The following information about the Laurens Family comes from Robert Colquhoun
October 13, 2006
The Laurens family was on "permanent release" in Manila.
I have answers to two of my questions. Thanks to Diane Hess McCorkle,
who was also on board, I now know that the ship I crossed the Pacific
on in April 1945 was the 'Cape Meares'(updated March 5, 2017). Further research reveals that she
was a Norwegian merchant ship (that rang a bell), converted into a US
troop-ship. She could carry 2000, had her own hospital and operating
theatre, and was heavily armed. As such she had taken part in the
invasion of the Philippines in December 1944. Our crossing to San
Francisco took nearly five weeks partly because she went far south
(almost to New Guinea), picking up military personnel along the way.
Towards the end of her life she was sold to a Greek company and ended
her days in a Chinese scrapyard in 1970.
The boy I was friendly with on the 'Cape Meares' was almost certainly
Paul B. Laurens, a Belgian of my age. Lou Gopal found him for me on a
1944 roster he has. I also have the full names and ages of his
parents. They were not in Camp but on restricted 'permanent release'
in Manila (which fits with my recollection). If Paul Laurens or
anyone connected with him ever sees this, I hope they will get in
touch with me.
Robert Colquhoun
E-mail robcolquhoun@waitrose.com
If you would like to share any information about the Laurens Family
or would like to be added to my POW/Internee e-mail distribution list,
please let me, Tom Moore, know.
Thanks!
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