0:00 September 12th, 1944 1347 hours South China Sea 250 miles northeast of Luzon
0:10 lieutenant James O'connor pressed his face
0:12 against the steel bulkhead of the Rakuyo Maru's cargo hold gasping for
0:17 air that barely existed around him 1,318 Allied prisoners of war sat
0:25 packed so tightly that when one man fainted he remained upright
0:30 held in place by the crushing weight of bodies on all sides the stench was beyond description
0:37 human waste vomit infected wounds and the sweet smell of men dying
0:44 no ventilation reached the holds no food had been distributed in three days
0:50 the Japanese guards had sealed the hatches leaving the prisoners to suffocate slowly
0:55 in temperatures that exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit
1:00 Oconnor had survived three years as a prisoner since the fall of Baton
1:05 he thought he understood the depths of human cruelty
1:09 but the Hell Ships Japanese transports moving prisoners from Southeast Asia
1:14 to slave labor in Japan represented a new form of systematic murder
1:19 disguised as transportation when the torpedo explosions
1:23 ripped through the hull at thirteen fifty hours
1:26 o'connor's first thought was relief death by drowning seemed merciful
1:32 compared to slow suffocation in the ship's steel tomb
1:36 what he couldn't have imagined was that salvation would come from the very enemy
1:41 he expected to machine gun survivors in the water the maritime death system
1:47 the Japanese Hellship program had been operating since 1942
1:52 transporting over 126,000 Allied prisoners of war from camps in the Philippines
1:58 Java Singapore and other conquered
2:01 territories to slave labor sites in Japan Korea and Manchuria
2:07 the transports operated according to logistics that treated human cargo
2:11 as less valuable than military supplies with mortality rates that
2:16 exceeded 20% during voyages the ships themselves were converted cargo vessels
2:22 oil tankers and ancient freighters never designed for human transport
2:27 prisoners were loaded into holds originally intended for coal
2:31 ore or livestock with no modifications for basic human needs
2:36 ventilation systems were sealed to prevent escapes
2:40 sanitation facilities were non existent medical care was prohibited
2:45 the mathematical precision of the suffering was deliberate Japanese military planners
2:51 calculated that some prisoner deaths during transport
2:54 were acceptable losses provided sufficient numbers survived
2:58 to provide useful labor the system operated with
3:02 bureaucratic efficiency that documented cargo loads
3:06 transport schedules and delivery quotas while ignoring the human cost of achieving
3:11 those logistics ship captains received orders to maintain
3:15 secrecy about prisoner cargo often sailing without proper markings
3:20 that would identify vessels as carrying prisoners of war
3:24 this deception made the transports legitimate targets for Allied submarines
3:28 and aircraft creating situations where prisoners faced death from their own forces
3:34 attacks on unmarked Japanese vessels life in the steel coffins
3:39 the conditions aboard hell ships defied human endurance
3:43 yet thousands of men survived voyages that lasted weeks or months
3:47 through some of the most dangerous waters in the Pacific
3:50 the holds became laboratories of human degradation
3:54 where men Learned the absolute limits of physical and psychological survival
3:59 private George Reynolds of the Manchester Regiment
4:02 had been captured at Singapore in February 1942
4:06 Two years of imprisonment had reduced his weight from 165 pounds to 98 pounds
4:13 but the Hell Ship voyage on the Hofuku Maru pushed him to the edge of death
4:18 through systematic deprivation that exceeded anything he had
4:22 previously experienced we were packed standing up
4:25 Reynolds wrote in testimony recorded after his rescue
4:29 no room to sit no room to lie down men passed out and stayed upright
4:35 because there was nowhere to fall the heat was like being inside a furnace
4:41 sweat dripped constantly but there was no water to drink
4:45 men went mad from thirst the darkness was complete
4:49 except when guards occasionally opened hatches to remove corpses or distribute minimal rations
4:56 prisoners Learned to distinguish day from night by subtle temperature changes
5:01 and the rhythm of ship operations above their heads
5:05 time became meaningless in an environment where
5:07 each hour felt like eternity disease spread rapidly through the confined space
5:14 dysentery was universal creating sanitation
5:17 conditions that defied description men with fever burned against neighbors
5:22 who couldn't move away from the heat infected wounds went untreated
5:28 spreading gangrene and sepsis that killed slowly and painfully the Baton veterans
5:35 many hellship prisoners were survivors of the Baton
5:37 Death march and subsequent imprisonment at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan
5:43 these men had already endured systematic starvation
