In December 1944, the Oryoku Maru—a Japanese requisitioned luxury liner—was transporting over 3,400 individuals, including 1,619 Allied prisoners of war (POWs), predominantly American servicemembers, when it was struck by U.S. aircraft in Subic Bay, Philippines. The ship, originally intended for horses, had been converted into a so-called "hellship," forcing POWs into cargo holds under extreme conditions with temperatures reaching up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and inadequate sanitation.

During air raids on December 14 and 15, 1944, the U.S. forces unknowingly attacked the vessel, which subsequently sank approximately 500 feet off the Philippine coast. The attack compelled many prisoners to jump into the water to reach shore. While some survived, approximately 225 died during the harsh transport and bombings, and an additional 55 prisoners drowned or were shot trying to escape.

Since that time, efforts to recover the remains of those lost aboard the Oryoku Maru have been ongoing. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has undertaken complex underwater explorations of the wreck site to locate and retrieve artifacts and human remains. Over recent years, the agency developed detailed 3-D models of the sunken ship to aid in planning recovery operations.

A two-month mission concluded in May involved Navy and Coast Guard divers working under DPAA’s direction to enter the ship's forward cargo holds. Divers recovered a range of artifacts linked to the POWs, including military boots stamped “USA,” metal identification bracelets, broken eyeglasses, a medical intravenous needle, and a brass item thought to be a cigarette case. The team also discovered potential bone fragments now subject to forensic analysis in coordination with Philippine authorities.

The ongoing work holds deep significance for families of missing servicemembers, such as Lori Zielinski, whose grandfather, Captain Fred Rose, remains unaccounted for. With an estimated 80,000 U.S. service members missing—most from World War II—and fewer than 4,000 recovered since 1973, missions like the Oryoku Maru recovery continue to provide hope for closure.

The operation underscores the challenges inherent in investigating wartime maritime disasters, combining advanced underwater technology with meticulous forensic efforts to honor those lost and bring answers to families decades after the conflict.