The following diary was provided by Virginia J. Wilson, St Charles MO
Since we worked from a Xerox copy, some items are marked as Illegible and we hope to clarify these at a later date. Significant dates also noted in bold or red.

9 Jan 1944: Work same job... fair & cold
10 Jan 1944: Work same job... fair & cold
11 Jan 1944: Work same job... fair & cold
12 Jan 1944: Work, rec. package from someone in USA. I think it was from Mother. There was no data on the box when I got it. I received the following articles: 5 pair socks; 1 pr shoes (low); 6 cakes face soap; 4 shaving soap;1 towel; 4 handkerchiefs; 4 underpants; 4 undershirts; 1 toothpowder; I razor- 10 blades; 1 pack cards; one box vitamin pills.
13 Jan 1944: Work, welding and burning - clear cold
14 Jan 1944: Work, welding and burning - clear cold
15 Jan 1944: Work, welding and burning - clear cold- weight 146 lbs.
16 Jan 1944: No work. Sleep all day. Very cold
17 Jan 1944: Work same thing.

Pages Missing (27 & 28)
[Note: triangle symbol in front of some dates indicated as #]

3 Feb 1944: Worked welding and burning
4 Feb 1944: # worked welding and burning
5 Feb 1944: Routine, cold
6 Feb 1944: # No work
7 Feb 1944: Routine work
8 Feb 1944: Routine [illegible] of war today
9 Feb 1944: # Routine
10 Feb 1944: Routine
11 Feb 1944: # Routine
12 Feb 1944: Routine, received a package from Mother
13 Feb 1944: Routine
14 Feb 1944: # Routine
15 Feb 1944: Routine
16 Feb 1944: Routine, weight today 147
17 Feb 1944: Routine
18 Feb 1944: Routine, snow
19 Feb 1944: Routine, clear
20 Feb 1943: No work, clear, cold
21 Feb 1944: Work today, electrical welding - clear
22 Feb 1944: # Work today, G[illegible] Birthday
23 Feb 1944: Work today, very cold
24 Feb 1944: Work today, very cold
25 Feb 1944: # Work today, very cold, food very short
26 Feb 1944: Work today, not so cold
27 Feb 1944: Work today, fair & warmer
28 Feb 1944: Work today, fair & cold
29 Feb 1944: # Work today
1 Mar 1944: Changed rooms today. Studying an electrical book that I borrowed from Dan Small -Practical Elect.
2 Mar 1944: Worked same job, cold
3 Mar 1944: # Worked same job, cold
4 Mar 1944: Worked same job, cold
5 Mar 1944: No work, cold, snow all day
6 Mar 1944: Work, not so cold, Snow [illegible]
7 Mar 1944: Work, not so cold
8 Mar 1944: Work, not so cold
9 Mar 1944: Work, warm
10 Mar 1944: Work, warm, rain
11 Mar 1944: Work, cold
12 Mar 1944: Work, cold
13 Mar 1944: Work, cold
14 Mar 1944: Work, cold
15 Mar 1944: (no entry)
16 Mar 1944: # Work, cold, weight [illegible] 66.3 Kg
17 Mar 1944: Work, cold
18 Mar 1944: Work, cold
19 Mar 1944: No work, rain & snow
20 Mar 1944: Work, weather good, very cold
21 Mar 1944: Work, weather good, very cold
22 Mar 1944: Work, weather good, very cold
23 Mar 1944: Work, weather good, very cold
24 Mar 1944: Work, weather good, little work
25 Mar 1944: Work, weather good
26 Mar 1944: # Work, weather good
27 Mar 1944: Work, weather good
28 Mar 1944: Work, weather good
29 Mar 1944: # Work, rain
30 Mar 1944: # Work, rain
31 Mar 1944: Work, rain, cold
1 April 1944: Work, weather good
2 April 1944: # No work, rain, cold
3 April 1944: Work, weather rain, cold, short work today
4 April 1944: # Work, weather good
5 April 1944: Work, weather good
6 April 1944: Work, weather good
6 April 1944: # Work, weather cold raining
8 April 1944: War started 29 months [ago] today
9 April 1944: # Work as usual, weather fine
10 April 1944: Work as usual, weather fine