5:46 disease and brutality that had killed thousands of their comrades
5:51 the Hellship voyages represented a final stage of suffering
5:55 that tested survival skills Learned through years of captivity
6:00 Sergeant Mike Kowalski had marched the length of Batang in April 1942
6:06 watched friends die from malaria and dysentery at O'Donnell and survived work details
6:11 that were designed to kill prisoners through exhaustion his experience had taught him
6:17 that survival required absolute mental discipline and careful conservation of physical resources
6:23 the march was horrible the camps were worse but the ship was hell itself
6:28 Kowalski testified on the march you could still breathe in the camps
6:34 there was still sky above you on the ship you couldn't tell if
6:38 you were alive or dead men talked to corpses
6:42 couldn't tell the difference anymore the Bataan veterans
6:46 often became leaders among hellship prisoners using survival techniques
6:50 Learned during previous ordeals to help organize whatever
6:54 cooperation was possible in the cramped conditions
6:57 they established systems for sharing water supporting sick men and maintaining
7:03 discipline that prevented complete chaos their experience with Japanese captivity
7:08 had taught them to expect brutality but the Hell Ships
7:12 exceeded even their understanding of systematic cruelty
7:16 the complete indifference to prisoner welfare represented a level of dehumanization
7:21 that challenged their ability to maintain hope for eventual liberation
7:26 the Submarine War the American submarine campaign against Japanese shipping
7:31 had intensified dramatically by 1944 sinking over 600 Japanese vessels during the year
7:38 and effectively cutting Japan's maritime supply lines
7:41 to its conquered territories the submarines operated throughout Japanese
7:46 controlled waters attacking any vessel that could support
7:50 the enemy war effort The USS Pampanito under command of Lieutenant
7:54 Commander Paul Summers was conducting its sixth war patrol
7:58 in September 1944 when it encountered Convoy Mota 30
8:03 carrying prisoners from the Philippines to Japan the submarine's primary mission was
8:08 attacking Japanese shipping with strict orders to sink enemy vessels on site
8:14 the convoy included the Rakuyo Maru and Kachidoki Maru
8:19 both carrying over 2,000 Allied prisoners of war
8:22 along with Japanese personnel and military supplies
8:26 neither ship displayed markings indicating prisoner cargo
8:30 making them legitimate targets under international law
8:33 and operational orders that governed submarine warfare
8:37 submarine crews had been briefed on the possibility
8:40 of Japanese vessels carrying Allied prisoners but intelligence about specific ships was often
8:46 incomplete or non existent the decision to attack or investigate
8:51 required split second judgments that could mean the difference
8:54 between successful missions and lost opportunities the attack
8:59 at 2159 hours on September 12th, 1944 USS Pampanito fired four torpedoes
9:07 at the Rakuyo Maru from a range of 1,800 yards
9:13 two torpedoes struck the vessel amidships causing massive explosions that ruptured the hull
9:19 and started fires throughout the ship the vessel began sinking immediately
9:25 listing heavily to starboard as water flooded the damaged compartments
9:30 the torpedo explosions killed hundreds of prisoners
9:33 instantly either from direct
9:35 blast effects or crushing injuries as steel bulkheads collapsed
9:40 those who survived the initial impact faced the nightmare of escaping from sealed holds
9:45 that were rapidly flooding with seawater mixed with oil and debris
9:50 lieutenant O'connor found himself thrown against the bulkhead
9:54 by the first explosion his right arm broken by flying metal
9:58 around him men screamed in languages he couldn't identify as water
10:03 began pouring through torn plates in the ship's hull
10:07 the guards had abandoned their posts leaving the prisoners
10:11 sealed in holds that would become death traps within minutes
10:16 the ship was breaking apart around us O'connor recalled
10:20 men were clawing at the hatches trying to get out but they were locked from above
10:26 water was rising fast and we could hear the ship's death sounds
10:30 metal tearing steam escaping the roar of rushing water
10:35 I thought we would all drown like rats in a trap some prisoners
10:40 managed to break through weakened hatches or squeeze through blast holes
10:44 that had torn open escape routes others drowned in the holds
10:49 as the ship settled deeper in the water the survivors who reached the surface
10:54 faced a new challenge staying alive in shark infested waters
10:58 while oil fires burned around the sinking vessel into the dark water
11:04 the South China Sea at night became a floating hell
11:08 where hundreds of men struggled to survive in water contaminated with fuel oil
11:13 debris and blood from the wounded the ocean temperature was warm
