Fukuoka Camp #17

After days and days of sailing, in early august we finally arrived at the seaport of Moji on the northern tip of Kyushu. This was deep in enemy territory and there was no way to escape (H. Montoya, p. 167). We were then loaded into the train one by one. We traveled south from Moji for about 2 hours. We arrived at Omuta on the western shore, about 35 miles across the bay from Nagasaki, in the late afternoon (H. Montoya, p. 169). We were met at the train station by squad guards. As we marched down the street in commons of four, the squads of Japanese soldiers flanked us on both sides (H. Montoya, p. 170). We arrived at Fukuoka Camp #17 tired and hungry. We counted off our numbers in Japanese and that was our identification number as a prisoner of war in Camp #17 for the rest of our internment. Fukuoka Camp #17 was about 17 miles northwest of Kumamoto (H. Montoya, p. 172). On the second day at the camp, we were informed that we were going to be paid in Japanese currency to work in the Japanese mining camp (H. Montoya, p. 175). One of the first few days we were given work assignments. Some were ordered to work as blasters and shovelers. I was inducted into the coal blasting squad. Others were assigned to build wood frames that would secure the ceilings (H. Montoya, p.177). The coal mines were unsafe and everyday we worked our lives were in danger. Caveins were fairly common. 
  On August 9th, 1945, my crew of 150 prisoners were exiting the main mine entrance. We looked up for fresh air.but on this day, thousands of feet up, there was a cloud of silvery dust hover above — the aftermath of "Fat Man,"  the first atomic bomb. The next day we were given the day off. (H. Montoya, p. 194) 
One day I was punished for having my number tag hanging on the inside of my door instead of the outside. My punishment was kneeling on the ground in front if the gaurdhouse and being kicked in my ribs and groin. 

Works Cited 
Montoya, Horacio H.. Rising sun over Bataan: memoirs of war. Charleston, SC: BookSurges] ;, 2008. Print.