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Japanese ‘Hell Ships’ Prisoners Couldn’t Believe American Soldiers Rescued Them

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This content details the horrific conditions aboard Japanese "Hell Ships" during World War II, where Allied prisoners of war were systematically starved, abused, and transported in inhumane conditions, and recounts the dramatic rescue of survivors by American submarines, highlighting the profound impact of this act of mercy.

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September 12th, 1944 1347 hours South China Sea 250 miles northeast of Luzon

lieutenant James O'connor pressed his face

against the steel bulkhead of the Rakuyo Maru's cargo hold gasping for

air that barely existed around him 1,318 Allied prisoners of war sat

packed so tightly that when one man fainted he remained upright

held in place by the crushing weight of bodies on all sides the stench was beyond description

human waste vomit infected wounds and the sweet smell of men dying

no ventilation reached the holds no food had been distributed in three days

the Japanese guards had sealed the hatches leaving the prisoners to suffocate slowly

in temperatures that exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Oconnor had survived three years as a prisoner since the fall of Baton

he thought he understood the depths of human cruelty

but the Hell Ships Japanese transports moving prisoners from Southeast Asia

to slave labor in Japan represented a new form of systematic murder

disguised as transportation when the torpedo explosions

ripped through the hull at thirteen fifty hours

o'connor's first thought was relief death by drowning seemed merciful

compared to slow suffocation in the ship's steel tomb

what he couldn't have imagined was that salvation would come from the very enemy

he expected to machine gun survivors in the water the maritime death system

the Japanese Hellship program had been operating since 1942

transporting over 126,000 Allied prisoners of war from camps in the Philippines

Java Singapore and other conquered

territories to slave labor sites in Japan Korea and Manchuria

the transports operated according to logistics that treated human cargo

as less valuable than military supplies with mortality rates that

exceeded 20% during voyages the ships themselves were converted cargo vessels

oil tankers and ancient freighters never designed for human transport

prisoners were loaded into holds originally intended for coal

ore or livestock with no modifications for basic human needs

ventilation systems were sealed to prevent escapes

sanitation facilities were non existent medical care was prohibited

the mathematical precision of the suffering was deliberate Japanese military planners

calculated that some prisoner deaths during transport

were acceptable losses provided sufficient numbers survived

to provide useful labor the system operated with

bureaucratic efficiency that documented cargo loads

transport schedules and delivery quotas while ignoring the human cost of achieving

those logistics ship captains received orders to maintain

secrecy about prisoner cargo often sailing without proper markings

that would identify vessels as carrying prisoners of war

this deception made the transports legitimate targets for Allied submarines

and aircraft creating situations where prisoners faced death from their own forces

attacks on unmarked Japanese vessels life in the steel coffins

the conditions aboard hell ships defied human endurance

yet thousands of men survived voyages that lasted weeks or months

through some of the most dangerous waters in the Pacific

the holds became laboratories of human degradation

where men Learned the absolute limits of physical and psychological survival

private George Reynolds of the Manchester Regiment

had been captured at Singapore in February 1942

Two years of imprisonment had reduced his weight from 165 pounds to 98 pounds

but the Hell Ship voyage on the Hofuku Maru pushed him to the edge of death

through systematic deprivation that exceeded anything he had

previously experienced we were packed standing up

Reynolds wrote in testimony recorded after his rescue

no room to sit no room to lie down men passed out and stayed upright

because there was nowhere to fall the heat was like being inside a furnace

sweat dripped constantly but there was no water to drink

men went mad from thirst the darkness was complete

except when guards occasionally opened hatches to remove corpses or distribute minimal rations

prisoners Learned to distinguish day from night by subtle temperature changes

and the rhythm of ship operations above their heads

time became meaningless in an environment where

each hour felt like eternity disease spread rapidly through the confined space

dysentery was universal creating sanitation

conditions that defied description men with fever burned against neighbors

who couldn't move away from the heat infected wounds went untreated

spreading gangrene and sepsis that killed slowly and painfully the Baton veterans

many hellship prisoners were survivors of the Baton

Death march and subsequent imprisonment at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan

these men had already endured systematic starvation

disease and brutality that had killed thousands of their comrades

the Hellship voyages represented a final stage of suffering

that tested survival skills Learned through years of captivity

Sergeant Mike Kowalski had marched the length of Batang in April 1942

watched friends die from malaria and dysentery at O'Donnell and survived work details