11:17 enough to prevent immediate hypothermia but exhaustion dehydration
11:22 and infected wounds created deadly conditions for men
11:26 already weakened by years of captivity the prisoners who escaped the sinking ships
11:32 faced immediate threats from oil fires floating debris
11:36 and the possibility of additional submarine attacks
11:40 many couldn't swim well enough to stay afloat for extended periods
11:44 while others were too weak from malnutrition to maintain themselves in the water
11:49 without support makeshift flotation devices
11:53 wooden planks empty barrels life preservers salvaged from the wreckage
11:59 became lifelines for men who had to choose between
12:02 sharing limited resources or fighting for individual survival
12:07 the same cooperation that had sustained them during captivity
12:11 now determined who would live long enough to be rescued
12:14 Sergeant Reynolds found himself clinging to a piece of wooden decking
12:18 with five other men including two who were unconscious
12:22 from injuries sustained during the sinking the oil slick burning around them
12:27 created a moving wall of fire that forced constant movement
12:32 to avoid being trapped by flames we took turns holding up the unconscious men
12:38 Reynolds testified nobody talked much we were all too weak too scared
12:45 but we kept each other alive after three years of the
12:48 Jap's treating us like animals we weren't going to let each other die
12:52 now that we had a chance the rescue decision three days after the attack
12:58 submarines U s s Pampanito and U
13:01 s s Sealion
13:02 returned to the area to conduct damage assessment and search for additional targets
13:08 the crews expected to find empty ocean and scattered debris from the destroyed convoy
13:14 instead they discovered over 150 Allied prisoners of war
13:18 floating in life rafts and clinging to wreckage the discovery created an immediate
13:23 tactical dilemma for submarine commanders
13:26 operating in enemy controlled waters rescue operations
13:30 would require surfacing for extended periods making the submarines vulnerable to air attacks
13:36 and enemy vessels the boats were designed for combat operations
13:41 not humanitarian missions with limited space
13:44 and supplies for additional personnel Lieutenant Commander Summers
13:49 faced a decision that would define his career and the lives of men floating in the water
13:53 around his submarine orders called for continuing patrol operations
13:59 but Navy regulations also mandated assistance to survivors
14:03 when operationally feasible the presence of Allied prisoners complicated
14:08 both legal and moral calculations we could see them waving at us
14:13 recalled torpedo man 1st Class Richard O'kane they were calling out in English
14:19 begging us to pick them up some of them were dying right there in the water
14:24 the skipper didn't hesitate he ordered emergency surface
14:27 and rescue operations we knew the risks
14:30 but we couldn't leave our own people to die the moment of recognition
14:36 for prisoners floating in the South China Sea the sight of American submarines surfacing nearby
14:43 created emotions that exceeded relief or gratitude
14:47 men who had expected death from their own forces weapons instead
14:51 found salvation from the same submarines that had torpedoed their ships
14:56 the initial contact between rescue crews and prisoners
15:00 revealed the extent of physical and psychological damage
15:03 inflicted by years of captivity followed by days of exposure at sea
15:09 many survivors were too weak to swim to the submarines
15:13 and had to be physically pulled from the water by rescue swimmers
15:17 Lieutenant O'connor had been floating for 72 hours
15:20 when USS Pampanito surfaced nearby his broken arm had become infected
15:25 and delirium from dehydration made him initially suspicious of the rescue
15:30 attempt when American sailors threw him a line he hesitated uncertain
15:36 whether he was hallucinating or facing another form of Japanese deception
15:41 I couldn't believe what I was seeing O'connor recalled a few days ago
15:46 these same submarines had been trying to kill us now they were risking their lives to save us
15:52 when that sailor grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the deck
15:56 I started crying I hadn't cried since baton but I couldn't stop the tears
16:03 the physical contact with American personnel created immediate psychological relief
16:08 that exceeded the comfort of rescue itself for men who had been treated
16:12 as subhuman for years being addressed by name offered assistance
16:17 and treated with dignity represented restoration of basic humanity
16:21 that captivity had systematically destroyed aboard the rescuing submarines
16:27 the interior of American submarines provided sharp contrast
16:32 to the conditions prisoners had endured during captivity and the hellship voyage
16:37 clean well ventilated spaces with adequate lighting and temperature control
16:42 created environments that seemed luxurious to men accustomed to systematic deprivation
