Source: NARA RG 331 Box 942; Mansell NARA 8
Notation added for clarity or fact by Center For Research in [red]

For the WAR CRIMES OFFICE
Judge Advocate Generals Department - War Department
United States of America

In the Matter of the Death of William J. Cronin, Chief Radioman, U.S.N., on 4 July 1946 at Nagoya Area Prisoner of War Camp 10-B Taken at: U.S. Naval Special Hospital, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Perpetuation of Testimony of Lonnie C. Merritt, W/O, 484870 [Photograph taken by Japanese while at Zentsuji POW Camp, circa May 1942]

Date: 25 March 1946.

In the Presence of: Vung T. Chen, Agent, Security Intelligence Corps, Fourth Service Command.

Reporter: Elizabeth B. Roth, Clerk-Steno, District #5, Fourth Service Command, Miami, Florida.

Questions by: Vung T. Chen, Agent, Security Intelligence Corps, Fourth Service Command.

Q. State your name, rank, serial number and permanent home address.
A. Lonnie C. Merritt, W/O (formerly Chief Pharmacist Mate) 484870, 721 Hampton Road, West Palm Beach, Florida; telephone 3830.

Q. How long have you been in the Navy?
A. Since the date of my first enlistment, 9 August 1923.

Q. On what date were you captured by the Japanese and under what circumstances?
A. I was captured on 10 December 1941 at Guam and was taken prisoner with the rest of the garrison. There were approximately 100 civilians and 400 servicemen. At this time, we were all taken to prison camp except one person, a German, who had the German flag flying over his property at the time of capture.

Q. Do you recall the name of this German and any other information concerning him?
A. Yes, his name was George Scharf. He had been to the United States but came back to Guam and lived there a number of years. He supposedly had tried for American citizenship but had been refused. As far as I know he was still a German citizen and when the Japanese took over Guam, he hoisted the German flag.

Q. Can you describe this individual?
A. Scharf was about 45 years of age; had dark hair, ruddy complexion, weighed about 175 pounds, was tall - approximately 6 feet. He spoke English with a definite German accent.

Q. Do you know of any other Americans who might have additional information regarding Scharf?
A. Possibly the following two people: Chief Boatswain Mate P.S. Saunders [Sanders], c/o Navy Department, Washington, D.C.; and Phar. Mate 1/c C.W. Atwood who is now in a hospital somewhere in California but who can be contacted through the Navy Department in Washington, D.C.

Q. State the places where you were held, the approximate dates and the date of your liberation.
A. I was at Camp Zentsuji from about 15 January until 9 June 1942; from approximately 15 June until 20 June 1945 at Osaka Camp No.1 [Chikko]; from there I was sent to Nagoya Area Prisoner of War Camp 10-B. I was liberated 5 September 1945.

Q. Do you recall any of the circumstances relative to the death of William J. Cronin, Chief Radioman, U.S.N., on 4 July 1945 at Nagoya Area Prisoner of War Camp 10-B? If so, give all of the information you have.
A. On 4 July 1945, William J. Cronin, one of the best liked men in camp, was working aboard a ship unloading bags of beans, each of which weighed about 200 pounds. The material and equipment used by these men was very poor and of a low grade which made it dangerous for anyone to work on this detail. These men were working in a hold two or three decks below where the cargo was carried. Cronin was injured when a bag fell and hit him on the shoulder. Some of the other prisoners who were working with him made a stretcher as best they could and carried Cronin back to camp. This was about two hours after the accident occurred. I was the only medical man on duty and I received Cronin in the barrack. The other men returned to work and I remained with Cronin until he died approximately four hours later. [Note: Death Certificate states he died at 2:00 PM]

     As I had no medical supplies, I contacted the Japanese guards advising them of the situation and requesting aid. At this time, I told them that Cronin should be put in a hospital because he needed X-Rays and surgical care. However, these guards, KODAIRA and TAMARA [Tamaru] [picture], did nothing, not even send a doctor. After I asked them for medical assistance from the next camp, Camp 11, and it was refused, I gave him an injection of morphine to help relieve the severe pain. Cronin was foaming at the mouth, spitting blood and from the waistline down, he was paralyzed. Therefore, I believed that he had internal injuries, probably a punctured lung or injuries of some sort around the heart. I also believe he had at least 3 broken ribs. I later discovered that Cronin had a broken spine but the full extent of his injuries could not be determined without X-rays or an autopsy. I do not think that anything could really have been done to save his life but Kodaira and Tamara did not do anything and no special consideration at all was given.

Q. Can you describe Kodaira and Tamara?
A. Kodaira, who was slow and lazy-like, was very short, about 5'4"; rather chubby, approximately 150 pounds; about 22 years of age; the usual Japanese complexion; black hair and eyes. He did not wear glasses and as far as I know, he did not have a nickname.

Tamara was a little taller than Kodaira and weighed about 140 pounds. Tamara, who was about 30 years of age, did not wear glasses wither nor did he have a nickname. One of them, I do not recall which, was a two-star private and the other a corporal. I have a photostat copy of the address of one of these men (attached herewith) and I also had an address book in which the names and addresses of some of the men from the camp were written. However, I turned this book over to an Army Intelligence Officer on the boat while en route back to the United States.

Q. Do you know the names and addresses of any other Americans who may have additional information concerning these two guards?
A. Chief Boatswain Mate P.S. Saunders, c/o Navy department, Washington, D.C., and Capt. James K. Keeley, U.S. Army, 630 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey.

Q. Who was the Japanese medical officer in charge?
A. There was no Japanese medical officer at this camp. There was one officer in charge of several camps in the area but he only came to our camp once during the three months I was there. I asked him his name but I did not write it down and am unable to recall it at present. He spoke good English and I am of the opinion that he was educated in America. He was a sergeant-major cadet officer. He was about 5'6" tall; weighed around 150 pounds; wore glasses and I imagine he was in his twenties. After he visited some of the worst cases, he left orders that two or three of the prisoners were to be permanently relieved from any kind of duty. I honestly believe that he tried to do what was best for the prisoners of war but Kodaira and Tamara never carried out his orders. As I was the only American medical man present at the time of this officers visit, I dont think that any other American would have additional information about him.

Q. Who was the American officer in charge?
A. There were no American officers at this camp but the American who was in complete charge was Chief Boatswain Mate P.S. Saunders, referred to above.

Q. Were there any American doctors at all at this camp?
A. Not until thirty days before the end of the war when some were sent in. Among them was Capt. James K. Keeley, referred to above. He was medical officer in charge for the last two months we were at this camp.

Q. Do you have anything further you would like to add?
A. Only that I would be willing to go to Japan to testify at these War Crime trails provided I would not be kept there longer than six weeks.

/S/
Lonnie C. Merritt

State of Florida [state seal]
County of Palm Beach

I, Lonnie C. Merritt, of lawful age, being duly sworn on oath, state that I have read the foregoing transcription of my interrogation and all answers contained herein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

/S/
Lonnie C. Merritt

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th of March 1946.
/S/ Lida G. Merritt
{Notary Public Seal}