that were designed to kill prisoners through exhaustion his experience had taught him

that survival required absolute mental discipline and careful conservation of physical resources

the march was horrible the camps were worse but the ship was hell itself

Kowalski testified on the march you could still breathe in the camps

there was still sky above you on the ship you couldn't tell if

you were alive or dead men talked to corpses

couldn't tell the difference anymore the Bataan veterans

often became leaders among hellship prisoners using survival techniques

Learned during previous ordeals to help organize whatever

cooperation was possible in the cramped conditions

they established systems for sharing water supporting sick men and maintaining

discipline that prevented complete chaos their experience with Japanese captivity

had taught them to expect brutality but the Hell Ships

exceeded even their understanding of systematic cruelty

the complete indifference to prisoner welfare represented a level of dehumanization

that challenged their ability to maintain hope for eventual liberation

the Submarine War the American submarine campaign against Japanese shipping

had intensified dramatically by 1944 sinking over 600 Japanese vessels during the year

and effectively cutting Japan's maritime supply lines

to its conquered territories the submarines operated throughout Japanese

controlled waters attacking any vessel that could support

the enemy war effort The USS Pampanito under command of Lieutenant

Commander Paul Summers was conducting its sixth war patrol

in September 1944 when it encountered Convoy Mota 30

carrying prisoners from the Philippines to Japan the submarine's primary mission was

attacking Japanese shipping with strict orders to sink enemy vessels on site

the convoy included the Rakuyo Maru and Kachidoki Maru

both carrying over 2,000 Allied prisoners of war

along with Japanese personnel and military supplies

neither ship displayed markings indicating prisoner cargo

making them legitimate targets under international law

and operational orders that governed submarine warfare

submarine crews had been briefed on the possibility

of Japanese vessels carrying Allied prisoners but intelligence about specific ships was often

incomplete or non existent the decision to attack or investigate

required split second judgments that could mean the difference

between successful missions and lost opportunities the attack

at 2159 hours on September 12th, 1944 USS Pampanito fired four torpedoes

at the Rakuyo Maru from a range of 1,800 yards

two torpedoes struck the vessel amidships causing massive explosions that ruptured the hull

and started fires throughout the ship the vessel began sinking immediately

listing heavily to starboard as water flooded the damaged compartments

the torpedo explosions killed hundreds of prisoners

instantly either from direct

blast effects or crushing injuries as steel bulkheads collapsed

those who survived the initial impact faced the nightmare of escaping from sealed holds

that were rapidly flooding with seawater mixed with oil and debris

lieutenant O'connor found himself thrown against the bulkhead

by the first explosion his right arm broken by flying metal

around him men screamed in languages he couldn't identify as water

began pouring through torn plates in the ship's hull

the guards had abandoned their posts leaving the prisoners

sealed in holds that would become death traps within minutes

the ship was breaking apart around us O'connor recalled

men were clawing at the hatches trying to get out but they were locked from above

water was rising fast and we could hear the ship's death sounds

metal tearing steam escaping the roar of rushing water

I thought we would all drown like rats in a trap some prisoners

managed to break through weakened hatches or squeeze through blast holes

that had torn open escape routes others drowned in the holds

as the ship settled deeper in the water the survivors who reached the surface

faced a new challenge staying alive in shark infested waters

while oil fires burned around the sinking vessel into the dark water

the South China Sea at night became a floating hell

where hundreds of men struggled to survive in water contaminated with fuel oil

debris and blood from the wounded the ocean temperature was warm

enough to prevent immediate hypothermia but exhaustion dehydration

and infected wounds created deadly conditions for men

already weakened by years of captivity the prisoners who escaped the sinking ships

faced immediate threats from oil fires floating debris

and the possibility of additional submarine attacks

many couldn't swim well enough to stay afloat for extended periods

while others were too weak from malnutrition to maintain themselves in the water

without support makeshift flotation devices

wooden planks empty barrels life preservers salvaged from the wreckage

became lifelines for men who had to choose between

sharing limited resources or fighting for individual survival

the same cooperation that had sustained them during captivity

now determined who would live long enough to be rescued

Sergeant Reynolds found himself clinging to a piece of wooden decking

with five other men including two who were unconscious

from injuries sustained during the sinking the oil slick burning around them

created a moving wall of fire that forced constant movement

to avoid being trapped by flames we took turns holding up the unconscious men

Reynolds testified nobody talked much we were all too weak too scared

but we kept each other alive after three years of the

Jap's treating us like animals we weren't going to let each other die

now that we had a chance the rescue decision three days after the attack

submarines U s s Pampanito and U

s s Sealion

returned to the area to conduct damage assessment and search for additional targets

