1941 Capture of the First Japanese POW of World War II

Posted on Feb 25, 2025 in 1940's, HING History

World War II activation remembered

Hawaii National Guard's World War II veterans help Gov. John Waihee celebrate the 50th anniversary of the activation of the National Guard for the war, Oct.15. Joining the governor at the proclamation signing were(left to right) veterans Herman Waltjen, D.W. Sur and Manuel DeMello Jr. They remember being paid $21 per month as buck privates and six months later being promoted to a dollar a day private ($30 per month)
Hawaii National Guard’s World War II veterans help Gov. John Waihee celebrate the 50th anniversary of the activation of the National Guard for the war, Oct.15. Joining the governor at the proclamation signing were(left to right) veterans Herman Waltjen, D.W. Sur and Manuel DeMello Jr.
They remember being paid $21 per month as buck privates and six months later being promoted to a dollar a day private ($30 per month)
(Pictures from the 1990 July – September Pūpūkahi)

In anticipation of the United States’ involvement in World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on National Guard units across the nation to help fill the ranks of the newly expanded active Army . Hawaii’s 298th and 299th Infantry were two of the National Guard units called out.

The Hawaii units were tapped in the second increment of the presidential callup which inducted soldier from as far away as New York and Puerto Rico. The 298th, stationed at the Honolulu Armory, was commanded by Col. Wilhelm A. Andersen. Col. Gordon C. Ross was commander of the 299th, then stationed at lolani Barracks. Both infantry units were to serve for a 12-month period. (This period was later extended an additional 18 months.)

On Oct. 15, 1940, the two units’ 1,700+ members reported to Schofield Barracks for intensive training and preparation. Patriotism was high and there was wides spread support for the Guardsmen. To assist the young men in settling into their station camps, local residents and organizations collected donations to help pay for the soldiers’ personal items not provided by the Federal Government. The local media proudly referred to the men of the 298th and 299th as “Hawaii’s Own.”

On Dec. 8, 1941, a Hawaii Guardsman captured the first Japanese prisoner of World War II. On guard duty at Bellows Field, Master Sgt. David Akui captured Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, commander of a two-man midget submarine. Sakamaki had swam ashore after being grounded during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor the morning earlier.

– 1990 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 8

Guardsman captures first Japanese prisoner of war

In the predawn hours of Dec. 8, 1941, Corporal David M. Akui, 21, of the 298th Infantry, was on active duty patrolling the beach at Bellows Field, Oahu, when he spotted what he thought was a turtle n the offshore darkness. As the object came closer, however, Akui realized it was a man swimming ashore. Akui challenged the Asian man and ordered him to halt. Bayoneted rifle in one hand, Akui cranked up the field phone with his free hand and called his commander, Lt. P.C. Plybon. Plybon and his party arrived immediately and the exhausted stranger was tied up and driven away.

At daybreak a dark, bulky object was sighted on the reef about 1 1/2 miles offshore. A reconnaissance plane determined the object to be an 80-foot Japanese midget submarine, one of five twoman subs assigned to attack Pearl Harbor the previous morning. It turned out that Akui had captured Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, the commander of midget submarine number 19 and the first Japanese prisoner of World War II.

Later investigation revealed that a damaged gyroscope and depth charges from two American destroyers had prevented Sakamaki’s sub from entering the harbor. The sub was setting out for a rendezvous point off Lanai when its crew collapsed from fatigue and the sub washed onto the reef near Kaneohe.

Akui declined several opportunities to meet with Sakamaki during and after the war. A dedicated military man, Akui went on to fight in the Central Pacific campaign and in the India-Bunna campaign with Merrill’s Marauders. He served almost 20 years in the Guard and rose to the rank of master sergeant. He left the Guard in 1959 to join the Navy Reserve, retiring as a chief utilities man in 1975.

Akui passed away in 1987 His wife and four children live in Kaneohe.

– 1991 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 8