Text below published to Facebook group - Heroes of the United States Naval Academy on Nov 30, 2023 - https://www.facebook.com/USNA.HEROES/posts/pfbid03cr9nUcfqkvCGCPwXZWi9jDnFukJg7inRe2ZoDSULKbq1ty9WnDjq14M6yRzv7vql

"Let Us Never Forget" Prisoner of War, USNA 1939, LCDR Calvin Shriver George Jr., USN

LCDR George endured four years as a Japanese Prisoner of War to live to be 103 years old. Read his story to learn how Japanese prisoners were treated.

#usna1939, #usnasurface, #usnaworldwar2, #usnaprisonerofwar

Calvin Shriver George Jr. was born on March 12, 1916 in Baltimore City, Maryland to Calvin S. George Sr. and Helen E. (Watkins) George. Following high school he enlisted in the United States Navy. Selected at Large, on July 9, 1935 he entered the United States Naval Academy as a Midshipman. Midshipman George graduated 220 of 581 Midshipmen on June 1, 1939.

In the 1939 Lucky Bag, Midshipman George’s roommate wrote:

Cal came to the Naval Academy indoctrinated in the ways of the Navy, having spent more than a year in the Fleet. His love for ships and sailing is evidenced by the Thompson Spy Class, won by him after many afternoons in a spanking breeze and a heeling knockabout. He not only plays the violin and is fond of good music, but also possesses a talent for drawing. Decidedly not of the “radiator squad.” However, most afternoons find him running batt cross-county, or engaged in the gentle art of wrestling. In regards to the fair sex, his interest are all centered on his O.A.O. Cal has been an excellent roommate, conscientious, never threatened by the grim 2.5. The service will gain a fine officer upon his graduation.

On June 24, 1939, Ensign George was assigned to destroyer USS Hull (DD-350). During this increasingly tense pre-war period, Hull often acted as plane guard to the Navy's Pacific carriers during the perfection of tactics which would be a central factor in America's victory in World War II.

In 1939, LTJG George was assigned to battleship USS Idaho (BB-42). As war clouds gathered in the Pacific, the fleet increased the tempo of its training operations. Idaho carried out fleet tactics and gunnery exercises regularly until arriving with the battle fleet at Pearl Harbor 1 July 1940. The ship sailed for Hampton Roads June 6, 1941 to perform Atlantic neutrality patrol, a vital part of U.S. policy in the early days of the European fighting.

In 1941, LTJG George was assigned to USS Peary (DD-226) as Gunnery Officer.

Peary was moored at Cavite, Philippines, when news of the Pearl Harbor raid reached her and was caught in the raid on the Cavite Navy Yard, Philippines. On the early afternoon of December 10, 1942, more than 50 two-engine high level Japanese bombers appeared over Cavite and, cruising above the range of anti-aircraft fire, destroyed practically the entire base.

Peary, tied up at a small pier, took one bomb forward which damaged the superstructure and stack and killed eight of her crew. She found herself in a precarious position, as fires began to set off torpedo warheads in a torpedo overhaul shop on the wharf next to her. LTJG George was wounded when Peary was bombed on December 10, 1941 and was taken ashore to a hospital.

Peary was subsequently sunk on February 1942, and LTJG George was considered killed in action and is remembered on a plaque remembering the 88 crew members who died when Peary was sank in Darwin harbor.

When Manila was captured by the Japanese, who then occupied the Philippines until the end of the war, LTJG George was captured, enduring unimaginable years as a prisoner of war, until August 14, 1945, when he was liberated at Jin Sen, Korea, and his last prisoner of war camp. He survived four brutal years of captivity in Japanese prison camps, as well as aboard three Japanese “Hell Ships” (transporting POWs from one camp to another-many of these were sunk by Allied forces, as they showed no designation as POW transports).

In December 1944, LCDR George was boarded onto the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. The ship sailed on December 13, 1944 and came under attack from American planes on December 14, 1944. As evening approached, the attack was called off. The next day the planes returned and continued the attack. When the pilots saw the large number of men climbing from the ship’s holds, they realized the ship was carrying POWs and called off the attack. After the POWs were off the ship, the attack resumed and the ship was sunk by American planes at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on December 15, 1944.

The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Enoura Maru which sailed on December 27, 1944 and reached Takao, Formosa, by the New Year. While docked it was bombed by American planes on January 9, 1945, killing many of the POWs.

