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OHNO, MINEHIRO [Marginal Note: Sugamo 21 May 47 ] Statement of Ohno (8 July 1947 - taken by Pons) 22, lawyer, entered army 1944, assigned to LS (WAH) 15 July 1944 as PO, discharged 1 September 1945 as 2nd Lt. Ohno knows nothing of the KIU incident, but believes that the 1st execution was in the last of June, the other the 1st of July 1945, in which Ohno took part. Col. Tamomori (Tomomori) issued the order of execution to Itezono, who asked for strong, young officers to step forward and take part. When no one did so, Itezono ordered 2 from the Staff Section, Ohno and 1st Lt. Yoshida. Ohno was lowest ranking officer among these four (??), so he executed the 4th PW by beheading, completely severing his head. Ohno is not sure whether he stabbed him with a sword, since he was excited, but all the others did, especially if the PW were not dead (??). Ohno saw someone shooting at one PW with a bow and arrows; none of the arrows hit. Tamomori (Tomomori) was present during the entire execution, was the ranking officer. After Ohno beheaded the PvT he became sick and left the area; he later heard that Tamomori (Tomomori) had given whisky to the executioners. If Ohno got nervous and stabbed the PW, it was by Wako's order. Ohno believes these PWs were tried by LS, since those executed in the last part of June were investigated by 1st Lt. Marata (Murata). Ohno heard the bodies of the executed PWs were buried. |