Cpl. John Rawlins Atwell

Parents: Rawlins P. Atwell & Gertrude W. Duncombe-Atwell

Siblings: 4 sisters, 1 brother

Home: Fort Dodge, Iowa

Enlisted:

    - Iowa National Guard

        - 1 April 1924

Education:

    - Centre College, Danville, Kentucky

        - two years of college - 1925 - 1927

Married: Susan W. Hawley

    - 21 February 1929

Children: 3 daughters, 2 sons

Enlisted:

    - U. S. Army

        - 1940

Training: 

    - Fort Lewis, Washington

        - halftrack commander

Units: 

    - 194th Tank Battalion

Overseas Duty: 

    - Philippine Islands

Engagements: 

    - Battle of Luzon

    - Battle of Bataan

Prisoner of War: 

    - 9 April 1942

        - Death March

POW Camps:

    - Philippine Islands:

        - Camp O'Donnell

        - Cabanatuan #1

    - Japan:

        - Mitsushima

            - 16 April 1944 - John was one of 100 men sent to Tokyo 16B

        - Tokyo 16B

            - POWs worked in a carbide mill owned by Showa Denko Company

Hell Ship:

    - Nagato Maru

        - Sailed: Manila – 11 November 1942

        - Arrived: Takao, Formosa - 14 November 1942

        - Sailed: 17 November 1942

        - Arrived: Pescadores Islands – 17 November 1942

        - Sailed: 18 November 1942

        - Arrived: Keelung, Formosa – 18 November 1942

        - Sailed: 20 November 1942

        - Arrived: Moji, Japan – 24 November 1942

Liberated: September 1945

Promoted: Sergeant

Died: 12 August 1963

Buried:

    - Oakland Cemetery - Fort Dodge, Iowa

Note: The photo below is John Atwell's POW photo.

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