World War II Honoree

Douglas Northam

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

DeKalb, Texas

Honored By

Patricia Northam

Relationship

Daughter

He enlisted July 1940 as Seaman First Class and later became a Gunner's Mate. He was assigned to the USS Oahu (PR-6) in China for Yangtze Patrol. He was transferred to Corregidor and taken prisoner by the Japanese on May 7, 1942 when General Wainwright surrendered the troops. He was imprisoned at Bilibid, Cabanatuan I and II Prisoner of War camps in the Philippine Islands. He was transferred on the hell ship Nagato Maru to Umeda Bunsho Prisoner of War camp in Osaka in November, 1942, where he was used as slave labor. When the bombing began in Osaka, he was moved to a camp in Tsuruga, Japan, in May 1945. When Japan surrendered he left the camp with other Prisoners of War. He received an honorable discharge in July 1948 as Chief Gunner's Mate.