The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Brazil Maru which sailed on January 13, 1945 and reached Japan on January 29, 1945. In Japan, He was held at Fukuoka #1 and later sent to Jinsen, Korea. He was liberated at Jinsen at the end of the war.

Taken from Oryoku Maru Story describes LCDR George’s days of horror.

On or about October 1944, word came through that all able bodied prisoners of war being held in Cabanatuan and Davao Prisoner of War Camps would be transferred to Bilibid prison, Manila for eventual shipment to Japan. This group of prisoners gathered and stayed at Bilibid until December 13, 1944. On that date at 1000 hours a total of 1619 American and Allied Prisoners of War were assembled. This group was divided up into groups of about 500 men each. Of the 1619 about 1100 were officers, a majority being field grade. All of the groups were American except 30 who were Allied Nationals. At 1000 hours the entire group marched in a column of fours through the main streets of Manila to Pier #7.

The group arrived at the pier at about 1100 hours and waited several hours before they were loaded onto their ship. At 1500 hours a combat laden ship Oryoku Maru moved out in convoy from the pier and Japanese civilian, some sailors and a group of soldiers to man anti-aircraft guns, total numbering about 1500 person embarked. The prisoners were then loaded aboard. Group #2 in the charge of Lt. Colonel Curtis T. Beecher, started loading about 1530 in the forward hold. In this group there were over 600 prisoners. The hold was 60 by 100 feet. There were temporary troop accommodations built about four feet from the floor and extending out 12 feet from the bulkhead, and running around the entire hold area in a square, with no partition, and all wood. The Prisoners went down into this hold via wooden steps from the hatch to the hold. Light and air could only come through the hatch opening, which was about 20 feet by 20 feet. There were no ventilators, no port holes. In group #2 the conditions in the hold were so crowded that the men, a few minutes after entering the hold began fainting. The Japanese were asked to move some of the men out, the request were refused and they were told that there would be about 200 men put into the forward hold. There wasn't enough air and men were fainting due to the lack of air and intense heat. The Japanese were hurrying men into the hold, in some cases these men were being pushed down the stairs and beaten with rifle butts and shovels. Men were knocked down and off the ladder falling on the men already below.

Prior to embarking, the last meal that the prisoners were given was on the night of December 12th, at about 1900 hours in Bilibid. For this meal they were fed a ½ canteen cup of steamed rice and ¼ canteen cup of soup. There was also an issue of a ½ canteen cup of rice to be eaten the morning of the 13th at 1900 hours. The meal amounted to nearly a full canteen cup of steamed rice and a teaspoon of salt and seaweed for each man, and one canteen cup of water for one whole bay of approximately 45 men. Each man received the equivalent of three teaspoons full of water. The distribution of the food and water was left entirely up to the Americans; the Japanese had nothing to do with it. Never were the Japanese ever physically present in the holds. Other than this meager ration no food was received while the prisoners were aboard the Oryoku Maru, except on December 14, 1944 men in the center hold received morning chow.

When the prisoners first boarded the ship there were a few cases of active diarrhea and dysentery. No provisions had been made for any latrine facilities in the holds. After repeated requests, four five-gallon buckets were lowered into the holds. They were placed in the corners. Although repeated requests were made to the Japanese for more buckets no action resulted. The four buckets that they received were overflowing within 1 ½ hours, and requests to empty them were refused. By 2400 hours the lower floor in the vicinity of the latrine was a sea of human waste. The stench in the hold at about 2400 hours due to the lack of air and human waste was overpowering.

When the men first entered the ship the temperature was between 85 and 90 degrees. About 0200 hours on the 14th due to the noise and excitement, the hatch, which was the only opening for air, was completely battened down, cutting off all air except that which seeped through the hatch cover. The temperature then rose to about 120 degrees. Men against the bulkheads and in the bays were passing out for lack of air. These men were removed to the front of the bay where they were revived. For the remaining time on the Oryoku Maru the air situation became worse, because of the dehydration, weakness, thirst and stench.

During the nights of the 13th and 14th men became deranged and would wander about the hold stepping on other prisoners, screaming for water and air. Some became violent to the extent that they lashed out with canteens or striking with their fists or feet at anyone with whom they came in contact. It was pitch black in the hold. In this chaos there was no possibility for much needed sleep. On this first night about 40 to 50 men went out of their minds.