11 April 1944: Work today, welding 6" pipe
12 April 1944: Same work, no change
13 April 1944: # Little work today
14 April 1944: Little work, short work, short pay
15 April 1944: # 15 work, have been fed soy beans and rice for the last week and beans are only half cooked.
16 April 1944: # Rest today Very small bowl of rice for breakfast. Weight today [illegible]
17 April 1944: Weather good, Some work not hard
18 April 1944: # Work as usual, two years ago today Tokyo was visited by the US Airforce. I was in Zentsuji, 300 miles south of Tokio.
Bought this fountain pen today (10 yen)
19 April 1944: # Work today, same job (rain)
20 April 1944: # Work today, same job (rain)
Was examined for insurance today $10,000, condition OK. Examined by Captain Day, USMD. [DAY, ROY W., CAPT, O&347781, USA (MC)- he was eventually rescued at Tokyo-5B-Niigata]
21 April 1944: This morning, a coat was reported stolen to the Japanese. At 5 after returning from work, we were all told that we must all stand in the yard until the thief was found. After 2 hrs. and 5 min., G. Brette (R.S. British Army) admitted that he had stolen the coat. He was not punished ha ha some fun.
22 April 1944: # Work today (uneventful)
23 April 1944: Work today finished at 3 o'clock, preparing for inspection by a Jap Colonel
24 April 1944: # Work, inspection went off OK I am told. The weather is fine most every day now. The winter has passed away at last.
25 April 1944: Work, rain, quit work early to prepare for inspection on the 29th. No news these days. One would think no war is going on, but I have an idea that this war will soon be over. No news is good news (they say)
26 April 1944: Work, weather good, I'm in blacksmith today.
27 April 1944: Inspection today by Major General –? Every one is glad that it is over. Had a very good supper tonight: Fried fish, soy beans and rice.
28 April 1944: Work, walked home in rain. Very wet and cold tonight. 88 Red Cross parcels came in camp today. That will be about one for each 3 men. There was also 4 boxes of smoking tobacco but that doesn't interest me for I don't smoke.
29 April 1944: #Work, Red Cross parcels were passed out upon return from work, was very glad [to] to receive it. It sure is good to get something good to eat again.
30 April 1944: Work, rain, went to bed with a full stomach but my Red Cross Gift is about gone, all except the coffee. I have enough for about 30 cups left and it is very good.
1 March 1944: Work, helped to make some dental tools for Dr. Day. I hope he never uses them on me for they are very rugged. The boiler for the camp bursted ans, I am told, that I must weld it tomorrow.
[Note: Dr Day was most likely assigned to the Shinagawa Hospital at this time. He was not assigned to this camp until 24 April 1944]
2 March 1944: Worked today in camp on the boiler. It needs a lot of repair. Weather fair and warm
3 March 1944: Worked as usual, weather good.
5-6 Mar 1944: no notations
7 March 1944: Sunday, No work today. Sleep most day, good bath at night.
8 March 1944: Monday, Beginning the 30th month of war. When will it be over?
9 March 1944: Tuesday, Bought a can of coffee tonight 4.50 yen and it sure was worth it.
10 March 1944: no notations
11 March 1944: Work today, welded fender of a Chevrolet truck
12 March 1944: no notation
13 March 1944: Capt Kennington of the S.S. Kirkpool died today (Diarrhea) 32 yrs English

[entries now begin to diminish and become irregular and sometimes out of order]

