POW descendants invited to anniversary

Descendants of the Wyoming prisoners of war whose lives were lost during World War II when a Japanese freighter was sunk are invited to an event honoring the nine men in Riverton next month. The dedication will honor the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the Arisan Maru on October 24, 1944.

The Arisan Maru was used as a transportation vessel for POWs from the Philippines to Manchuria, China or Japan, one of the “hell ships” known for their inhumane conditions or cruelty among the crew. On the date of its sinking, it was carrying an estimated 1781 prisoners and was one of the slower ships in a...