Muroran Guard Unit Service Record Booklet:

Sometimes a small poignant glimmer connected to larger events from the past appears. In this case the Army Service Record Booklet of Mr. Hasebe of Sapporo makes him, by implication, a participant in an historic, if terrifying, event that occurred during the closing days of World War 2. 

 

Pvt. 2nd Class Hasebe became active on June 25, 1945 in the 8th Independent Guard Unit, part of the Muroran Guard Unit, providing security to the Muroran Iron and Steel Works on Hokkaido. Less than a month later his unit was subjected to an intense 300 to 400 shell US naval bombardment. See quote and link below: World War II Database). 

The 8th Independent Guard Unit was demobilized Sept 17, 1945 (Japan demobilization report). 

 

Personal Information:

Jurisdiction: “Tatsu” 達8150 (code for: 5th Area Army HQ)

Unit Number: “Tatsu” 達12638 Butai (code for: 8th Independent Guard Unit) 

Military Department: Infantry 

Government Rank: Private 2nd Class 

Specialty: (blank) 

Permanent Residence: 北海道 Hokkaido, 札幌 Sapporo City, 

Appointment:

Name: 羽曽部 Hasebe 義勝 Yoshikatsu

Date of Birth: Taisho 15 (Sept. 20, 1926) 

Height: 

Service record translation:

Showa 20, June 25th (1945), 現役 active duty トシテ in “Tatsu” 達12638 (code name and number for the 8th Independent Guard Unit), 佐野 Sano Unit (a 1st Lt. or Capt. Sano was his Company commander). 

 

From: World War II Database; Preparations for Invasion of Japan 

World War II Database: Preparations for Invasion of Japan

Quote: “On 15 Jul, three Iowa-class battleships Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin bombarded industrial targets at Muroran, Hokkaido. The targets were the Wanishi Iron Works plants and the Muroran Works, both of the Japan Steel Company.”




© 2021 R.S.G.

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