21 March 1944: Weight today 66.5 Kgs
16 April 1944: Weight today 67 Kgs Not bad, going up
24 April 1944: Dr. Day, Capt, US Army, arrived in camp today from Philippines. Everybody is glad to have a doctor in camp.
28 April 1944: Received in camp 88 US Red Cross pkgs. Each 8 men rec 3 pkgs.
15 May 1944: Weight 67 Kgs.
12 June 1944: In the last 3 weeks, we have rec 6 injections for various diseases and they all make me sick for 2 days.
14 Jun 1944: 1800 [6 P.M.] Air Raid alarm was sounded in the Tokyo area.
15 Jun 1944: Kyushu was raided by 20 or more U.S. bombers, B-24 & B-29, damage was slight, I am told. Americans landed on Saipan Isle. Weight today 68 Kgs. Still going up.
2 Jul 1944: No work. Weather hot, food is always the same. Nowadays rice and soup 3 times a day, occasionally there is some fish in the soup but very little. I haven't had any mail from home in almost 8 mos. I wonder what is wrong.
5 Jul 1944: Good news coming in daily now. I hope it is true.
15 Jul 1944: Heard today that Saipan Island was occupied by the U.S. forces, That is just 90 miles from my old home Guam.
26 Jul 1944: Today, U.S. Forces landed on Guam Isle, I know that there are some happy natives there now.
30 Jul 1944: Two men, Condon and Coils, drank some fluid today that they thought was alcohol and came in from work very sick tonight.
31 Jul 1944: Condon, age 24 (Pvt, British Army) and Coils, age 22, Seaman, British Navy, passed away during the night. It was discovered that they were drinking high test aviation gas which combined deadly poison, [illegible], alcohol, lead and other poisonous spirits.
2 Aug 1944: Today's News: Turkey expected to come in the war against the Axis any moment. Soviets are attacking Warsaw.
11 Aug 1944: weight today 67.5 Kgs.
21 Aug 1944: Kyushu hit again I am told.
25 Aug 1944: weight today 67.2 Kgs.
1 Sep 1944: Work today, cutting and welding
3 Sep 1944: Weight today 66.5 Kgs. Little news nowadays
4 Sep 1944: Lost one blanket today. That leasves 4 for this winter. It was taken up by the Jap.
15 Sep 1944: Weight today 65.7 Kgs
1 Oct 1944: Working as usual at Suzuki (Mynichi)
12 Oct 1944: Weight today 65.7 (holding my own)
13 Oct 1944: Islands between Taiwan and Japan were hit by the US Air Force (illegible planes)
14 Oct 1944: Taiwan was hit by 1100 planes (I am told)
15 Oct 1944: Taiwan was hit by 1400 planes (I am told)
16 Oct 1944: Taiwan is hit by 450 planes (I am told)- also was told that we lost 23 war ships off Taiwan.
1 Nov 1944: Air alarm 13:28 today. Saw my first US Aeroplane since the war started (B-29 I am told) No work in the afternoon.
2 Nov 1944: Work as usual, welding
3 Nov 1944: Work as usual, welding
4 Nov 1944: Work as usual, welding
5 Nov 1944: Work as usual and Air Raid Alarm at 1000 [10:00 A.M.] this morning. Came back to camp until the alarm was lifted. Back at work at 1330, saw no planes.7 Nov 1944: Election day in the States. I hope Roosevelt is re-elected and I would bet anything that he is. Air Alarm today at 13:10. Saw two U.S. planes. They sure looked good to me.
15 Nov 1944: Changed camp today. I am now in camp #23 Tokyo area. Weight 65.9 Kg.
Dorsey was at Tok-23D Kawasaki camp when following was written:
[Tokyo 23-D, KAWASAKI-shi, DAISHIHON-machi, (DAI-NIPPON KAGAKU)- established 20 Sep 1944]