the crews expected to find empty ocean and scattered debris from the destroyed convoy

instead they discovered over 150 Allied prisoners of war

floating in life rafts and clinging to wreckage the discovery created an immediate

tactical dilemma for submarine commanders

operating in enemy controlled waters rescue operations

would require surfacing for extended periods making the submarines vulnerable to air attacks

and enemy vessels the boats were designed for combat operations

not humanitarian missions with limited space

and supplies for additional personnel Lieutenant Commander Summers

faced a decision that would define his career and the lives of men floating in the water

around his submarine orders called for continuing patrol operations

but Navy regulations also mandated assistance to survivors

when operationally feasible the presence of Allied prisoners complicated

both legal and moral calculations we could see them waving at us

recalled torpedo man 1st Class Richard O'kane they were calling out in English

begging us to pick them up some of them were dying right there in the water

the skipper didn't hesitate he ordered emergency surface

and rescue operations we knew the risks

but we couldn't leave our own people to die the moment of recognition

for prisoners floating in the South China Sea the sight of American submarines surfacing nearby

created emotions that exceeded relief or gratitude

men who had expected death from their own forces weapons instead

found salvation from the same submarines that had torpedoed their ships

the initial contact between rescue crews and prisoners

revealed the extent of physical and psychological damage

inflicted by years of captivity followed by days of exposure at sea

many survivors were too weak to swim to the submarines

and had to be physically pulled from the water by rescue swimmers

Lieutenant O'connor had been floating for 72 hours

when USS Pampanito surfaced nearby his broken arm had become infected

and delirium from dehydration made him initially suspicious of the rescue

attempt when American sailors threw him a line he hesitated uncertain

whether he was hallucinating or facing another form of Japanese deception

I couldn't believe what I was seeing O'connor recalled a few days ago

these same submarines had been trying to kill us now they were risking their lives to save us

when that sailor grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the deck

I started crying I hadn't cried since baton but I couldn't stop the tears

the physical contact with American personnel created immediate psychological relief

that exceeded the comfort of rescue itself for men who had been treated

as subhuman for years being addressed by name offered assistance

and treated with dignity represented restoration of basic humanity

that captivity had systematically destroyed aboard the rescuing submarines

the interior of American submarines provided sharp contrast

to the conditions prisoners had endured during captivity and the hellship voyage

clean well ventilated spaces with adequate lighting and temperature control

created environments that seemed luxurious to men accustomed to systematic deprivation

the submarine crews immediately provided medical attention

food and clothing to rescued prisoners who arrived aboard

suffering from malnutrition dehydration infected wounds and exhaustion

the submarine's medical facilities though limited

represented the first professional medical care many prisoners had received since capture

Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class Tommy Martinez had trained for combat medicine

not treating prisoners of war who had survived years of systematic starvation

and abuse his medical supplies were designed for treating

submarine crew injuries not the complex health problems

presented by severely malnourished survivors they were skin and bones Martinez recalled

some weighed maybe 80 pounds covered with sores missing teeth

showing signs of diseases I'd only read about in medical books

but their eyes when you gave them food real food their eyes lit up

like they couldn't believe it was real wow

the galley crews prepared special meals for rescued prisoners whose digestive systems

couldn't handle normal submarine food after years of inadequate nutrition soup

soft bread and easily digestible foods were served in small portions

designed to rebuild strength gradually without causing additional medical complications

the psychological impact the experience of being rescued by former enemies

created psychological effects that challenged prisoners

understanding of warfare nationality and human nature

men who had been conditioned to expect death from American forces

instead received life saving assistance that forced fundamental re

evaluation of their assumptions about their captors

and rescuers the contrast between Japanese treatment

during captivity and American treatment during rescue

was so stark that many survivors

initially suspected deception or propaganda

the genuine kindness shown by submarine crews gradually convinced them

that their circumstances had fundamentally changed

but acceptance required time and repeated evidence

Corporal Bill Henderson rescued by USS Cullen described the psychological adjustment

