William James Elliott
United States Army
from:Niagara Falls, NY
William Elliott joined the Army at age 17, using his older brother Frank Samuel Elliott's birth certificate, on 15th of February 1940 under his brother's name. As a combat medic, he fought the Japanese during the Battle of Bataan from 7th of Jan to 9th of April 1942. After the surrender of Bataan, he moved from the north of Manila to San Fernando on the Bataan Death March.
He was identified on an Adjutant General's (AG) Hospital #2 roster as being attached to the Bataan Detachment Medical Department from the hospital at Cabanatuan Prison Camp #1, Cabanatuan on 6th of Feb 1943.
Several months later, on 18th of Sep 1943, the Hospital #2 AG reported him as departing on a detail with an assumed destination of Japan. The only hellship that left the Manila area at this time was the Taga Maru. This ship left Manila on 20th of September 1943 and arrived in Takao Moji, Japan on 5th Oct 1943 with 850 American POWs.
William was then ferried from the port of Moji to Osaka. He arrived at Osaka (Chikko) Main Camp (renamed Osaka Branch Camp (Osaka #1-B) in Oct 1943 from the Philippines, POW #1049. As POW #2702, he was transferred to Jinzu Branch Camp (Nagoya #9-B Toyama (Jinzu Iwase) on 21st of May 1945 and was rescued on 5th of Sep 1945.
