George Hering

[George is from Davenport, but his story in interesting.]

October 4, 1945 Davenport Times-Tribune

DAVENPORT--Under date of September 23, George Hering, Jr., pharmacist mate 3rd class, in the Navy, serving on the U.S.S. Sanctuary, a new navy hospital ship in the Japan area, wrote his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Hering, that his ship was in Nagasaki harbor, picking up 500 prisoners of war, sick and wounded, some civilians, some Dutch, some English, Australians and a few Americans.

He Wrote:"This morning we went on a tour of the city of Nagasaki in trucks, looking it all over and seeing what happened. You know that is one of the two cities that the atomic bombs hit, and you just cannot realize what has happened without seeing it, otherwise you would not believe it. The army of occupation is due in here today and probably some of the boys from home are in it. I set on ground for the first time in a month, today, it it sure felt good again. We will probably pull out for Okinawa, our base, tomorrow, but we are seeing plenty. It is beautiful around here with high mountains all around the city, all with green shrubbery on them.

"Our first trip was from Okinawa to Wakayama, where we picked up 1500 prisoners of war had had them packed all over the decks and on the fan tail and every place available. I really got some stories from some of them. A few were on the death March from Bataan. Coming back for there we hit the typhoon, which was too terrific. It really was something to see the ocean unleash its fury.

"We got back to Okinawa all right and the next day headed for Nagasaki. The prisoners of war are in pretty bad condition, due to malnutrition, dysentery, beriberi and malaria. When we went ashore, and watched the Japanese, as we rode along. There seemed to be plenty of hate in their eyes. I guess this will teach them not to forget Pearl Harbor. I have picked up several souvenirs, which I am saving to bring home. You can get anything along that line from a Jap for a cigarette."