16 Nov 1944: I am still working at the same job at Suzuki, welding, cutting. The new camp is closer to our work and we don't have near as far to walk.
24 Nov 1944: Air Raid today at 12 noon. A group of U.S. planes appeared over the Tokyo area. I don't know what damage was done. They were in the area more than two hrs.
25 Nov 1944: One plane came over about noon.
26 Nov 1944: Air raid today (80 I am told) Noon
27 Nov 1944: Work as usual
28 Nov 1944: Work as usual
29 Nov 1944: Night raid one. One alarm at 11:30, all clear at 0230. Another alarm at 0400, all clear at 0500.
30 Nov 1944: Work today as usual. Was told a very amazing starry [sic] tonight by Hugh Myers, one I must not forget. [MYERS, HUGH HADLEY, CRM, 3412278, USN, Radio Agaña, Guam]
3 Dec 1944: No work today. Air raid in afternoon, weather fair and cold (wind blowing)
5 through 11 Dec 1944: Siren each day. I am told that on the 11th, firebombs were dropped on Tokyo.
12 Dec 1944: Two alarms today. Work as usual.
13 Dec 1944: Raid today [illegible] 80, also a night alarm
14 Dec 1944: Air alarm at 0200 [illegible]
15 Dec 1944: Air Alarm at 0300, All clear 04 [illegible]
16 Dec 1944: Work as usual, working on heating stove
25 Dec 1944: Xmas. My 3rd in Japan. Received a part of a Red Cross Package- and believe me it was appreciated. No Work Today

I Jan 1945: Mo work today. Time is passing faster it seems. [illegible] I hope this year tells the story on this war[illegible] getting very old. Nothing is happening nowadays except an air raid occasionally.
XX Feb 1945: Very cold here this month. The worst weather that we have has since I have been in Japan.
14 Feb 1945: About 16 inches of snow on the ground now and it is very cold.
1 Mar 1945: The weather is getting better. The snow is all gone and everybody is in better spirits. We will all be glad to see the summer.
4 Apr 1944: Morning at 0145, we all had a very close call. We had an air raid in this area that lasted about 4 hours. Bombs dropped on all sides of us but we were very lucky. No one was injured in our camp, although most all windows were blown out. The doors were out also. Shrapnel came through the building in several places. The cook house was damaged as well as the guard quarters. We did not go to work. Next day we repaired our quarters instead. The building most left the ground at times. The closest bomb fell 150 yards away from us and that was close enough, believe me.
8 Apr 1945: Day light raid today, 100 B-29 and P-51s- This raid was not in our district, thank goodness.10 Apr 1945: Nothing happened today [illegible] Worked as usual. Weight today 66.8 Kgs, down 1-1/2.
11 April 1945: Robert Hurbecks, 25 yrs, died this morning at 0920. Cause of death, malnutrition (starvation). He was accorded funeral services by the Japanese Army. We were told by the Camp Commander to remember this service and to be sure to tell the people at home of this wonderful service that was accorded this dead prisoner of war. He said there is no country on earth that was as so great as the Japanese Empire. Robert Hurbecks home is Chicago. He was taken prisoner in the Philippines. [Herbeck, Robert M., CPL, 16028670, USAAC]
12 Apr 1945: Raid today 150 I'm told. Not so near this time.
12 Apr 1945: Heard today that Pres. Roosevelt is dead. I sure hope that it isn't true.
13 Apr 1945: Two Air Alarms today. I saw 1 plane. Work as usual, Now there is little going on in the factory. It seems as though everybody is just waiting for the war to end. The local people are celebrating a big victory over the President's death. They think that he was the only one that they are fighting. That is the first cause they have had to celebrate in about two years.
13 Apr- cont. At about 2215, siren woke me and I was not able to get to sleep until after 0300 due to the heavy detonations not very far away (160 B-29s)
14 Apr 1945: Heard that the President is really dead. I sure hope that it is not so.

