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Source: RG 331 Box 921; Mansell NARA 5
C O N F I D E N T I A L
WAR DEPARTMENT
Judge Advocate General's Department
Unites States of America
Deposition of ROBERT T. ROHMER,
S/Sgt, ASN 7002672
IN THE MATTER OF THE BEATING AND TORTURE OF PRIVATE COBB, PRIVATE
DORSEY, S/SGT McCURDY AND ONE UNIDENTIFIED PRISONER OF WAR AT
TSURUGA SUB CAMP, OSAKA, JAPAN, 11 JULY 1945.
Taken at: Letterman General Hospital, Presidio of San Francisco,
California
Date: 28 September 1945
In the Presence of: Paul G. Puch, Agent, SIC, CD, NSC
Questions by: Paul G. Puch, Agent, SIC, CD, NSC
Q: What is your name, age, rank, serial number and permanent
address?
A: My name is Robert T. Rohmer, age 26, S/Sgt, ASN 7002672. My
permanent address is Greenville, Mississippi.
Q: On what dates were you inducted, sent overseas and returned
from overseas?
A: I volunteered on 21 October 1939, was sent overseas on 1 November
1941 and returned 25 September 1945.
Q; Were you ever a prisoner of war of any of the Axis powers?
A: Yes, of the Japanese.
Q: State the organization with which your were serving at the
time of ytgour capture and when, where and by whom you were taken
into custody.
A: The 91st Bombardment Squadron (L), 27 Bombardment Group (L).
I was taken captive by the Japanese on 9 April 1942 at Bataan.
Q: Where were you kept and what were your movements while you
were in such custody?
A: I was held at Camp O'Donnell from 19 April 1942 to 4 June
1942, at Cabanatuan Number One to 7 November 1942, in transit
[Nissyo Maru] to Japan to 27 November 1942, at
Tanagawa Sub camp at Osaka, Japan to 29 March 1945, in Kobe (Piggy
City) to 25 April 1945 and at Tsuruga Sub Camp, Osaka, Japan
to 10 September 1945.
Q:Were you an eye-witness to any illegal conduct, either by way
of omission or commission on the part of the Japanese nationals
or soldiers which resulted in the death or serious injury of
any American national?
A: Yes.
Q: Describe in detail the conduct you believe to be illegal,
giving particulars as to the nature thereof, the name and identification
of the victim and of the accused.
A: At Tsuruga Sub camp, Osaka, Japan on 11
July 1945 about nine
AM, Private Cobb [Charles Alton of the
59th CA], Dorsey [Leo Homer of the 192nd Tank], McCurdy [MacCurdy,
David J. pf the 91st Bomb Sqn (L)] and one other man,
whose name I can't remember, were severely beaten. There had
been a shakedown inspection and several articles such as salt,
beans, rice and corn meal had been found hidden in the bunks
and bunk spaces. The men suspected were taken to the Administrative
Office to see Sergeant "The Saddist" Kameerah [Kimura, Ryunosuke], Private "Emperor"
Tuti, Private "Elmer" Decator, a medical Sergeant whose
name I don't know and the Sergeant Major of the camp, whose name
[Hiroichi Uno] I
don't recall. We stood in line and went in one at a time and
"Elmer" decided the "case" against us and
the punishment. These other Japs met us at the door and began
administering the punishment, which consisted of standing at
attention and being beaten by these four men until he passed
out, being revived revived by a bucket of cold water and being
beaten again to insensibility. I saw Cobb, McCurdy and Dorsey
beaten during a period of about two hours, after which time "Elmer"
appeared on the scene with a shovel, made the three men kneel
on the ground and beat them across the buttocks with the shovel.
He gave each man about 25 licks. He appeared to use all his effort
in each blow.
Q: Do you know the name of or can your describe any distinguishing
characteristics of the commanding officer of the camp?
A: The commanding officer of the camp was known as "The
Pig" [NAMBA, Motoo]. He was a Lieutenant, about five feet,
six inches tall, weighed about 160 pounds, age about 35, had
ans unusually round head, a shaved head and was usually laughing.
I do not know his name.
Q: Do you have, or know the location of, any physical evidence,
such as photograpgs, relating to this incisent?
A: No.
Q: Do you know the name of or can you identify and other eye-wirnesses
to this incident?
A: No.
Q: Does the terstimony you have given herein cover all the pertinent
details of this incident which you are able to remember?
A: Yes.
/S/ Robert T. Rohmer
ROBERT T. ROHMER
S/Sgt, ASN 7002672
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