The Hellships Memorial

The Hellships Memorial honors the thousands of World War II Allied prisoners of war transported under horrific conditions by their Japanese captors on "Hellships" and scattered all across Asia to work as slave laborers in factories, shipyards, and mines to support the Japanese war effort.

The Hellships Memorial is dedicated to all the POWs on all the Hellships. As the inscription on the Memorial says, these heroes came from different homelands, different backgrounds, and different circumstances – but all were courageous and patriotic men whose lives were drastically altered and, in many cases, ended during their terrible journeys on the Hellships. More than half a century later, many of these men lie beneath no headstone or other marker, their bodies impossible to recover from their watery graves. This is the only Memorial many of these men will ever have.

The Memorial will offer a place of quiet reflection to future generations who must discover the extraordinary sacrifice of these heroes, not only that they may draw inspiration from their example but also to reaffirm the enduring hope of a world set free from war.

The Hellships Memorial is located on the Subic Bay Freeport (SBF), Philippines, on the shoreline near the headquarters of the SBF, Bldg 229. The sunken remains of the Oryoku Maru lie about 500 yards from the site.

Constructed of the finest Italian granite, the Hellships Memorial will forever speak of this hope, serving as an anchor holding fast against the slow currents of complacency and forgotten loss.

This memorial was established and is supported by former prisoners of war of the Japanese, family and friends of those who died, and those who survived the endless nightmare of being a POW.

Be a part of the effort to expand and maintain the Hellships Memorial! CLICK HERE to find out how to make your tax-deductible gift in any amount in any currency. Your gift is appreciated and will be used only in the construction and maintenance of the Hell Ships Memorial.

The Memorial was dedicated on January 22, 2006 at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND STORY