Name/Title
Harrodsburg Tankers: George VanarsdallEntry/Object ID
2024.8.48Description
First Lieutenant George A. “Jimmy” Vanarsdall (Vanarsdale) joined the Harrodsburg National Guard unit some time before the activation in November 1940. In early 1941, he was transferred to Headquarters Company. He was taken prisoner on 11 April 1942 and were put on trucks to Mariveles. He survived the Death March. He was held at Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan. He was later taken to Bilibid Prison and put onboard the Oryoku Maru for transport to Japan. 44Enroute 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 12, 1945, while it was still docked. He died during the attack and subsequent sinking. After the war the remains of the American soldiers who died in the sinking of the Enoura Maru were exhumed and reburied in the Punch Bowl in Hawaii.Collection
Harrodsburg TankersCreated By
dak@mcplib.infoCreate Date
July 31, 2024Updated By
dak@mcplib.infoUpdate Date
July 31, 2024