16:49 the submarine crews immediately provided medical attention
16:53 food and clothing to rescued prisoners who arrived aboard
16:56 suffering from malnutrition dehydration infected wounds and exhaustion
17:02 the submarine's medical facilities though limited
17:06 represented the first professional medical care many prisoners had received since capture
17:12 Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class Tommy Martinez had trained for combat medicine
17:18 not treating prisoners of war who had survived years of systematic starvation
17:23 and abuse his medical supplies were designed for treating
17:27 submarine crew injuries not the complex health problems
17:32 presented by severely malnourished survivors they were skin and bones Martinez recalled
17:39 some weighed maybe 80 pounds covered with sores missing teeth
17:44 showing signs of diseases I'd only read about in medical books
17:48 but their eyes when you gave them food real food their eyes lit up
17:53 like they couldn't believe it was real wow
17:57 the galley crews prepared special meals for rescued prisoners whose digestive systems
18:02 couldn't handle normal submarine food after years of inadequate nutrition soup
18:08 soft bread and easily digestible foods were served in small portions
18:13 designed to rebuild strength gradually without causing additional medical complications
18:19 the psychological impact the experience of being rescued by former enemies
18:25 created psychological effects that challenged prisoners
18:28 understanding of warfare nationality and human nature
18:33 men who had been conditioned to expect death from American forces
18:37 instead received life saving assistance that forced fundamental re
18:41 evaluation of their assumptions about their captors
18:44 and rescuers the contrast between Japanese treatment
18:47 during captivity and American treatment during rescue
18:51 was so stark that many survivors
18:53 initially suspected deception or propaganda
18:57 the genuine kindness shown by submarine crews gradually convinced them
19:01 that their circumstances had fundamentally changed
19:04 but acceptance required time and repeated evidence
19:08 Corporal Bill Henderson rescued by USS Cullen described the psychological adjustment
19:15 for three years any uniform meant trouble Japanese guards Korean guards
19:21 civilian supervisors they all meant beatings starvation humiliation
19:27 when I saw American uniforms my first instinct was still fear
19:31 it took days to understand that these men were trying to help not hurt me
19:36 the submarine crews also experienced psychological challenges in treating men
19:41 whose condition revealed the extent of Japanese war crimes
19:46 many sailors had to confront evidence of systematic cruelty
19:49 that exceeded their previous understanding of enemy behavior
19:53 and created lasting anger toward Japanese forces the medical challenges
19:58 treating rescued hellship survivors required medical improvisation
20:03 that exceeded standard submarine medical capabilities
20:07 the prisoners arrived with complex health problems
20:10 resulting from years of malnutrition disease and injury
20:14 that had received no proper medical attention dehydration was universal among the survivors
20:21 but standard rehydration procedures had to be modified
20:25 for men whose kidneys and circulatory systems had been compromised by prolonged starvation
20:31 intravenous fluids were administered slowly to prevent shock
20:35 that could prove fatal to severely weakened patients
20:39 skin conditions resulting from vitamin deficiencies
20:42 poor hygiene and exposure to tropical diseases required treatments
20:47 that weren't available in submarine medical supplies
20:50 improvised remedies using available materials provided some relief
20:55 but many conditions required extended medical treatment
20:59 that submarines couldn't provide psychological trauma
21:02 manifested in behaviors that submarine crews found difficult to understand
21:07 or address some survivors hoarded food
21:11 unable to believe that more would be provided others remained hyper vigilant
21:16 expecting punishment or violence despite obvious evidence of their rescuers
21:21 good intentions the food revolution
21:24 access to adequate food aboard American submarines
21:27 created immediate physical and psychological changes among rescued prisoners
21:32 who had been systematically starved for years the availability of calories
21:38 proteins and vitamins that had been denied during captivity
21:42 began restoring both physical health and mental clarity the submarine
21:48 galleys provided foods that most prisoners hadn't seen
21:51 since before their capture fresh bread canned meat vegetables
21:55 fruit coffee and sugar these items represented not just nutrition
22:01 but symbols of the abundance that characterized Allied supply systems
22:05 compared to Japanese scarcity the psychological impact of unlimited food access
