There were three hundred mangled Americans piled some three deep the
result of a direct bomb hit. At the sides of the hold, a few wounded
were sitting and standing dazed and motionless. The Japs had no
compassion at all they would not let us enter the forward hold to help
in any way.
Jan. 11, 1945: Finally, two days after the bombing, several masked and
white robed Jap soldiers gallantly descended the ladders into our
hold, and painted mercurochrome on minor wounds. They would not look
at the serious wounds.
The Japs wound not enter the forward hold. Only God knew what
suffering was going on there. Jap laborers pounded wooden
[image018.jpg]
wedges into the holes in the sides of the ship. Water in the forward
hole was up to the flooring.
The night was bitter cold; my feet had lost all feeling. There were
endless groans and screams from the wounded and crazed.
Jan. 12, 1945: Forty-five bodies in our hold were tied to lines to be
lifted to the deck. I can never forget the grotesque positions some of
the bodies assumed as they were raised. Then the winches lifted 150
bodies out of the forward hold and placed them on a scow beside the
ship.
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