for three years any uniform meant trouble Japanese guards Korean guards

civilian supervisors they all meant beatings starvation humiliation

when I saw American uniforms my first instinct was still fear

it took days to understand that these men were trying to help not hurt me

the submarine crews also experienced psychological challenges in treating men

whose condition revealed the extent of Japanese war crimes

many sailors had to confront evidence of systematic cruelty

that exceeded their previous understanding of enemy behavior

and created lasting anger toward Japanese forces the medical challenges

treating rescued hellship survivors required medical improvisation

that exceeded standard submarine medical capabilities

the prisoners arrived with complex health problems

resulting from years of malnutrition disease and injury

that had received no proper medical attention dehydration was universal among the survivors

but standard rehydration procedures had to be modified

for men whose kidneys and circulatory systems had been compromised by prolonged starvation

intravenous fluids were administered slowly to prevent shock

that could prove fatal to severely weakened patients

skin conditions resulting from vitamin deficiencies

poor hygiene and exposure to tropical diseases required treatments

that weren't available in submarine medical supplies

improvised remedies using available materials provided some relief

but many conditions required extended medical treatment

that submarines couldn't provide psychological trauma

manifested in behaviors that submarine crews found difficult to understand

or address some survivors hoarded food

unable to believe that more would be provided others remained hyper vigilant

expecting punishment or violence despite obvious evidence of their rescuers

good intentions the food revolution

access to adequate food aboard American submarines

created immediate physical and psychological changes among rescued prisoners

who had been systematically starved for years the availability of calories

proteins and vitamins that had been denied during captivity

began restoring both physical health and mental clarity the submarine

galleys provided foods that most prisoners hadn't seen

since before their capture fresh bread canned meat vegetables

fruit coffee and sugar these items represented not just nutrition

but symbols of the abundance that characterized Allied supply systems

compared to Japanese scarcity the psychological impact of unlimited food access

was often as dramatic as the physical effects men who had been fighting for scraps

began experiencing difficulty eating adequate amounts

their stomachs having adapted to starvation level nutrition

over years of captivity cook second class Bobby Chen

prepared special meals for rescued prisoners learning to adjust portions and ingredients

for men whose digestive

systems required careful refeeding his galley became a center for recovery

where food served as medicine for both body and spirit

the personal connections extended contact between submarine crews and rescued prisoners

created personal relationships that transcended the formal

military relationships typical of wartime service the intimate conditions aboard submarines

fostered conversations and friendships that helped both groups process

their wartime experiences many submarine crew members were young men

serving in their first major combat assignment while rescued prisoners were often older soldiers

with extensive combat and captivity experience these generational and experiential differences

created learning opportunities that benefited both groups

prisoners shared stories of survival techniques cultural observations from their captivity

and intelligence information about Japanese operations

that proved valuable for future submarine missions

their experiences provided human context for the war

that helped submarine crews understand the broader impact of their combat operations

submarine personnel shared news from home updates on the war's progress

and optimistic assessments about Allied victory that helped prisoners understand

how much the strategic situation had changed during their captivity this

information provided hope that had been systematically denied

during imprisonment the continuing patrol the submarines carrying rescued prisoners

had to continue their patrol missions while providing care for men

who required constant medical attention and psychological support this dual mission

created operational challenges that tested the vessel's capabilities

and crews adaptability space limitations aboard submarines

meant that rescued prisoners had to share quarters

designed for much smaller crews sleeping arrangements sanitation facilities

and recreational space all required creative solutions

that maintained submarine operational capability while a

accommodating humanitarian obligations the psychological stress of

continued combat operations while caring for traumatized survivors

affected submarine crews who found themselves balancing military duties

with humanitarian responsibilities some crew members

struggled with anger toward Japanese forces after witnessing evidence of

prisoner mistreatment combat effectiveness

remained the primary mission requirement but the presence of rescued prisoners

provided additional motivation for submarine crews

who now understood the personal stakes involved in their attacks on Japanese shipping

and installations the intelligence value rescued hellship survivors

provided valuable intelligence about Japanese prisoner

handling transportation routes camp conditions and military operations

they had observed during captivity this information helped Allied forces

plan rescue operations and prepare for prisoner recovery

during future campaigns the prisoner's knowledge of Japanese logistics

revealed patterns in prisoner transportation that helped submarine commanders identify

likely hellship routes and target vessels that might be carrying Allied personnel