About 0300 hours on the morning of the 14th the Oryoku Maru weighed anchor and headed out towards the China Sea. At dawn of the 14th the forward hatch was opened and in the forward hold there were 8 to 10 men who had died during the night. At about 0800 hours an air raid alarm sounded. The ship was strafed; ricochets began flying into the holds. The ship had been damaged, and was moving now with difficulty. Several men had been wounded during the raid by the ricochets. During the air raid, it was learned that at least 30 men had died in the aft hold the night of the 13th, mostly due to suffocation. After the raid medical groups were called on deck to treat the Japanese wounded. These groups were severely beaten because "American planes were sinking the Japanese shipping." When requests were made for medical aid for men in the holds, and food and water, they were beaten up and told that the Japanese would do nothing for the prisoners.

On the night of the 14th and the morning of the 15th conditions grew worse. Men were suffering from thirst so acutely that many went out of their minds. Much screaming was audible. There was almost a complete lack of discipline, no matter how hard the hold leaders tried to restore order. The need for water was so acute that the men were drinking their own urine and sewage running in the open drains along the side of the ship. These hideous actions were revealed to the Japanese but there was no action taken. The hold was a bedlam with screaming, swearing and fighting. Men went berserk and the conditions were like some fantastic nightmare.

On the nights of the 14th and 15th the ship was bombed. The Japanese beached it making minor repairs, and discharged all Japanese passengers, moving back to Subic Bay. The prisoners were still aboard.

The morning of the 15th when the ship was anchored in Subic Bay about 300 yards offshore from Olongapo Naval Reservation, about 0830 hours WADA came around and told the men that the prisoners would be evacuated from the ship shortly; that they would not be able to take their shoes or any other gear as they would have to swim. He said that the Japanese were instructed to "shoot to kill" so they, the prisoners, had better be very careful. Several of the guards fired into the holds prior to evacuation. About 0930 hours the order for the evacuation came through. Prior to this order there had been an air raid in which a direct hit on the aft hold had been made, and about 100 men were killed. There were no life preservers or lifeboats in evidence. Men were forced over the side of the ship with no regard given as to whether or not they could swim. While the men were leaving the ship six U.S. planes dived on the ship but just prior to the bomb release point the lead plane zoomed up and wagged its wings in recognition. No bombs were released. During the swim for shore some of the men got aboard the debris from the ship and attempted to float ashore. In one case a raft with five men on it headed for shore, was fired upon by a machine gun set up on shore. Two of the men on the raft leaped off into the water, the remaining three were killed.

During the disorder of the evacuation some of the half-starved men attempted to salvage whatever food and medical supplies available on the ship. While going in the compartments in search of food they observed American cigarettes and candy usually in Red Cross parcels.

The food and medical supplies the men managed to salvage were confiscated by the Japanese. During this salvage operation some Japanese came upon the prisoners in the compartments and began firing on them.

Once on shore the prisoners were assembled in the area adjacent to a tennis court. During the period of assembling, the men were permitted to fill their canteens at a water tap outside the tennis court, but to do this they had to stand in line four to six hours. Fifty percent of the prisoners received their first water since the night of the 13th; the rest didn't get any because the Japanese, as a result of the confusion, chased them back into their assembly area. About 30 minutes later the Japanese came around and had the prisoners marched to the tennis court so that a count of men could be made against the rosters. Placing such a large group of men in the area of a tennis court was almost impossible. The court was surrounded by a chicken wire fence. A small area had been set aside for the sick and wounded. There was not enough space for a person to stretch out and lie down. Rosters were called off several times. All personnel were told to give any information available to them on persons not present so as to be able to determine how many men were dead or missing and how many present.

In the gathering at the tennis court it was learned that the conditions in the aft hold had been worse than the conditions in the forward hold. Many of the deaths in this hold were caused by suffocation. At roll call there were less than 1300 prisoners still alive out of the 1619 that had left Manila. At 1430 hours American planes came back and bombed the Oryoku Maru, all the prisoners by this time having been evacuated. No food was issued on the 15th or the 16th, and the water situation was still very bad. On the evening of the 17th, one sack of uncooked rice was issued for 130 men. This amounted to about two tablespoons full for each man. The same amount of rice was issued on the 18th and 19th. On the 20th the ration increased to four tablespoons full, all of this was eaten raw, although facilities for cooking were stored close by and within sight.

While the prisoners were kept at the tennis court, there was no provision made for protection against the sun. On the third day the men were allowed to leave the court and go into the shade for a few hours. Most of the men had on only a pair of shorts, some, more fortunate, had shirts and some trousers; there were no shoes or hats. At night it was very cold and since there were no blankets the prisoners were forced to lie on the hard concrete and suffer from the cold. While waiting at the tennis court, six or seven men died from wounds and exhaustion and were buried nearby.

