Name/Title
Harrodsburg Tankers: Everett PrestonEntry/Object ID
2024.8.40Description
Second Lieutenant Everett R. Preston joined the Harrodsburg National Guard at some time before the unit was activated in November 1940. During his time on Bataan, Everett was assigned to C and A Companies. He was wounded on 2 February 1942 in an engagement against the Japanese and received the Purple Heart. He was taken prisoner on 9 April 1942. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell, Cabanatuan and Bilibid Prison. He was put aboard the Erie Maru for Davao on Mindano. He was again put on board a Hell Ship, the Yashu Maru and taken to Cebu to Manila on the Singoto Maru back to Bilibid Prison. He was put on another Hell Ship, the Oryoku Maru bound for Takao, Formosa. The ship was attacked by Navy planes seventeen times before sunset and six bombs hit the ship. The next day the Navy resumed the attack. The POWs were finally swam ashore near Olongapa, Subic Bay, Luzon as the Navy planes realized it was a prisoner transport and stopped the attack. They surviving prisoners were moved by train to Manilia and put aboard the Enoura Maru bound for Formosa. The ship was bombed and sunk by American planes on January 13, 1945, while it was still docked. Two days later, he boarded the Brazil Maru enroute to Moji, Japan. By the time he arrived and was sent to Fukuoka Camp #1-D for work in the Onoda Coal Mine. He died of Acute Enteritis on April 21, 1945. His remains were returned to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis after the war.Collection
Harrodsburg TankersCreated By
dak@mcplib.infoCreate Date
July 31, 2024Updated By
dak@mcplib.infoUpdate Date
July 31, 2024
