Need Help On Picture

[Duane E]

Hi everyone, this is my wifes grandfather, he was killed during the war. My mother in law didn't know where so maybe the unit designation on the collar might help identify where he was. any info you can give us would be great. Thanks, Duane

Ogawa.jpg

[zachb]

Picture is hard to see but it looks like a private 1st class, 3rd Reg., w/ two diligence chevrons on the right sleeve. If you can confirm that is a "3" on the collar I can look up some more information on the Third Regiment.

Also, and I'm way out of my league, but the Kanji in the bottom right corner might say: "3" "Infantry".

[GHP]

The kanji identify the man as Ogawa. Was Ogawa your wife's grandfather's name?

小川
Ogawa


--Guy

[GHP]

... If you can confirm that is a "3" on the collar I can look up some more information on the Third Regiment.

Hi Zach -- it looks like a 3 to me as well, even after enlarging the image.


--Guy

[Duane E]

Thanks for the replies, yes Ogawa is the last name and 3 is on the collar tab. We would like to know where his unit was when he died. Duane

[Rod G]

Hi Duane,

I’m assuming he died within a few years of the photo, at this early stage its possible his possessions were returned to relatives in Japan. Maybe someone there has his papers?

Regimental numbers were removed from collars in the mid-1930’s when the fighting in Manchuria began so that's a hint.

The 3rd Regiment was part of the 1st Division (est. in Tokyo 1888) until August 1, 1940, then became part of the 28th Division (est. in Shinkyo, Manchuria July 10, 1940). From the uniform style in the picture it seems he served sometime before 1939. If he survived his earlier service and re-enlisted later in the war all bets are off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Di...Japanese_Army)

1st Division:
After the wars, the division returned to Tokyo, with permanent headquarters opened in Minami-Aoyama 15 June 1918. The February 26 Incident was an attempted coup d'état staged by elements of the 1st Division in Tokyo in 1936. Because the situation on the Soviet border was still volatile because of the ongoing Soviet–Japanese border conflicts, the 1st Division was soon sent to Manchukuo-Soviet border under the command of the Kwantung Army. The division participated in a Kanchazu Island incident, successfully driving off Soviet invaders by 30 June 1937. 1 September 1937 a 101st Division was created to garrison Tokyo instead of 1st Division. Later, parts of the 1st Division participated in the disastrous Nonomhan Incident in 1939.

Link to an article on how deceased soldiers were honoured that may be of some interest.

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewto...on%22#p1381999

Rod

[GHP]

Duane,

Your wife or mother-in-law might be able to check the list of those who are enshrined at Yasukuni. Here's a very light Wiki article that might get you thinking:
Enshrined Patriot's List

I once contacted the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare to obtain my father-in-law's records (if available), but I was told that in order to request the records, one must be a relative -- so your wife or mother-in-law would have to send in the paperwork.

Dear Guy H. Power

Thank you for your e-mail inquiry dated 2/13, 2013, regarding our military records. Please follow the procedure below to obtain information from our records:

Procedure for Requesting Disclosure of Private Information

The Reference Office, Record Division, Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief Bureau, which keeps personnel records handed over from the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy -- including the Army’s unit-specific rosters of personnel who were in an overseas territory in 1945, known as “rusu meibo,” -- discloses such information only to those whose names are in these records and their bereaved families upon request after verifying the identity of the inquirer, from the perspective of protecting their privacy.

To obtain information from our records, you are requested to send us a written request by mail that includes information on (1) and (2) (format not specified), as well as documents (3) - (6) listed below.

After receiving and confirming all of these documents, we will search the information you request. Please note that there is a possibility that the information may not be found in our records.

For detailed military service records of Imperial Japanese Army personnel, please contact the section in charge at the concerned prefectural government. The prefectural governments keep such information for all servicemen whose legal domicile was within their jurisdiction at the end of the war, or at the time of the serviceman's death.



Required information and documents:

(1) Information about the serviceman (war dead):
His full name (including his original family name if he had changed it), date of birth, date of death, and his legal domicile when the war ended or when he died, as well as any personal information the inquirer may have regarding his service (such as his rank and which force (army or navy) and unit he belonged to)

(2) Information about the inquirer and other information:
The information to be searched and its intended use (e.g., for recording the family history or drawing up a family tree)
The inquirer’s full name, address, phone number, and relationship to the serviceman.

(3) An official copy of (the part of) the family register that verifies the date of birth and the date of death of the serviceman

(4) An official copy of (the part(s) of) the family register that verifies the relationship between the serviceman and the inquirer
*This includes those registers that verify the change of the serviceman’s family name due to marriage.

(5) A copy of an official document that verifies the identify of the inquirer
Specifically, a copy of the inquirer’s driver’s license or health insurance card that bears the inquirer’s full name and present address.

(6) An official copy of the certificate of residence of the inquirer that is made within 30 days before the date of request for information disclosure.

*We will return documents (3)-(6) above to the inquirer when we provide the requested information.


Send to or contact:
Reference Office, Record Division, Social Welfare and War Victims’ Relief Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8916, Japan


＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Reference Office,Record Division,
Social Welfare and War Victims' Relief Bureau,
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

[name redacted]

TEL　０３－５２５３－１１１１
　　FAX　０３－３５９５－２４８５
　　e-mail　[address redacted]@mhlw.go.jp

--Guy

[Duane E]

Thanks for the replies, with that uniform I'm thinking he served before the war got out and what my wife says that he was drafted when her mom was 11, so that would be 1943. There is one aunt left living in Japan, maybe she can give more info on periods he served and if there is any paperwork. Don't want to open up new wounds.
Duane

[Rod G]

You could try starting a conversation on the man and gently come around to asking about the war. I'm sure the aunt will be happy you care to know about her father.

Clearly the 3rd Infantry Regiment's history isn't relevant in 1943. It's soldiers would have been drawn from Japanese nationals living in Manchuria, and there were over a million of them, after it joined the 28th Division.

If you can find where he was living in 1943 when he was drafted there is an associated divisional district which may help determine which units are candidates. Mention of one or another may jog your aunt-in-law's memory. If he was trained as an infantry man that is probably what he would have been during his second tour.

Anyway, just some things to think about if you plan to persue him. Best of luck with this!

Rod

[Duane E]

Thanks Rod.