On the morning of December 20, 1944, 500 of the men were taken to San Fernando, Pampanga and the second group left on the 21st. The first group was placed in the provincial jail, and the second group in the movie house. While there, the prisoners were finally issued a canteen of rice. There was a spigot at the theater with running water and by keeping order everybody received enough water. Ample water was also available at the jail.

From San Fernando, Pampanga, the prisoners were moved by train to San Fernando, La Union, on December 24, 1944. The prisoners were marched to the railroad station. At the station the men were loaded into boxcars. During the trip the conditions in the train were very bad. The heat was terrific, and due to crowding and lack of air, many men passed out. When a man became unconscious he was passed from hand to hand to the door of the boxcar to revive.

The train arrived at San Fernando, La Union about 0500 hours Christmas morning of 25 December 25, 1944. The weather was bitterly cold. The men were marched from the train to a school house about a half mile to a mile from the railway station. A detail of men was ordered to dig for water. After digging five feet below the surface, water was found, and iodine was used for purification.

At 0900 on December 25, 1944, orders were received that the men were to line up and prepare for a march to the beach. On the morning of December 27, 1944, after remaining on the beach for two days and two nights, the first group of 236 men was loaded aboard the Brazil Maru. The remainder of the men on the beach was loaded aboard the Enoura Maru. The men were marched to the piers where landing barges were waiting to carry the men out to the transports. While loading into the barges men were compelled to jump from the pier into the barges, some 20 feet below. If a man hesitated before jumping to the barge the guard would push him off the pier. In several instances men broke their legs. In one case, one man missed the barge completely, hitting his head on the side of the barge and falling into the water. When this man was finally dragged into the barge he was dead.

The Brazil Maru was an old freighter of about 2,500 tons. It was armed and was loaded with sick and healthy Japanese soldiers. During the six-day trip from the Philippines to Takao, Formosa, no food was received during the first two days except the food leavings of the five Formosan guards. This amounted to about one teaspoon of rice per man. On the third day an issue was made which were three men per mess kit of food. On the fourth day there was no food at all. On the fifth day prisoners were issued five Japanese rolls per man. These rolls were a type of hard tack infested with maggots and mold.

All of the prisoners on the Enoura Maru (about 10,000 tons) were confined to one hold with two levels, forward of amid-ships. The condition was very crowded but not as bad as on the Oryoku Maru. A man could lie down here by doubling up his legs. The food was scarce and there was a little water and soup available once a day. The amounts received were small but were much greater than those received by the prisoners aboard the Brazil Maru. During the period of the trip between San Fernando and Takao, Formosa, there were 16 deaths. These 16 deceased were buried at sea. 236 men were moved from the Brazil Maru to the Enoura Maru in Takao Harbor, on or about January 6, 1945.

During the 7th, 8th and 9th of January the men received one mess kit of rice for each four men, with one-half cup of soup for each four men. On the 8th of January in the afternoon, the Japanese ordered all men in the lower level of the hold to be moved into the forward hold so that sugar could be stored in the lower level. Approximately two-thirds of the men had been moved from the hold when the Japanese guards on the deck indicated that the other one-third would be absorbed into the upper level which created an overcrowded condition more than originally, since it was overcrowded initially.

On January 9, 1945 in mid-morning, during the completion of the morning meal, anti-aircraft fire was heard on the Enoura Maru and all ships in the harbor. Soon the drone of planes was heard and almost simultaneously the whistle of bombs was heard. The Enoura Maru rocked violently from a near miss, causing a flail of bomb fragments and steel fragments from the sides of the ship which killed about 300 outright and injured a considerable number. After the bombing such first aid as could be rendered to men was made available by the Prisoner of War doctors and corpsmen aboard. This aid consisted of collecting dirty towels, undershirts, or anything that could be used for bandages that the other prisoners would contribute. Outside of a few first aid kits which the doctors and corpsmen may have had, there were no medicines made available by the Japanese. In fact, no aid was rendered until January 11, 1945 when two Japanese enlisted hospital corpsmen announced they would treat those with minor injuries or wounds only. Treatment consisted of dabbing injuries with mercurochrome. They further stated that they were not interested in treating the more seriously injured.

The dead bodies in the holds were stacked in the center of the hatch area like stacks of cord wood. They remained there until the 12th of January. During this time, a majority of the men who were wounded and who soon thereafter died from those wounds could have been saved with proper medical attention, but with lack of bandages and medicines it was impossible for the doctors to do much for them.