22:11 was often as dramatic as the physical effects men who had been fighting for scraps
22:17 began experiencing difficulty eating adequate amounts
22:22 their stomachs having adapted to starvation level nutrition
22:25 over years of captivity cook second class Bobby Chen
22:30 prepared special meals for rescued prisoners learning to adjust portions and ingredients
22:36 for men whose digestive
22:38 systems required careful refeeding his galley became a center for recovery
22:44 where food served as medicine for both body and spirit
22:48 the personal connections extended contact between submarine crews and rescued prisoners
22:54 created personal relationships that transcended the formal
22:58 military relationships typical of wartime service the intimate conditions aboard submarines
23:03 fostered conversations and friendships that helped both groups process
23:08 their wartime experiences many submarine crew members were young men
23:12 serving in their first major combat assignment while rescued prisoners were often older soldiers
23:19 with extensive combat and captivity experience these generational and experiential differences
23:26 created learning opportunities that benefited both groups
23:30 prisoners shared stories of survival techniques cultural observations from their captivity
23:36 and intelligence information about Japanese operations
23:39 that proved valuable for future submarine missions
23:44 their experiences provided human context for the war
23:48 that helped submarine crews understand the broader impact of their combat operations
23:54 submarine personnel shared news from home updates on the war's progress
23:59 and optimistic assessments about Allied victory that helped prisoners understand
24:04 how much the strategic situation had changed during their captivity this
24:10 information provided hope that had been systematically denied
24:13 during imprisonment the continuing patrol the submarines carrying rescued prisoners
24:20 had to continue their patrol missions while providing care for men
24:24 who required constant medical attention and psychological support this dual mission
24:30 created operational challenges that tested the vessel's capabilities
24:34 and crews adaptability space limitations aboard submarines
24:39 meant that rescued prisoners had to share quarters
24:42 designed for much smaller crews sleeping arrangements sanitation facilities
24:48 and recreational space all required creative solutions
24:52 that maintained submarine operational capability while a
24:56 accommodating humanitarian obligations the psychological stress of
25:00 continued combat operations while caring for traumatized survivors
25:06 affected submarine crews who found themselves balancing military duties
25:10 with humanitarian responsibilities some crew members
25:14 struggled with anger toward Japanese forces after witnessing evidence of
25:18 prisoner mistreatment combat effectiveness
25:21 remained the primary mission requirement but the presence of rescued prisoners
25:26 provided additional motivation for submarine crews
25:29 who now understood the personal stakes involved in their attacks on Japanese shipping
25:34 and installations the intelligence value rescued hellship survivors
25:39 provided valuable intelligence about Japanese prisoner
25:43 handling transportation routes camp conditions and military operations
25:48 they had observed during captivity this information helped Allied forces
25:53 plan rescue operations and prepare for prisoner recovery
25:57 during future campaigns the prisoner's knowledge of Japanese logistics
26:01 revealed patterns in prisoner transportation that helped submarine commanders identify
26:07 likely hellship routes and target vessels that might be carrying Allied personnel
26:13 this intelligence contributed to more effective rescue operations
26:17 during subsequent encounters information about Japanese industrial operations
26:22 where prisoners had been forced to work provided targeting data for bombing campaigns
26:27 and sabotage operations the survivors detailed
26:31 knowledge of factory layouts production schedules and security procedures
26:36 proved valuable for military planning medical intelligence about diseases
26:41 malnutrition effects and survival techniques helped Allied medical personnel prepare
26:48 for treating liberated prisoners during future operations
26:52 the health data documented the systematic nature of Japanese prisoner mistreatment
26:57 and provided evidence for war crimes prosecutions the delivery to safety
27:02 the submarines carrying rescued Hellship survivors
27:06 faced the challenge of delivering their human cargo
27:09 to appropriate medical facilities while maintaining operational security
27:14 and continuing their patrol missions the solutions required coordination
27:18 with allied naval forces and modification of standard operational procedures
27:24 USS Pampanito and USS Cullen arranged rendezvous with hospital ships
27:29 and transport vessels that could provide specialized
27:32 medical care for rescued prisoners the transfer operations required
