Mukaishima: Mr. Roslansky and Mr. Cummins
Mt.Heer at Arikawa Pier where POW worked | Mr. Heer and Mrs. McGrew at Eizenji Temple where a memorial for deceased POWs in Hakodate area is built. |
Mr. Coon and Mr. Johnson at the former office of Kosaka Mine where POWs worked | Mr.Coon, Mr.Johnson and Mrs. Jennings with the mayer at an old playhouse in Kosaka |
Mrs. Cummins and Mr. Roslansky with a memorial plate for an American POW who died in Mukaishima | Mr. Roslansky and his wife with a grave for POWs who died in Zentsuji |
Oct. 19 (Sat): Kyoto
Morning: Visit Ryozen Kannon Temple where the roster of all POWs who died during the war is kept.
Afternoon: Visit the International Peace Museum of Ritsumeikan University
Oct. 20 (Sun)
Sightseeing in Kyoto
Oct. 21 (Man)
Depart from Kansai International airport