World War II Honoree

Norman B. Griffin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Heppner, Oregon

Honored By

Self

DRAFTED NUMBER 20 IN THE U.S. SERVED IN 59TH COAST ARTILLERY. WAS A GUNMAN ON 12' MORTAR ON CORREGIDOR. CAPTURED FEBRUARY 6, 1942. HE WAS INTERNED IN CAMP NUMBER 3 AND CABANATUAN, WHERE HE WORKED IN FARMER JONES' GARDEN. WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL 500 SENT TO JAPAN ON THE HARU MARU. LANDED AT MOJI, JAPAN. HELD IN FUKUOKA CAMP 17, OMUTA ON ISLAND OF KYUSHU WHERE WE WERE FORCED TO MINE COAL FOR THE JAPANESE. HELD THERE UNTIL AUGUST 16, 1945 WHEN SEVERAL PRISONERS COMMANDEERED A TRAIN AND WENT TO KODO WHERE THE 1ST CAVALRY FLEW THEM TO THE PHILIPPINES. WITNESSED DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB OVER NAGASAKI.