AIR RAID ON TOKYO

15 Apr 1945: At 2125 the Air Alarm sounded. At 2200 planes were overhead. They started dropping bombs immediately. They dropped all around our camp. Houses were burning in all directions, we all were out in the yard fighting to keep the barracks from burning. Planes were flying very low, incendiary fell all around us but none hit our buildings. Everywhere you could hear the drone of the motors of all kinds of aircraft. We had to climb up on the top of the buildings and beat the fire out with wet swabs. The wind was now blowing very hard, bombing continued for more tha [illegible] without a let up. From where I [was] on top of the building, as far as you could see in any direction, every building was aflame. The wind continued ot low but one of the things that made it possible for us to save our place was that it changed its direction while a large house was burning not 20 feet away. We kept a watch on top of the house all night. A large wire house filled with gasoline in drums- about 40 yards away - was on fire and the drums were exploding and going high in the air and throwing fire every where. This continued until the next day.
16 Apr 1945: [Woodrow's birthday] We did not go to work today. There is no electric power, no water, and no trains or street cars running. Our camp is about 3/.4 mile from the plant where we work and all day we were wondering what had happened at the factory. The people in this whole area, and I am told that there is about one million, are homeless. They are just milling about in the streets with a little bundle of things which they were able to save. The area is very crowded. Houses were very close together and they are made of wood. Practically every house, as far as the eye can see, is gone.
17 Apr 1945: We went to work today, and we all surprised to see the state of destruction. That the factory is in. Steel buildings are warped and burnt to the ground. Yo could hardly recognize the place. Lots of the buildings are still burning today. One of the few buildings left is the shop where I worked. It was untouched. None of the Japanese were seen anywhere. I guess they are out trying to find them a home. We rigged up a pump and tried to put out a fire that was raging in a flour warehouse. I can say that this is the most complete job of destruction that one can imagine.
18 Apr 1945: Fire still burning19 Apr 1945: Another raid today- 29s and 51s. Today we all had a very close call; we were marching back to camp for dinner when 2 P-51s dove on us and they were heading straight for us. We all fell to our stomachs in the street and they passed just over our heads. If they had have opened up their guns, they could have wiped us all out. The were the most beautiful planes I have ever seen and they were very, very fast.
20 Apr 1945: Photo Joe was over today.
21 Apr 1945: Photo Joe was over today.
23 Apr 1945: Photo Joe was over today. Raid 130
25-26 Apr 1945: Same- Photo Joe
28 Apr 1945: P-48 Don't know how many.
29 Apr 1945: Holiday in Japan (Meiji's Birthday) Street cars are still out of order in this area. Also there is no electricity. We now have a little water pressure. The raid of the 15th was the largest yet in Japan, over 2.6 (million) homeless. Industry is at a standstill.
30 Apr 1945: Two raids today. Don't know how many. Heavy detonations not too far away. Still working & cleaning up after the 15th Raid- what damages!
1 May 1945: Berlin surrounded by the USSR. Troops leaving Berlin going home. P.S. It won't be long now.
2 May 1945: Germany through May [April] 28th- great rejoicing in camp. Nips not so happy. It won't be long now.
3 May 1945: Mussolini dead. Nailed to a cross like Jesus Christ. Bye [to] the Italian Army.
4 May 1945: Goebbels dead. Killed himself. Two air alarms - Yokohama heavy explosions.
6 May 1945: Large convoy US troops Okinawa Island. I hope they come north.
7 May 1945: I had an accident today- slight, but painful. We were working in a building that had been burnt during the fire, removing bits if iron and other things that the fire had left, when I was hit in the right eye with a burnt piece if board, It make a cut about ½ inc, deep, very close to my right eye. I was very lucky that it did not hit my eye. I think it will leave probably leave a black scar.
8 May 1945: Work today back on my old job, welding and cutting. They finally have got some elct. In this area so I am back in the same old shop where I have worked for 3 yrs.
9-12 May 1945: Work as usual. Nothing happened except a few Air alarms. No bombing photo
14 May 1945: Lost my [illegible] today. Stolen. Air raid in afternoon, not very close.
15 May 1945: [illegible] day (observation) no alarms [illegible] nowadays. Elect. Lights in camp at last. Had whale meat tonight for supper. Not bad. Little work at the factory nowadays. Everyone seems very disgusted.

2ND MAJOR AIR RAID

22 May 1945: 250 29s at night. This was the largest raid we have had so far, we had an awful escape. Incendiaries fell all around us. One fell in the yard about 4 feet from the building. The amount of fire that these bombs put out is unbelievable. The raid lasted more that 4 hrs. I saw my first plane go down- a 29 - it was on fire. It looked like a comet in the sky. Ack ack got it. I am sure the crew parachuted to safety. The plane was under control for a few minutes.
23 May 1944: Street cars, water and Elect. are out of order again.
24 May 1944: Nothing happened today except one plane in the afternoon.
25 May 1945: Raid today, 51s and 29s. Not in this area. Yokohama - strafed the streets and bombed.
25 May 1945: (cont) At 1030 tonight, another raid started which was the largest one yet. Planes were everywhere dropping all kinds of explosives. This raid lasted until 0130. I saw 3 or 4 planes come down, one very close to our camp. I pity these poor men. What wasn't killed coming down were mobbed [killed by Japanese mobs] I'm sure. Tokyo was as light as day all night and it will burn for a while I'm sure. There was a high wind blowing all night.
26 May 1945: Today there were two alarms. Saw one very large plane flying very low, ack ack was firing at it all the time but none of them came near. I suppose he was taking pictures.
27 May 1945: Raid today don't know how many.
29 May 1945: The longest raid so far, 600 in all, most of them hit Yokohama. A few hit the Tokyo fire, bombs fallen in the yard. One bomb hit the work bench where I was working that very day. I saw more than 200 29s in formation overhead, a sight to behold, believe me. The raid started at about 0800 and was over at 1630. Planes were overhead all the time. Bombs were bursting all around us, but we were lucky. Nobody in the camp was injured. Yokohama was a mas [illegible] of flame. Our fighter planes [illegible] in action 51s also a sight to behold.
30 May 1945: Work as usual, welding, 1200 Photo Joe
1-2 Jun 1945: Work as usual. 26 men transferred to another camp. All men from the Phippines.
4-9 Jun 1945: Nothing unusual. Osaka [illegible]
10 Jun 1945: 0700 alarm, planes overhead a few minutes later, all clear, 1000 heavy, heavy bombings close. 42 Months ago, Guam fell 3-1/2 yrs (seems like a century), 370 planes today, 29s.
11 Jun 1945: Today 12:00- 60 51s close by, dive bombing. We still are not allowed to use the bomb shelters that we built here in the yard. Other camps have shelters. There is a factory very close that is a [illegible] and we are too close for comfort.
12 Jun 1945: Nothing today
13 Jun 1945: Air Raid at 2100 All clear at 0200
14 Jun 1945: K-Ki-K-Ho 1200 Photo Joe
15 Jun 1945: K-Ki-K-Ho 1200 Photo Joe, night raid, mines
16 Jun 1945: K-Ki-K-Ho 1200 Photo Joe, work us until Big Rope finished. [illegible]in paper ([illegible])- Vegetables are being planted in the burned out lots around camp. Looks like a farm, not city. You can see for miles on a clear day (no houses to block view)
17 Jun 1945: K-Ki at noon- "Photo Joe". Work brazed a pump for a boat- little work nowadays. Jimmy Carlton, age 19, British seaman, was accused of stealing mosquito net today. Best up by Sargent.
19 Jun 1945: More trouble. A bag was found that contained "aji-no-mojo". The prisoners were [illegible]. We were all stood up in the yard for 1-1/2 hours, trying for a confession. Nobody knew anything. So we were dismissed at 1930. I don't know if we will be call out again or not. Raid last night - 3 hrs.
20 Jun 1945: Photo Jo 1200, weather good at last. June has been very rainy up to now. Guard changed today.
23 Jun 1945: Raid at noon today. Received a letter from Mother and Virginia today. All well - address Holcomb MO. Letters dated Nov 44.
28 Jun 1945: We are all working on bomb shelters today and [illegible] Everybody is digging in.
30 Jun 1945: Changed camp today. Moved 1-1/2 miles back to Kawasaki Camp. Met a lot of old friends. All OK.
1 Jul 1945: All hand, hair cut short
2 Jul 1945: At work, same job
3 Jul 1945: This camp is as full of bugs [illegible] 4 Jul 1945: What a day to be in a prison camp. Raid at 0100- 51s- 80

