Lt. Col. Minami Masanori
Lt. Gen. Hiroshi Watanabe
Toshio SakaguchiToshio Sakaguchi, was a member (likely an officer) of the Osaka Kempeitai, attached to Unit: 暁 (Akatsuki) 6168 which was the 1st Shipping Transport Command, sadly we dont know much for certain about this military police officer.
3rd Air Raiding Regiment |
Apprentice Officer Dr. Oya Zensetsu
Oya Zensetsu was born on February 1st 1901 in Kyoto, Osaka. He went to Prefectural Shijonawa Junior High School, After that he graduated from Kyoto Imperial University School of Medicine in Showa 3. He served in the Japanese Army as an Apprentice Officer in the Reserve Field Hospital 10 enhancing his medical skills further. He would Entered the academic classroom (Professor Shinichi Matsumoto) and became a part-time lecturer in the same year. From the beginning of the Showa period to the war, there were dermatology gatherings and social gatherings in Osaka and he would often attend these meetings. He with 2 close friends of his (Dr. Setsuzo Obikawa and Dr. Misao Nakano) were colloquially called the Three Men of Osaka Dermatology. These three people unexpectedly liked medical history so much that they hosted roundtable meetings and social gatherings themselves and would write a Medical Newspaper. | |
14th Sea Raiding Battalion
In 1944, the Army, recognizing the limitations of the Navy in repelling American landings, devised a plan to counter American forces by creating small boat units known as sea raiding battalions, codenamed "fishing parties." Each of these battalions consisted of approximately 100 boats. To conceal their true purpose, these boats were referred to as "communications boats" and were equipped with two depth charges. Between August and September 1944, the Army established the first ten sea raiding battalions, followed by the 11th through the 30th in October. However, these units proved to be highly ineffective. The slow boats, both in port and at sea, posed greater risks to their own crews than to American shipping. These boats were operated by young individuals aged sixteen to twenty-four. Despite their lack of success, the Army continued to create more of these units in 1945, as part of their wartime efforts. |
26th Bridge Building
Material Company
| This Dog Tag with belonged to a Japanese soldier with the 26th Bridge Building Material Company a unit only made up of 110 Men. They were attached to the Japanese 28th Army. The 28th Army was raised on 6 January 1944 in Rangoon in Japanese-occupied Burma under the command of the Burma Area Army. It was assigned to defend the coastal region of Arakan and the lower Irrawaddy valley alongside the 55th Division in Arakan, the 54th Division in reserve in Southern Burma, and various other units. The bulk of 55th Division attempted to repeat earlier Japanese successes by infiltrating the Allied lines to attack an Indian Division from the rear, overrunning their Divisional HQ. Although battle casualties in the resulting Battle of Ngakyedauk (5 to 23 February 1944) were approximately equal, the 55th Division failed in its mission and was forced to withdraw, having suffered heavy losses. |
During World War II, the 30th Division of Japanese forces began in Mindanao but was relocated to reinforce defensive positions in Leyte when the Battle of Leyte started in October 1944. Two battalions from the 41st Regiment of the 30th Division landed in Leyte and began fighting. Despite plans to leave only three battalions of the 30th Division after heavy losses in Ormoc, reinforcements were held back. The division fought in the Battle of Mindanao and tried to establish defensive lines. However, due to underestimating challenges from Philippine guerillas and air raids, the U.S. forces made significant advances, leading to the rapid overrun of isolated Japanese units. |
The scattered Japanese forces of the 30th Division survived in the mountains of Central Mindanao until Japan's surrender in August 1945.
Some detachments guarding airfields in Sarangani Bay in the far south of the island were eliminated in July 1945.
Some detachments guarding airfields in Sarangani Bay in the far south of the island were eliminated in July 1945.