August 19, 1945
Commander returns from Sendai. Visits our camp. Japanese tells us Armistice has been reached and we will be notified tomorrow.
August 20, 1945
9:15 a.m. Standing in formation, the Japanese Commander delivered speech informing us that peace has come and he placed us under our own American officers. After speech was read twice, by the interpretor, a grand ovation of applause and cheers rang out and many broke down and cried. Freedom at last! It was hard for me to believe. Was this just another good dream? The supply room was opened to us. Chow plentiful (such as it is). Found much winter Red Cross clothing and shoes in the supply room. This clothing, if issued earlier would have saved much misery as many of us worked practically barefooted and in threadbare clothing last winter.
August 24, 1945
Japanese carpenters place large signs on roof of our buildings with PW written in red paint. We are told that American planes will fly over and drop supplies.
August 25, 1945
American Navy planes flew over camp and spotted us.
August 26, 1945
Planes identified as Grummans flew low over camp.
August 27, 1945
F4U Navy fighters dropped message telling us to clear area for dropping of parcels. Flight of 5 F4U's 5 Grumman fighters and 5 Torpedo planes dropped food, medicine, clothing and magazines by parachute. News sheets also dropped. Further instructions for us to signal planes of our needs also included.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten