Pvt. Ralph Hampton Buchanan

Born: 9 May 1914 - Kimballton, Virginia Parents: John T. Buchanan & Lula C. Long-Buchanan Siblings: 2 brothers Hometown: Square Butte, Montana Enlisted:     - U.S. Army         - 28 March 1941 - Missoula, Montana Training:     - Fort Lewis, Washington Units:     - 194th Tank Battalion Overseas Duty:     - Philippine Islands Engagements:     - Battle of Luzon     - Battle of Bataan Prisoner of War     - 9 April 1942         - Death March             - started march at Mariveles on southern tip of Bataan             - POWs ran past Japanese artillery firing at Corregidor             - San Fernando - POWs put into small wooden boxcars                 - 100 POWs packed into each boxcar                 - those who died remain standing             - Capas - living left cars - dead fell out of boxcars             - POWs walked last ten miles to Camp O'Donnell   POW Camps:     - Philippines:         - Camp O'Donnell             - unfinished Filipino training base             - Japanese put camp into use as POW Camp             - only one water spigot for entire camp             - as many as 50 POWs died each day             - Japanese opened new POW camp to lower death rate          - Cabanatuan     - Japan:         - Fukuoka #17             - Work: coal mine Hell Ship:     - Oryoku Maru         - Boarded: 13 December 1944         - Sailed: 14 December 1944 - about 3:30 AM             - ship attacked by American planes - 3:30 PM         - Sunk: 15 December 1944 - Subec Bay             - POWs hear boats being lowered into water - 2:30 AM             - ship steamed closer to shore             - ship attacked three times by American planes             - attack stops when pilots see POWs climbing from ship's holds             - POWs held on tennis courts             - POWs taken to San Fernando, LaUnion - 20 Decemeber 1944                 - 24 December 1944 - fifteen POWs taken into mountains and executed at a                   cemetery                 - 25 December 1944 - POWs moved to beach      - Enoura Maru            - Sailed: 27 December 1944            - Arrived: 31 December 1944                - ships attacked by American planes - 9 January 1945            - Sailed: 13 January 1945            - Arrived: Moji, Japan - 29 January 1945 Liberated: September 1945 Discharged: 1 April 1946 Married: Eleanor K. James Children: 1 daughter Died: 29 March 2004 - Philipsburg, Montana Buried:     - Mount Olivet Cemetery - Anaconda, Montana

 

 

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