Tei Monzen

Tei Monzen was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, posthumously promoted to that rank. He was from Fukui.
He was a graduate of the Etajima Naval Academy, Class 42, on 12 December 1914.

Assignments

On 10 March 1934, Commander Monzen Tei was appointed Commanding Officer of the IJN River Gunboat Atami.
On 15 December 1938, Captain Monzen Tei was appointed Commanding Officer of IJN icebreaker Odomari.
When 11,000 U.S. Marines came ashore at Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942 in Operation Watchtower, the 2,571 Japanese construction troops and 400 soldiers assigned to defend the area were under the command of Captain Tei Monzen.
The landing of the Marines put paid to these expectations.
Monzen was assigned with the Maizuru Submarine Base Unit, 1 October 1943 - 20 May 1944.

Death

He was killed in action 9 June 1944 with the 3rd Convoy HQ. His posthumous promotion to vice admiral was effective this date.
The Japanese Dōmei news agency reported on 22 September 1944 that he had “died in action” but gave no details.
The dispatch, recorded by a Federal Communications Commission monitor, said that the Yokosuka naval station, near Tokyo, had listed him as a fatality.