This Makes Blogging Worth It

On Sept 1st I picked up on a link from Instapundit when a storm was heading toward Wake Island.

So tonight I was doing some admin stuff and I just happened to catch this comment come in on an old thread.

my dad was a marine on wake island ww11 and i cant find any info about what Japanese prison camp he was sent to. can u help? his name gus j cominus

Having learned how to use Google - I went to work. And within fifteen minutes I found him on a POW list that actually listed the camp to which he was sent.

        Name,        ASN,   Rank,Service,State,    Camp

COMINUS GUS J,274336,PFC,MAR,IN,OSA-MAIN  CHIKKO

And then found a website for the POW camp, Chikko, and e-mailed it off.

This and one time during Katrina when the efforts of bloggers helped separated families hook up are easily the two most memorable events in my two plus years of blogging.

Comments

[Harry]

Thank-you, Dan

[Cindi]

Nice job Dan. Glad you could be of help.

I remember the Katrina days here at RWV and the connections and help folks here had to offer. The most memorable was Anchor arranging for CG's 80 year old Aunt to be rescued by the National Guard based out of Texas. Anchor didn't know anyone in that guard unit, just something she had read about them being in LA and she figured what the hell it's worth a try.

My father inlaw was a POW in WWII, never wanted to talk about it. I hope the connection you have made for this man helps in his healing.

[Roger Mansell]

Mr Cominus, captured on Wake, PFC, USMC, 1st Defense Battalion,was taken to China on the Nitta Maru. That was the ship that carried the occupying Japanese forces when Wake fell. He was first held in Woosung POW Camp, later transferring to the Kiagwan camp.
He was sent to Osaka #1 POW Camp in Japan but was subsequently moved when it was destroyed in the bombings. He would have been first take to the Tsumori POW Camp then sent, most likely, to the Sendai or Nagoya area camps. Not all of these rosters have been located yet.
Regards,
Roger Mansell
Director
Center For Research
Allied POWS Under The Japanese