this intelligence contributed to more effective rescue operations

during subsequent encounters information about Japanese industrial operations

where prisoners had been forced to work provided targeting data for bombing campaigns

and sabotage operations the survivors detailed

knowledge of factory layouts production schedules and security procedures

proved valuable for military planning medical intelligence about diseases

malnutrition effects and survival techniques helped Allied medical personnel prepare

for treating liberated prisoners during future operations

the health data documented the systematic nature of Japanese prisoner mistreatment

and provided evidence for war crimes prosecutions the delivery to safety

the submarines carrying rescued Hellship survivors

faced the challenge of delivering their human cargo

to appropriate medical facilities while maintaining operational security

and continuing their patrol missions the solutions required coordination

with allied naval forces and modification of standard operational procedures

USS Pampanito and USS Cullen arranged rendezvous with hospital ships

and transport vessels that could provide specialized

medical care for rescued prisoners the transfer operations required

surfacing in waters where Japanese forces

might detect and attack the submarines the rescued prisoners experienced mixed emotions

during transfer to hospital ships grateful for continued medical care

but reluctant to leave crews who had saved their lives

personal bonds formed during submarine rescue created lasting relationships

that many survivors maintained long after the war ended

medical personnel aboard hospital ships found themselves treating patients

whose conditions exceeded standard combat casualty protocols

the rescued hellship survivors required specialized care

that addressed not just immediate medical needs but long term rehabilitation

from systematic mistreatment the medical recovery the physical rehabilitation

of rescued hellship survivors required months

or years of specialized medical treatment that addressed both immediate health crises

and long term damage from systematic malnutrition and abuse

many survivors faced permanent health consequences

from their captivity experience weight restoration proceeded slowly

under medical supervision that prevented refeeding syndrome

and other complications that could prove fatal to severely malnourished patients

nutritional rehabilitation required careful monitoring

and gradual increases in caloric intake that allowed digestive systems to

recover gradually dental problems

resulting from malnutrition and lack of hygiene

required extensive treatment that often included extraction of damaged teeth

and treatment of advanced gum disease many survivors required dentures

or other dental prosthetics to restore basic eating capability

psychological recovery proved more challenging than

physical rehabilitation for many survivors who struggled with trauma related symptoms

that persisted long after their physical health improved

mental health treatment in the 1940s was limited but some survivors received pioneering therapy

for what would later be recognized as post traumatic

stress disorder the psychological transformation the experience of being rescued by former enemies

created lasting psychological changes among hellship survivors

who had to reconcile their previous understanding of warfare

with evidence of enemy humanity and compassion this transformation influenced their post war

attitudes toward international relations and conflict resolution

many survivors became advocates for international humanitarian law and prisoner Protection

using their experiences to promote treaties and conventions

that would prevent similar systematic abuse during future conflicts

their testimony provided human context for legal frameworks

governing prisoner treatment the contrast between Japanese cruelty

and American mercy influenced survivors understanding of democratic values

and individual human rights many became supporters of

democratic political systems and international cooperation

based on their direct experience of different approaches to human dignity

some survivors struggled to forgive their Japanese captors

while maintaining gratitude toward their American rescuers

the psychological complexity of hatred and gratitude

existing simultaneously required personal reconciliation that took years

or decades to achieve the final Testament decades after the war ended

hellship survivors continued to credit their American rescuers with

not just saving their lives but restoring their faith in human decency

after years of systematic cruelty the rescue operations represented turning points

that transformed hatred into hope and despair

into determination to rebuild meaningful lives the physical scars of captivity faded over time

but the psychological impact of being rescued by former enemies remained vivid

throughout survivors'lives many described the moment of rescue as their

spiritual rebirth when they Learned that human kindness

could overcome systematic evil the submarine crews

who pulled dying men from the South China Sea proved that America's greatest strength lay

not in its weapons or industrial capacity but in its willingness to risk everything

to save human lives even enemy lives in those desperate moments

when submarines surfaced in hostile waters to rescue drowning prisoners

the true meaning of democratic values was written on the dark waters of the Pacific

not in words but in actions that

transformed enemies into brothers and hatred into hope

for a world where mercy could triumph over vengeance

where humanity could survive even the deepest cruelty

and where former foes could find common ground

in the simple recognition that every life was worth saving

regardless of the uniform it had worn or the flag it had served

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YouTube Transcript:Japanese ‘Hell Ships’ Prisoners Couldn’t Believe American Soldiers Rescued Them