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Rare Wake Island canteen Script belonging to 36th lost Battalion POW


Adrian6256
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Adrian6256

Hey Guys, I wanted to share something that I hadn't seen before. I had the pleasure of examining a grouping belonging to the son of a 36th infantry soldier who was part of the Lost Battalion. He was captured in the spring of 1942 by the Japanese, and became a POW for the rest of the war. Among his belongings were a Japanese sword, POW letters sent to him at various Japanese prison camps, and Script for the Wake Canteen. These stood out to me as I hadn't seen any like it. Its rare enough to see anything attributed to pre war Wake island. What I cant seem to figure out is how he acquired these? I know his ship had left Pearl Harbor and was at sea when Pearl and Wake were attacked by the Japanese.

 

The Veterans son stated that he believes his father was given these by other prisoners, earned from poker games while a POW. His war possessions were kept because he hid them inside of a small pillow that he carried with him throughout the war. Anyway I thought I'd share these with you guys. I will also add pictures of the other items belonging to this veteran.

 

Thanks,

Adrian

 

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Patchcollector

Interesting items in amazingly decent shape considering what they went through

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KASTAUFFER

Those are really cool. I have some POW mail to members of the 131st FA ( The lost battalion ).

 

Kurt

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KASTAUFFER

Some of the Lost Bn men were sent to the Shanghai War Prisoners camp and NOT kept in Thailand and Burma. Most of the Marines, Civilians, and Naval personnel captured on Wake were sent to Shanghai. My guess is he got them in trade from a Marine or Civilian in Shanghai. Those chits are from the Civilian Canteen.

 

Kurt

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Adrian6256

Here is a letter he used to write where he had been during the war. Notice it starts with "Nov. 10th Camp Bowie" Texas, and ends with "Aug. 15th War over. "

 

 

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KASTAUFFER

Looks like he went to Japan in late 1942. There were Wake survivors in Japan at some of the camps. I have POW mail from Wake survivors in various POW camps in Japan. That must be where he got those Chits.

 

Kurt

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Adrian6256

Looks like he went to Japan in late 1942. There were Wake survivors in Japan at some of the camps. I have POW mail from Wake survivors in various POW camps in Japan. That must be where he got those Chits.

 

Kurt

 

Yes, thats exactly rightI also have two letters addressed to Yokwoka Camp Japan. i will post those photos shortly. He stated that his fathers camp was not far from the city of Hiroshima, He also mentioned his father was put to work at a ship yard in Japan.

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Undoubtedly scarce items. I actively collect WWII chits and have never seen any Wake pieces.

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Adrian6256

Here are a few more photos of items he carried with him, Unfortunately the family preferred I not share his name, so I used photoshop to remove the names from the envelopes and card.

 

 

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Adrian6256

Here is another letter he received while in captivity, remember i removed the name using photoshop so I could share them with you guys. I was told he kept these cigarettes as currency, and he had always kept them with his belongings from the war.

 

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Adrian6256

And Finally, Here is the sword that he picked up when his camp was liberated at the end of the war. There were more items in this grouping, but these were by far the most interesting that I wanted to share with you guys.



Thanks,


Adrian



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KASTAUFFER

Thanks for posting! That first cover also says Fukuoka, not Yokwoka. They just had hard to read hand writing. I am fairly certain that is a Fukuoka censor mark on the cover too. I will check it when I get home.

 

Kurt

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