Comments on: 1943: 98 American civilian contractors on Wake Island

By: Attack on Wake Island (1943) - Aircraft of World War II - Warbird Forums

Attack on Wake Island (1943) - Aircraft of World War II - Warbird Forums — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:45:58 +0000

[...] he was lucky. The men the Japanese kept on the island they executed before we could take it back. ExecutedToday.com 1943: 98 American civilian contractors on Wake Island Massacre on Wake Island Battle of Wake Island - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wheels [...]

By: Patti Herger

Patti Herger — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:17:47 +0000

My grandfather was a heavy equipment operator and was prisoner during the whole wwar. My father said grandpa wouldn’t talk about it when he came home. The only thing I have is a newpapers article showing a pic of grandpa and grandma after he returned and the Western Union telegram from an uncle to another uncle saying he’s alive in Jap prison camp and is headed home.

By: Sam Harper

Sam Harper — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:11:05 +0000

Uncle Bill was a “cat skinner” for MLK on Wake, and was also sent to Japan! He survived but was a mess, weak and sick for a good long time! How does one find a certain BLUE BOOK that has this info?

By: Raymond E. Drozd

Raymond E. Drozd — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:25:42 +0000

TO THE RELATIVES TRYING TO RESEARCH DECEASED LOVE ONES, I WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING UP SOME OF THE P.O.W. SITES ON THE INTERNET, STARTING WITH THE 1ST DEFENSE BATTALION, USMC. THE BULK OF CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS WENT WITH THE MARINES TO POW CAMPS IN CHINA, AND THEN LATER IN THE WAR, JAPAN AND KOREA. I RECALL ONE WEBSITE CALLED “DOGBERRY PATCH” WHICH HAS THE WAKE CIVILIAN POW ACCOUNTS. ALSO, THE IDAHO HISTORICAL SOCIETY (MORRISON-KNUDSEN WAS BOISE BASED) HAS MATERIAL AS WELL. GENERALLY, ONE WEB SITE LEADS YOU TO ANOTHER. I WISH YOU ALL LUCK.

TO THOSE RELATIVES WHO HAVE DECEASED FAMILY BURIED AT THE WAKE MEMORIAL SITE AT THE PUNCHBOWL (HAWAII), A QUESTION; DO THE FAMILIES HAVE ANY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INDICATING HOW THEY IDENTIFIED THEIR LOVED ONES REMAINS?

I AM RETIRED MILITARY AND AM ATTEMPTING TO ACCOUNT FOR 8 INDIVIDUALS WHO, I BELIEVE, WERE NOT EXHUMED ON WAKE, AND REPATRIATED TO HAWAII POST WAR. ANY GENERIC INFORMATION YOU HAVE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

By: Lorraine Mager Buchko

Lorraine Mager Buchko — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:31:29 +0000

I am trying to find information about my grandmother’s brother, Raymond Mathiasen, who died 8/9 /43. He was a civilian contractor on Wake. Raymond was reburied In the Punchbowl on Oahu, HI.

By: Tom Browder

Tom Browder — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:12:44 +0000

e-mail tomb12345@live.com

By: Tom Browder

Tom Browder — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:56:28 +0000

I have worked for the Defence Department for 28 years as a civilian. I have been inspired by the actions of the Navy, Marines and the civilian contractors on Wake Island for many years. The contractors were the making of the first layer of the foundation of the Navy Seabees. Something has troubled for years. The 98 Rock needs protection from the elements. The typhoons and exposure to the sea and weather it will disappear for future generations. I have contacted my Senator and he wrote me the Department of Interior is investigated it. I believe the rock should be move to the Punch Bowl in Hawaii with the 98. I would like to here comments especially from relatives of the contractors. If we can bring rocks from the moon we can move a rock from Wake. e-mail me for comments