page_title: James Devereux
section_title: Prisoner of war
hierarchical_section_title: James Devereux / Biography / Marine Corps career / Prisoner of war
context_page_description: James Patrick Sinnott Devereux was a United States Marine Corps general, Navy Cross recipient, and Republican congressman. He was the officer-in-charge of the 1st Defense Battalion Detachment during the defense of Wake Island in December 1941. He was captured on Wake Island as a prisoner of war, along with his men, after a 15-day battle with the Japanese. After his release in September 1945, he concluded his military career as a Colonel in 1948, where upon his retirement he was promoted to Brigadier General. He later represented the second congressional district of the state of Maryland in the United States House of Representatives for four terms from 1951 to 1959. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election as Governor of Maryland in 1958.
context_section_description: After his capture, he remained on Wake Island until January 12, 1942, when he was sent away with his men on the Nita Maru.  He stopped at Yokohama, where some American officers debarked, but later arrived at Woosung, China, located downriver from Shanghai, on January, 24.  He remained there until December 9, 1942, when he was transferred to Kiangwan, where he spent 29 months imprisoned.  For five weeks, he stayed at Fungtai, near Peiping, and then was transferred to camps in central Hokkaidō, northern island of Japan.
  Devereux was released from the Hokkaidō Island prison camp on September 15, 1945.
caption: Maj Devereux, as POW in Shanghai, c. 1942.
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