Voices from Narumi POW Camp Part 2

transcribed by Jenny Chan

On the night of 29th June 1945, while I was imprisoned at Neuri[Narumi] prison of war camp, we were awakened in order that roll call could be taken. The Japanese guards discovered at this time that 1st. Class Petty Officer Wagner, U.S. Navy, who slept in the same barracks as I did, was missing. An immediate search was started but we were allowed to go back to bed. The next morning when we awake I saw Wagner standing in front of the guard house with a stick tied between his legs and his hands tied in front of him. The Japanese guards were kicking and beating this man and this torture continued for the next 72 hours. We heard through the Japanese guards that this man had been found in the kitchen and that he had stolen some food there. Wagner remained in the above described position for 72 hours and was beaten at the whim of the guards and on innumerable occasions. He had only a G-string and it was quite cold during the nights. During this 72 hour period, in addition to seeing the guards beat this man, I saw Lt. Karamira (phonetic) the Japanese commandant, beat this man and also saw Kamieko (phonetic), the civilian interpreter, beat him. 

This was not a pleasant sight and I did not watch this man as he was beaten unmercifully. After the passing of 72 hours, he was placed in solitary confinement in the guard house. We were told by 2nd Lieutenant Kissel, Infantry, Phillipine Army, the American camp commander at this camp, that Wagner had been tried and that although the usual penalty for Wanger's offense was death, the Japanese had mercifully sentenced him to 30 days in solitary confinement and two to three spoonfuls of rice per day and about one ounce of water per day. Wagner remained in the guard house existing on this diet for 17 days. I did not see him during this period. About noon of the 17 day I was on the top of a hill within the compound on a work detail. I saw the Japanese guards take a wooden coffin into the guardhouse and then come out in a few minutes with the coffin and placing this on a cart, the guards then called for a detail of prisoners to draw this cart. Only two of the guards carried this coffin into the guardhouse but about eight of them were carrying it as they brought it out and loaded it onto the cart. I answered the detail called to pull this cart but when I started to leave the compound as part of this detail, I was taken off of this job. However, I stood and watched as this cart containing this coffin was taken off to the crematory. As I stood near the coffin I could hear slight noises coming from within as the sound of one knocking or kicking against the coffin from inside. The guardhouse was open and empty. I could see this plainly as the cart had been halted just in front of it. There was no doubt that Wagner was inside the coffin. The Japanese guards told us that at the time and that the man and coffin were to be taken to the crematory and burned. The cart containing Wagner in the coffin was moved out of the compound. The detail of prisoners and guards returned in about two hours and returned the cart empty. There were no Americans on this work detail. In addition to myself, others had volunteered when the guards called for men but all the Americans were rejected for this detail. All of the prisoners on the detail were Dutch and British. I talked to some of these men as did other American prisoners and we were all told that Wanger was still alive at the time he was cremated. These men said that they heard him knocking and kicking against the inside of the coffin on the way to the crematory and while being burned and that the Japanese guards just ignored these noises and accomplished the cremation of the man. Judging from pervious similar incidents, this man must have lapsed into a coma after his torture and confinement and could only knock or kick against the coffin instead of yelling out. I do not know the identity of any of the Japanese guards who beat and tortured this man and finally carried out his cremation. The only ones whose identity I am certain of I have stated previously. Neither the camp commandant nor the interpreter went to the scene of the cremation. Wagner's ashes were turned over to Lieutenant Kissel. I do not recall the name of any of the Dutch or British prisoners who were on the detail which took Wagner to the crematory. 
Lieutenant Kawamira (phonetic) was the Japanese commandant at the time of this incident. He had arrived at this camp as commandant in March 1945 and remained here until our liberation. In addition to beating Wagner himself, this man at least condoned the continued beating and torture of Wagner by the camp guards and finally, the cremation of Wagner. The only physical evidence that I know of in connection with this crime, were the burned remains of Wagner. I was told that these had been turned over by Lieutenant Kissel to the Champlain of the Navy Hospital Ship "Rescue". The following men were witnesses in whole or in part to this incident: 
Paul Gelly, Chief Machinist Mate, U.S. Navy;
Lt. Kissel, Infantry, Phillipine Army;
Champlain Riley, Major, U.S. Army;
1st Lieutenant Schultz, M.C., U.S. Army. 
The last named individual was the camp doctor at Narumi. This was all the information that I have concerning this incident. 

Source:

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.

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