Voices from Narumi POW Camp: A Series on the Affidavits of Captured Allied Prisoners

by Jenny Chan

During World War II, the Narumi POW Camp, officially designated Nagoya No. 2-B, stood as a grim testament to the brutal treatment of Allied prisoners under Japanese captivity. Located in Narumi, near Nagoya, Japan, this camp housed hundreds of American, British, Dutch, and Canadian prisoners who endured forced labor, starvation, and relentless cruelty. Among the many stories of suffering, the tragic fate of Doyle W. Waggoner, a U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class, whose mistreatment and death in July 1945 encapsulate the horrors faced by POWs at Narumi, stands out. This blog series highlights the affidavits and firsthand accounts of those captured, beginning with a chilling affidavit by Corporal Manuel Avila Cruz and an interview with 1st Lieutenant Max C. Kissel[1], which reveal the harrowing experiences of prisoners at Narumi, focusing on Waggoner’s ordeal, the systemic abuses under Japanese commandants, and the resilience of those who survived.
This post explores the brutal conditions at Narumi, where prisoners were forced to labor at the Nippon Sharyo factory[2], a major Japanese manufacturer of railway equipment and military materiel. Corporal Cruz’s affidavit mistakenly refers to this as the “Nissan locomotive ware,” likely a phonetic error due to the similarity between “Nippon” and “Nissan,” reflecting the challenges POWs faced in documenting their experiences. At Nippon Sharyo, prisoners built torpedo suicide boats under grueling conditions, endured collective punishments, and faced relentless beatings. Furthermore, Corporal Cruz mistakenly refers to the camp as “Neuri,” likely due to phonetic errors, as the similarity between “Narumi” and “Neuri.” The post recounts the specific events surrounding Waggoner’s attempted escape, his brutal punishment, and his tragic death, as witnessed by fellow prisoners. It also covers other incidents at the camp, including the death of Staff Sergeant Harry T. Cochran, the mistreatment of other prisoners, and the eventual liberation in September 1945. Through these accounts, this series honors the memory of those who endured unimaginable hardship and sheds light on a dark chapter of history.

Regarding the mistreatment by the Japanese and subsequent death of Doyle W. Wagonner, AOM 1st class, U.S. Navy, at Narumi War Prisoners Camp between 2 July 1945 and 17 July 1945.
Affidavit by Manuel Avila Cruz being duly sworn, deposes and says:

I am a corporal in the U.S Army, Chemical Warfare Service Branch, ASN18057106. I am 23 years of age. I entered the military service of the United States on 29 September 1941. I was sent overseas on 27 October 1941 and returned from overseas on 3 October 1945. I am a high school graduate. I was held in custody as a prisoner of war by the Imperial Japanese government from May, 1943 to September, 1945. At the time of my capture I was serving as an orderly in Regimental Headquarters, 31st Infantry Division. I was captured on 28 May 1942 at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, P.I. by a Japanese Marine Unit. From the day of my capture until my liberation, I was held in the following places. After my capture, I took part in the death March on Bataan as far as San Fernando where I escaped but was recaptured and taken to Camp O'Donnell where I remained about thirteen months. Then I was moved by truck to Bilibid where I remained approximately eight months. On 17 July 1944, I sailed for Japan and after landing at Moji was taken by train to Narumi Camp, Nagoya, where I remained from 4 August 1944 until 4 September 1945 when I was liberated. I can recall only the following three Japanese officers whom I encountered during my imprisonment. The first is Lieutenant Nagasen (phonetic) who was the commandant at Neuri Camp from August, 1944 until March, 1945. The second is Lieutenant Karamire (phonetic) the commandant at Neuri from March, 1945 until September 1945. Lastly, Kemioko (phonetic) who was the civilian interpreter at Neuri from the time of my arrival in August 1944 until our liberation. I did not hold any office or positions in any prison camp at any of my places of imprisonment. 

I was imprisoned at Neuri, Japan from 4 August 1944 to 4 September 1945. From the time of my arrival until liberation all the prisoners at this camp, with the exception of a few, worked at the Nissan locomotive ware in Nagoya, Japan. These work details included both officer and enlisted men of the American, Dutch and British Armies and Navies. We were all engaged in the building of torpedo suicide boats. We were all forced to work on those military weapons. There were 200 American prisoners and about 400 Allied prisoners and of this figure all worked on these Torpedo boats with the exception of about 50 who were either sick or had administrative duties at the camp. There were numerous incidents of the collective punishment of prisoners at this camp for the offense of an individual of a few. These punishments would be the standing at attention of prisoners for many hours or the taking away of privileges such as smoking. The one individual who received the most frequent and most severe punishment at this camp was 2nd Lt. Kissel, Infantry, Philippine Army, who was the American camp commander. Whenever anything went wrong or anyone did anything which displeased the Japanese, in addition to punishing the individual, the Japanese would take it out on Kissel and beat and kick him unmercifully. These beatings were innumerable but I am unable to recall any of the specific incidents. 

The improper working of prisoners on military weapons, the collective punishment of prisoners for the offense of one or a few and the innumerable beatings of Lt. Kissel occurred under both Japanese commandants who were stationed at this camp during the period of my imprisonment there. The first commandant, who was commandant when I arrived in August, 1944, was Lt. Nagasen (phonetic). This man beat Kissel himself on several occasions and at least condoned, if not personally ordered, the torture and beatings administered by his subordinates. The second commandant was Lt. Karamire, who arrived at this camp in March, 1945 and remained there until our liberation. He also worked the prisoners improperly on the torpedo boats and permitted, if not personally ordered, the torture and beatings and collective punishment given to all the prisoners for the offense of a few and the beating of Lt. Kissel. He also personally beat Kissel on a number of occasions. The only other Japanese stationed at this camp that I recall was Kamioko, the civilian interpreter. He was at this camp for the entire period of my imprisonment there and he never missed an opportunity to beat or strike a prisoner and did this many times including a number of times when Lt. Kissel was the victim. The men best acquainted with the above incidents in this camp and whom I am sure were eye-witnesses to many of such incidents are 2nd Lieutenant Kissel, Infantry, Philippine Army; Chaplain Ailey, Major, U.S. Army; 1st Lieutenant Schultz, M.C., U.S. Army. This all the information which I have relating to the above described incidents. 

1. Department of the Army, The Adjutant General's Office, Washington, “War Crime Files: Kawamura Kameki,” Pacific Asia War Archive, accessed May 29, 2025, https://pacificatrocitiesedu.reclaim.hosting/items/show/1267.
   
2. List of Prisoners, 1942-1945: Narumi Camp (Camp no. 11-B), Osaka." The Second World War Experience Centre , www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/osaka/narumi/narumi_11b_main.html . Accessed May 27th, 2025. Web.