Source: NARA - Record Group 331 Box 942

8 August 1947

MEMORANDUM FOR FILE:

SUBJECT:

NA-8
Camp No. 7-B
Toyama, Honshu, Japan (Nagoya)

1. In view of the fact that the undersigned, who was recently given the above case for analysis, is returning to the United States in the very near future, this memorandum for the file is being written so that the one to whom the case is given for trial may have a better understanding of the same.

2. Camp No. 7-B was constructed by the Nippon Soda Company, Ltd., on its own property about 300 meters from the Nippon Soda Factory where the prisoners from the Camp were employed. Approximately 195 American Prisoners of War were confined in this camp during the summer of 1945. The prisoners were engaged in the production of steel alloy in the factory. The file of this case disclosed many dangerous working conditions, as well as the lack of precautionary measure in the event of American air raids, which from about the middle of July 1945 until the end of the war were quite frequent.

3. Second Lieutenant NEGISHI, Shoichi, was the Camp Commander. The file discloses that charges and specifications against NEGISHI were at one time prepared, but that on 17 January 1946, it was recommended that he be released from Sugamo Prison and, further, that on 19 February 1846, he was released, presumably on the theory that no case against him exists. In view of the numerous statements contained numerous affidavits in the file, the undersigned heartily concurs in the fact that no legal case exists against the Camp Commander. In support of this statement, attention is called to the statement in the file by Guy H. Stubbs, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, the senior American Prisoner of War in this camp, under date of 25 August 1945, which contains the following with reference to NEGISHI:

He has shown more concern for the welfare of Prisoners of War than I have experienced in any if the eight Prisoner of War Camps or concentration areas in which I have been confined... I feel personally indebted to Lieutenant Shoichi NEGISHI for his courteous service to myself and my men. I speak for all 195 Americans here in requesting such courtesy and consideration as you can grant him.

4. Later, on 25 July 1946, Lieutenant Colonel Stubbs executed an affidavit in which he states that on 25 August 1945 he voluntarily gave a written statement of Lieutenant NEGISHI, relative to his administration of this camp. In view of the above, it is the opinion of the undersigned that there are no grounds for presenting charges against Lt. NEGISHI.

5. There was only one death at the camp, that of one C.S. Uckerman. Lieutenant Colonel Stubbs, in his affidavit of 25 July 1946, states that the real cause of this death was probably deficient diet over the period of many months – not particularly at this camp.

6. Perhaps the worst offenders at this camp were two guards known as "Three Fingers" alias "Three-Finger Jack" and "Three-Finger Pete"; and "Torpedo" alias "Limpy" and "Gimpy". The affidavit of Lieutenant Colonel Stubbs states that the true name of "Three Fingers" was NAKAGAWA, Yukihiro and it is believed that the true name of the guard known as "Torpedo" is MIZUSHIMA, Umekichi.

7. According to the records of the Criminal Registry Division, a search has been made for NAKAGAWA for a period of about one year, that he was not apprehended, and that finally his name was deleted at the request of the Prosecution Division, Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP. No request haas ever been made for the apprehension of MIZUSHIMA and he is merely listed in the office of Criminal Registry Division as a suspect perpetrator.

8. With reference to beatings and slappings administered by "Three Fingers" to the Prisoners of War, it is suggested and recommended that the affidavits of the following former Prisoners of War be referred to:
HAGEN, Garland W.
WOOD, Cecil L.
LONG, Joseph Wilson

9. With reference to the beatings and slappings administered by "Torpedo", it is suggested and recommended that the affidavits of the following former Prisoners of War be referred to:
HOYT, LeRoy L.
TRIPP. Harry P.
GOODMAN, Dean Ivan
DALY, Robert D.
KRUGER, Courtney T.

10. All other affidavits in the file are either so lacking in specific information or else contain matters so beneficial to the Defense that they are not deemed to be worthy of consideration.

11. In the file of Case Number NA-9, Nagoya Prisoner of War Branch Number 8, appear a number of affidavits which lead to the conclusion that the affiants (sic) were confined in that camp, as well as the subject camp. Among these is the affidavit of THOMAS, Harold L., formerly a Corporal in the United States Army and whose home address is 3577 Wyandotte Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

12. On 9 July 1947, at the suggestion of, and upon the recommendation of Mr. Murray Gray, Prosecution Division, Legal Sections, GHQ, SCAP, the personal presence, in Tokyo, of said Thomas was requested by Radio Telcon to the War Department, Washington, D.C. No word has, as yet, been received as to when Thomas will arrive in this Theater.

13. In the opinion of the undesigned, the factgs contgained in subject file do not present a particularly strong case; however, provided these two guards "Three Fingers" and "Torpedo" can be apprehended and proper identification made, it is thought that sufficient grounds for charging both of them exist.

/s/ Robert T. Price
ROBERT T. PRICE
Prosecution Division
Legal Section, GHQ, SCAP