Pages missing

16 Jul 1945: [illegible]
18 Jul 1945: Raid air 1200- [illegible]
19 Jul 1945: Pamphlets today [illegible] fell everywhere-just a sight to see. People were fighting for them.
20-22 Jul 1945: [illegible]
23-24 Jul 1945: Little [illegible] Food is very short [illegible]
25 Jul 1945: Very sad night. [illegible] my best friend were killed at about [illegible] in a camp about one mile from us [Kawasaki 2B]. Raid started very sudden. Bombs were screaming through the air in all directions. Raid lasted about one hour. It was mostly in the Mitsui Company area. A prisoner camp WAS LOCATED IN THAT AREA. About 20 bombs fell in this camp[illegible] close friends of mine [illegible] Guam.
Foot, A.E. [illegible]
Small, Dan, CMM, USN, Jackson, Tenn
Strauch (Whittie) CMM [illegible] Nashville Tenn
Snater, B.J. Mech USN
Carney, Ens USN, Wash DC
The above along with [illegible] all killed instantly by direct hits (Here today and gone tomorrow) Who knows.

Foote, Arthur Earnest, MM1c, 3855619, USN, YP-17
Small, Vernon McCoy, CMM, 2948784, USN, Guam Admin Group
Strauch, Henry Ernest, CMM, 29508, USN, Piti Yard-Guam
Snater, Bernard J., CMM, 80743, USN, Piti Yard-Guam
Carney, Frank J., Lt JG, 87629, USNR (CEC), Guam Admin Group

26 Jul 1945: Some of the [illegible]
27 Jul 1945: 25 Italian Marines were brought here from Shanghai- They have been treated far better than we have. They were [illegible] their camp[illegible]
28 Jul 1945: The siren sounds from 3 to 6 times every day. There is [illegible]
29 Jul 1945: 4 Alarms today. [illegible] planes [illegible]
30 Jul 1945: Raid all day, 700 carrier planes, plenty bombs, coast shell, [illegible]
31 Jul 1945: Photo Joe at noon (pamphlets) weight 63.6 Kgs
1 Aug 1945: Bombs started falling at 2100 and continued until 0300. Too close for comfort, 600 B-29s- [illegible]

Pages missing

13 Aug 1945: Raid all day- Grummans dive bombers, machine gunning streets, two men from this camp injured by bomb [illegible] Not serious. I spent most of the day flat on mu stomach, saw rockets being used today. Bomb craters 50 ft.
14 Aug 1945: Raid at night lasted 3 hrs.
15 Aug 1945: Raid early this morning, 0700, machine gunning and bombs close by. All clear sounded unexpectedly. Our planes were still overhead. We were all surprised to see that. At 1200 the Emperor made a speech. At about 1330 the shop boss, where I have been working for the last 3 years, told us to "Shegoto SMI" (stop work), that the war was over. We were dumbfounded. We came back to camp about 1600 every body in the [illegible] working details had heard the same thing. Everybody was shouting and laughing and the Nips looked like they were ready to kill themselves. We were not told anything officially by the Nips in charge. I did not sleep a wink last night.16 Aug 1945: This morning about 0900 the Nip Commander called Lt. Cmdr. Newman up to his office and told him that the war was officially over yesterday. He said that transports were on their way to take us back to America. We who are left are the luckiest men on earth.