As a pharmacist mate, Jeremiah Crews survived the Siege of Corregidor and was held as a POW in the Philippine Islands. In December 1944, he was boarded onto the "hellship" Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. The ship was sunk by American planes at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on December 15, 1944. Crews, being a strong swimmer, headed back into the water with a life jacket strapped to his back to save two comrades, as noted in the book "First Into Nagasaki", by George and Anthony Weller. The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Enoura Maru which reached Takao, Formosa. 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 and reached Japan on January 29, 1945. He was held at Fukuoka #17 in Japan until liberated.
Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and POW Medal.
Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and POW Medal.
As a pharmacist mate, Jeremiah Crews survived the Siege of Corregidor and was held as a POW in the Philippine Islands. In December 1944, he was boarded onto the "hellship" Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. The ship was sunk by American planes at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, on December 15, 1944. Crews, being a strong swimmer, headed back into the water with a life jacket strapped to his back to save two comrades, as noted in the book "First Into Nagasaki", by George and Anthony Weller. The surviving POWs were boarded onto the Enoura Maru which reached Takao, Formosa. 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 and reached Japan on January 29, 1945. He was held at Fukuoka #17 in Japan until liberated.
Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and POW Medal.
Awarded Bronze Star Medal with Gold Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and POW Medal.
Inscription
Tennessee
Commander
US Navy
World War II
BSM & GS - CR
Family Members
Other Records
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