The material in this section concerns the Execution and Burial of
Lt Robert Watson Nelson
and SSgt Algy Augunas 18 July 1945.
In the first page are sketches of burial locations in Osaka and the
Shinodayama Military Maneuver area ( 28 Km south of Osaka ).
In Page 2 are screenshots from Google maps to assist with orientation
.
From the below Report of Recovery document your first thought might
be
that Lt Nelson and SSgt Augunas were executed and buried at Osaka.
However, documents in pages 3 and 4 will show that this was not the
case.
In those documents you will encounter the names of
several locations where the execution took place.
After considerable deliberation I have come to the conclusion that
this was at Yokoyama, located close to Fukuze-cho ( Fukuzecho ).
The trial took place at the Chubu Army Headquarters in Osaka Castle.
Shortly after the verdict, both Lt Nelson and SSgt Augunas were
transported by truck to Yokoyama. This took about 90 minutes.
The distance from Osaka to Shinodayama by rail is 28 Km ( ~17 miles
)
while the distance to Yokoyama is 49 Km ( ~29 miles ).
The execution and initial burial took place at Yokoyama 18 July 1945.
On 24 August the remains of both Lt Nelson and SSgt Augunas
were exhumed and cremated at this gravesite.
The cremated remains were then transported to
the Sanadayma Military Cemetery and buried.
Recovery took place on 26 February 1946 by RecoveryTeam No. 1.
