Statements Concerning Stearns

Statement of Munehiro (30 Sept 47). On the morning of 26 or 27 July 1945, Munehiro passed by the guard house in the Divisional Hq Compound in Kurume, saw about 5 Prisoners inside the guard house, their hands tied behind but the door was open. They were yelling in English for water. Apparently none of the guards understood, so Munehiro knowing a little English, told the guards.

Munehiro stayed with the Prisoners for ah out 15 minutes. Munehiro is quite sure they were all Americans. One Prisoners told him his name was Noshun, another was Hayward, was dark, about 5' 6", black hair, said hr was 19. The chevrons were torn from his shirt. Another was named Edward J. Stearns. His hands were not tied, and he wrote his name on a piece of paper, stated that he was born and lived at Long Island, New York, showed him a picture of his wife, said he had 2 children, that he was a pianist, a radio operator in the air corps, he was in his 20s, about 5' 4", slight of build, round shoulders.

Statement of Manako (27 Aug 46) The Chief of Police handed Manako a printed questionaire to fill out. The Prisoners said his name was Stearns. That he was a Cpl, that his father was a Professor on the East Coast, believes he was a gunner. Manako (cried) asked if he could go home, if he could have his wound treated, the KT Cpl said he would be treated after being taken to Kurume, Manako layer learned that he had been taken there.

Statement of Okumura (3-15 Oct 47). About 25 April, Okumura interpreted 3 flyers of a B29 that crashed after raiding Omuta. One was a Cpl and tail gunner, about 5' 7", 155 lbs, blond, short curley hair. One of the others was a radio operator, about 5' 6", 145 lbs, light hair. The other person was a Capt, a bombadier, about 6', 170 lbs, was not a crewman, but an observer, had been in the ETO, this was Cant. Louis U. Nelson, The other two were evidently Benn Thornton and Frederick A. Stearns.

While Okumura previously thought he talked to Louis W. Nelson and Frederick A. Stearns, he could not certainly identify them on being shown their photographs.

Statement of Mizushima (21 Oct 47). On 18 August 1945, an Army Officer brought a box to Mizushima said it contained the bones of American Prisoners and for him to take care of it, that the Prisoners died during the Fukuoka airraid, they would return for the box. It is customary to have the names on the box of ashes left temporarily, and, Mizushima said he would accept it only if the names were on the box, and the Officer then took out a list, read Mizeshima the list of names, which Mizushima write down in Katakana characters. As Mizushima recalls, there were 18 names. He then placed the list on the outside of the box, wrapped it with a piece of paper. The Officer left, and Mizushima placed the box in his temple.

The same Officer returned a few days later, took the box of ashes and left the list of names in the hallway.

Mizushima recalls the names, Charts, Jack, William and a 4th name in which the first or last name was written in 4 Katakana Characters. Recalls the name Frederick Stearns on the list.