27:37 surfacing in waters where Japanese forces
27:40 might detect and attack the submarines the rescued prisoners experienced mixed emotions
27:46 during transfer to hospital ships grateful for continued medical care
27:50 but reluctant to leave crews who had saved their lives
27:54 personal bonds formed during submarine rescue created lasting relationships
27:59 that many survivors maintained long after the war ended
28:03 medical personnel aboard hospital ships found themselves treating patients
28:08 whose conditions exceeded standard combat casualty protocols
28:12 the rescued hellship survivors required specialized care
28:16 that addressed not just immediate medical needs but long term rehabilitation
28:21 from systematic mistreatment the medical recovery the physical rehabilitation
28:27 of rescued hellship survivors required months
28:30 or years of specialized medical treatment that addressed both immediate health crises
28:36 and long term damage from systematic malnutrition and abuse
28:40 many survivors faced permanent health consequences
28:43 from their captivity experience weight restoration proceeded slowly
28:48 under medical supervision that prevented refeeding syndrome
28:52 and other complications that could prove fatal to severely malnourished patients
28:57 nutritional rehabilitation required careful monitoring
29:01 and gradual increases in caloric intake that allowed digestive systems to
29:06 recover gradually dental problems
29:09 resulting from malnutrition and lack of hygiene
29:12 required extensive treatment that often included extraction of damaged teeth
29:16 and treatment of advanced gum disease many survivors required dentures
29:22 or other dental prosthetics to restore basic eating capability
29:26 psychological recovery proved more challenging than
29:29 physical rehabilitation for many survivors who struggled with trauma related symptoms
29:35 that persisted long after their physical health improved
29:39 mental health treatment in the 1940s was limited but some survivors received pioneering therapy
29:45 for what would later be recognized as post traumatic
29:49 stress disorder the psychological transformation the experience of being rescued by former enemies
29:56 created lasting psychological changes among hellship survivors
30:00 who had to reconcile their previous understanding of warfare
30:04 with evidence of enemy humanity and compassion this transformation influenced their post war
30:10 attitudes toward international relations and conflict resolution
30:15 many survivors became advocates for international humanitarian law and prisoner Protection
30:21 using their experiences to promote treaties and conventions
30:25 that would prevent similar systematic abuse during future conflicts
30:30 their testimony provided human context for legal frameworks
30:34 governing prisoner treatment the contrast between Japanese cruelty
30:38 and American mercy influenced survivors understanding of democratic values
30:44 and individual human rights many became supporters of
30:47 democratic political systems and international cooperation
30:51 based on their direct experience of different approaches to human dignity
30:56 some survivors struggled to forgive their Japanese captors
31:00 while maintaining gratitude toward their American rescuers
31:04 the psychological complexity of hatred and gratitude
31:07 existing simultaneously required personal reconciliation that took years
31:13 or decades to achieve the final Testament decades after the war ended
31:19 hellship survivors continued to credit their American rescuers with
31:23 not just saving their lives but restoring their faith in human decency
31:28 after years of systematic cruelty the rescue operations represented turning points
31:33 that transformed hatred into hope and despair
31:37 into determination to rebuild meaningful lives the physical scars of captivity faded over time
31:44 but the psychological impact of being rescued by former enemies remained vivid
31:50 throughout survivors'lives many described the moment of rescue as their
31:55 spiritual rebirth when they Learned that human kindness
31:59 could overcome systematic evil the submarine crews
32:02 who pulled dying men from the South China Sea proved that America's greatest strength lay
32:08 not in its weapons or industrial capacity but in its willingness to risk everything
32:13 to save human lives even enemy lives in those desperate moments
32:18 when submarines surfaced in hostile waters to rescue drowning prisoners
32:23 the true meaning of democratic values was written on the dark waters of the Pacific
32:28 not in words but in actions that
32:30 transformed enemies into brothers and hatred into hope
32:33 for a world where mercy could triumph over vengeance
32:37 where humanity could survive even the deepest cruelty
32:40 and where former foes could find common ground
32:43 in the simple recognition that every life was worth saving
32:47 regardless of the uniform it had worn or the flag it had served