Finally in mid-morning of January 12, 1945 permission was granted to remove the dead bodies from the ship. The bodies were removed by placing them into cargo slings and lowering over the side of the ship into barges. Some of the dead were removed individually by tying ropes around the legs or arms and hauling them up onto the deck, then lowering them into the barges. The scene in the holds was like a page from Dante's Inferno-dark, but one could see the wraithlike figures wandering dazedly through a maze of stacked corpses. It was not uncommon prior to the removal of the dead, to sit on the dead and eat meals due to the overcrowded conditions. Items of salvageable clothing that could be removed from the dead were removed. Many of the bodies were in various stages of decomposition when they were finally removed.

On January 13, 1945, during the afternoon, orders came that all the prisoners aboard the Enoura Maru would be transferred to the Brazil Maru. Reasons for this change were that the Enoura Maru had been badly damaged during the bombing. Transfer to the Brazil Maru was affected by landing barges. The move was completed in late afternoon. The wounded men, fracture cases, etc., suffered great pain in transfer as in some cases they were lowered into boats by ropes and hoisted aboard ship in the same manner. At this time, there were approximately 900 men remaining alive out of the original group of 1619. The ship sailed from Takao on the 13th of January for Japan.

The trip from Takao to Moji, Japan lasted from January 13 until January 29, 1945. During the trip there were two issues of cooked rice a day. There were two or three men to a lightly packed canteen cup of rice. No soup was issued at all. This diet was augmented by whatever sugar the men could steal. Numerous protests to the prisoner commanders brought no results. A diagnosis for the cause of the high death rate aboard the Brazil Maru was due to a combination of malnutrition, dehydration and exposure.

When the ship first left Takao on the night of January 13, 1945, about 15 men died. Bodies were stacked in the hospital area after first being stripped of all clothing by the hospital corpsmen under orders. Available clothing was then distributed to the men who most needed it. Bodies were collected over a two or three day period before permission was obtained from WADA to get a burial detail to throw them overboard. The first group of dead was about fifty. Generally, bodies would be taken up on deck and buried daily. It got progressively worse, finally reaching a maximum of about forty dead per day a few days prior to arrival in Japan. The men outside of the hospital area who had previously shown no evidence of suffering more than the rest would be found dead in the morning. This became so commonplace that a hospital corpsman would make a circuit of all bays each morning and shout "Roll out your dead." Bay leaders would then check their bays.

A Chaplain prisoner led the men in prayer every night until he died five days out of Takao. Another Chaplain gave all of his food and water to the sick until he too died. Another Chaplain who overtaxed his strength by helping the sick died.

Two or three times a day the roll would be called and if a man's name was called without an answer, someone would say "dead" or give the circumstances regarding his death, such as suffocation aboard the Oryoku Maru. Even though the list had been called many times previously, this was done by order of the Japanese.

The ship finally arrived in Moji, Japan on January 29, 1945. It was met by a large boarding party of officers, enlisted men and civilians. It was announced in mid-morning that clothing would be issued topside. There were about 450 men alive then. It was bitterly cold. The prisoners were issued a pair of wool trousers, a blouse, a suit of cotton underwear, but no socks. Shoes were captured British shoes and were issued without regard to size.

This was the first time since December 13, 1944 that there was enough water available for each man to have as much as he wanted. However, the men were cautioned that the water might be contaminated and that they had better take it easy. Later on food was issued but many of the men were so sick they were unable to eat.

When the men disembarked from the ship they were walking skeletons. The Japanese corpsmen seemed to have a look of astonishment on their faces and there were shocked expressions on the faces of the people at Moji as the prisoners were marched through the streets. Men shuffled, some walked with the support of others. The men were infested with lice and had not shaved since December 13, 1944.

Prisoner of War Medal

Awarded for Actions During World War II

Lieutenant, Junior Grade Calvin S. George (NSN: 0-82356), United States Navy, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until returned to U.S. Military control during operations to liberate the Philippines in 1945.

Service: Navy

Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade

Division: Prisoner of War (Korea)

General Orders: NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 – 1947

On November 5, 1945, LCDR George married Miss Margaret Knauer in Annapolis Maryland. Together they had three children, a son Sidney and two daughters.

LCDR George died on March 24, 2019 at 103 years old and is buried in Haughs Cemetery, Ladiesburg, Maryland, Row 64, Lot 217-C.

LCDR George personal decorations includes Purple Heart (2), and Prisoner of War Medal.

Calvin S George (1916)