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Addidavit - Raymond Baggett Death of Virgil Bryd by being beaten to death at Yodogawa |
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Source: RG 24, Box 1; Record of Bureau of Naval Personnel, Casualty Branch Records relating to Japanese war crimes involving POWs Affidavit states incident was at Osaka Camp # 3 [actual camp was Osaka Camp #3 aka Yodogawa] Testimony of PFC Raymond Baggett, 280323, St Louis, MO Jap CO= Col. Mori?- Baggett uncertain of spelling Guard: Okamatsu aka "Beast of Burden" Baggett states he saw Chief commissary Steward Virgil Byrd [USS Quail] beaten to death, 11 May 1943 by Okamatsu. Byrd was beaten unconscious 3 times, revived and beaten again. Kicked each time he fell unconscious... finally kicked to death. Entire camp was present during the entire beating and was forced to watch. Crime? Byrd sold an extra pair of shoes to a Japanese workman. Baggett arrived at Yodogawa on 26 Nov 1942 and departed 16 April 1945 for "Camp Ouiama" [Oyeama]. Baggett remained at Oeyama until the end of the war. Affirmation noted: Beating witnessed by all of camp. /s/ Capt Richardson, (medical officer) |