POW casualty of the Japanese hell ship Arisan Maru
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ARISAN MARU - THE GREATEST LOSS OF AMERICAN LIFE IN MARITIME HISTORY
On 24th October 1944 Arisan Maru carrying 1782 US POW was hit by 3 torpedoes from American submarine USS Shark (not knowing the Japanese freighter was carrying US POW) in the South China Sea, 200 miles N.W. of Luzon Island, Philippines. Arisan Maru was carrying 1782 US prisoners, 125 Japanese passengers and 204 crew from Manila to Japan.
After 2 Japanese destroyers attacked and sank USS Shark they returned to Arisan Maru to look for survivors. No POWs were killed by the torpedo strikes and nearly all were able to leave the ship's holds but the Japanese did not rescue any of the POW that day, only Japanese. Japanese destroyers even deliberately pulled away from the men struggling in the water to reach them. 1777 POW died.
Only 9 of the prisoners aboard survived the event. Five escaped and made their way to China in one of the ship's two lifeboats. They were reunited with U.S. Forces and returned to the United States. The four others were later recaptured by Imperial Japanese naval vessels, where one died shortly after reaching land.
This makes Arisa Maru the greatest loss of American life in maritime history.
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Suggested edit:
HARRISON, Vernon F, Y1, 2998573, Receiving Station, Cavite, Philippine Islands Campaign, (POWCasCode8321) died as POW, October 24, 1944, dd October 24, 1944 (bp6) + HARRISON, Vernon F, Y1, 2998573, USN, from Illinois, Arisan Maru (POW ship), location Philippine Islands, missing, date of loss October 24, 1944 (pm) + HARRISON, Vernon F, Yeoman First Class, 2998573, USN, from Illinois, Oct-44, Manila American Cemetery (bm) + HARRISON, Vernon Frank, Yeoman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Carson Harrison, Route 3, Bloomington, Ill (Died as POW) (na)
John C Harrison, Father (per newspapers.com), John Carlson per Navy Casualty Records (address matches newspaper article posted). Vernon F enlisted in 1937. His brother was already in (John Edward Harrison).
Name: Vernon F. Harrison
Rank: Yeoman First Class
Residence Place: Illinois
Service Number: 2998573
Military Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War II
Cemetery: Manila American Cemetery
Burial Place: Manila, Philippines
Vernon Harrison
in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Vernon Harrison
Birth Year: abt 1919
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 11
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Bloomington, McLean, Illinois, USA
Map of Home: Bloomington, McLean, Illinois
Street Address: Miller Road.
Dwelling Number: 154
Family Number: 155
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John C Harrison 50 Head
Lenore Harrison 36 Wife
Helen Harrison 16 Daughter
Dorothy Harrison 14 Daughter
John Harrison 13 Son
Vernon Harrison 11 Son
William Harrison 6 Son
Florence I Harrison 0 Daughter
John C Harrison BIRTH12 Jul 1879
Golconda, Pope County, Illinois, USA
DEATH 26 Feb 1976 (aged 96)
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
BURIALPark Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
PLOT H-25-2
MEMORIAL ID 66154285
Name: Vernon Frank Harrison
Race: White
Residence Place: Illinois, USA
Report Date: 6 May 1942
Latest Report Date: 24 Oct 1944
Grade: Yeoman, second class
Arm or Service: United States Navy
Arm or Service Code: United States Navy
Area Served: Southwest Pacific Theatre: Philippine Islands
Detaining Country: Japan
Camp: PW Camp #4 - O'Donnel Tarlac Luzon Philippines 15-120
POW Transport Ship: October Sinking: Arisan Maru, 24 October 1944
Kindly provided by Contributor: 48847326)
POW casualty of the Japanese hell ship Arisan Maru
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISAN MARU - THE GREATEST LOSS OF AMERICAN LIFE IN MARITIME HISTORY
On 24th October 1944 Arisan Maru carrying 1782 US POW was hit by 3 torpedoes from American submarine USS Shark (not knowing the Japanese freighter was carrying US POW) in the South China Sea, 200 miles N.W. of Luzon Island, Philippines. Arisan Maru was carrying 1782 US prisoners, 125 Japanese passengers and 204 crew from Manila to Japan.
After 2 Japanese destroyers attacked and sank USS Shark they returned to Arisan Maru to look for survivors. No POWs were killed by the torpedo strikes and nearly all were able to leave the ship's holds but the Japanese did not rescue any of the POW that day, only Japanese. Japanese destroyers even deliberately pulled away from the men struggling in the water to reach them. 1777 POW died.
Only 9 of the prisoners aboard survived the event. Five escaped and made their way to China in one of the ship's two lifeboats. They were reunited with U.S. Forces and returned to the United States. The four others were later recaptured by Imperial Japanese naval vessels, where one died shortly after reaching land.
This makes Arisa Maru the greatest loss of American life in maritime history.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suggested edit:
HARRISON, Vernon F, Y1, 2998573, Receiving Station, Cavite, Philippine Islands Campaign, (POWCasCode8321) died as POW, October 24, 1944, dd October 24, 1944 (bp6) + HARRISON, Vernon F, Y1, 2998573, USN, from Illinois, Arisan Maru (POW ship), location Philippine Islands, missing, date of loss October 24, 1944 (pm) + HARRISON, Vernon F, Yeoman First Class, 2998573, USN, from Illinois, Oct-44, Manila American Cemetery (bm) + HARRISON, Vernon Frank, Yeoman 1c, USN. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Carson Harrison, Route 3, Bloomington, Ill (Died as POW) (na)
John C Harrison, Father (per newspapers.com), John Carlson per Navy Casualty Records (address matches newspaper article posted). Vernon F enlisted in 1937. His brother was already in (John Edward Harrison).
Name: Vernon F. Harrison
Rank: Yeoman First Class
Residence Place: Illinois
Service Number: 2998573
Military Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War II
Cemetery: Manila American Cemetery
Burial Place: Manila, Philippines
Vernon Harrison
in the 1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Vernon Harrison
Birth Year: abt 1919
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 11
Birthplace: Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1930: Bloomington, McLean, Illinois, USA
Map of Home: Bloomington, McLean, Illinois
Street Address: Miller Road.
Dwelling Number: 154
Family Number: 155
Attended School: Yes
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Illinois
Mother's Birthplace: Missouri
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
John C Harrison 50 Head
Lenore Harrison 36 Wife
Helen Harrison 16 Daughter
Dorothy Harrison 14 Daughter
John Harrison 13 Son
Vernon Harrison 11 Son
William Harrison 6 Son
Florence I Harrison 0 Daughter
John C Harrison BIRTH12 Jul 1879
Golconda, Pope County, Illinois, USA
DEATH 26 Feb 1976 (aged 96)
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
BURIALPark Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois
PLOT H-25-2
MEMORIAL ID 66154285
Name: Vernon Frank Harrison
Race: White
Residence Place: Illinois, USA
Report Date: 6 May 1942
Latest Report Date: 24 Oct 1944
Grade: Yeoman, second class
Arm or Service: United States Navy
Arm or Service Code: United States Navy
Area Served: Southwest Pacific Theatre: Philippine Islands
Detaining Country: Japan
Camp: PW Camp #4 - O'Donnel Tarlac Luzon Philippines 15-120
POW Transport Ship: October Sinking: Arisan Maru, 24 October 1944
Kindly provided by Contributor: 48847326)
Inscription
HARRISON VERNON F - YEOMAN 1C - USN - ILLINOIS
Family Members
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