Military

Historic Military Executions

In December 2003, a document was discovered at the Pentagon that listed the executions under United States military jurisdiction from 1945 through 1961. The handwritten list, entitled “Executed Death Cases Before 1951,” was discovered behind a filing cabinet during a cleanup of offices. DPIC obtained the list from the Associated Press and a transcribed version is presented below. Due to the quality of the original copies, some of the entries are uncertain and we have noted them accordingly. Some updates have been made as new research comes to light, these updates are marked with a ^. These were found through the research efforts of Terese Svoboda.

*Starred dates and names indicate that the original was only partly legible.
** National Archives (I) - Records of Far East Command, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers and United Nations Command 1945 - 1957, Provost Marshall Section, Reg 554, Stack 290, Rm 50, Comp 7, Shelf 3, Entry 156.
National Archives (II) - Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, Reg 331, Stack 290, Rm 9, Comp 31, Shelf 1, File: “Execution Report.”

Military Executions, 1945 to 1951

Name	Date of Execution	Method of Execution	Articles of War (during WWII)	Remarks
Armistead	None Listed	None Listed	92-93
Martinez	None Listed	None Listed	92-93-69
^Abney, William	1 December 1947	Hanged	92	Executed at Mandaluyang, Philippines; his information was misfiled with the Japanese prisoners that were executed. Further information was found in the National Archives (II).**
Mickles	None Listed	Hanged	92-93-69
Norman	None Listed	Hanged	92
Perry, H.	15 March 1945	Shot	64-65-92-58	(To be shot)
^Boston, Jesse D.	1 August 1945	Shot (or Hanged)	92	(To be shot) Further information was found in the National Archives (II).** The information in the National Archives infers that Boston was hanged, which conflicts with the information in the original list.
Leatherberry	16 March 1944	None Listed	92-93
Martinez, Anjerto*	15 January 1945	None Listed	92
Williams, Ellsworth	5 January 1946	None Listed	92
Robinson, Charles M.	28 September 1945	None Listed	92
Harris	26 May 1944	Hanged	92
Miranda, Alex F.	30 May 1944	None Listed	92	(German Rape Case)
Rollins, Alvey R.	31 May 1945	None Listed	92
Philpot, Henry C.	10 September 1945	Hanged	92
Wray, Robert	20 August 1945	None Listed	92
Mariano, Blake	10 October 1945	None Listed	92
Ervin, Charlie Jr.	19 October 1945	None Listed	92
Spinks, Mansfield	19 October 1945	None Listed	92	(See [Ervin, Charlie])
Betterman, Sidney	15 October 1945	None Listed	92
Parker, Woodrow	15 October 1945	None Listed	92
^Harris, Ernest J.	9 August 1945	None Listed	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I).**
^Lee, Dan J.	9 November 1945	Musketry	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Louis, Ozell	15 October 1945	Hanged	92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Thomas, James C.	25 September 1945	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Nichols, Harvey W.	28 October 1945 or 28 August 1945	Hanged	92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).** The information in the National Archives gives a different execution date than the original list.
^Williams, Albert	28 October 1945 or 28 August 1945	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).** The information in the National Archives gives a different execution date than the original list.
Waltens	31 August 1945	None Listed	92
^Walters Jr., Bradley	31 August 1945	Hanged		Walters was not on the original list. His name was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Cornelious, Thomas	1 August 1945	Hanged		Cornelious was not on the original list. His name was found in the National Archives (II).**
^McCloud Jr., Ellis	20 August 1945	Hung	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Yancy, Waiters*	10 February 1945	None Listed	92-93
Whitfield, Clarence	14 August 1945	None Listed	92
Williams, Olins W.	9 March 1945	None Listed	92
Swalls	29 March 1945	None Listed	92
Twiggs, James W.	22 January 1945	None Listed	92
Scott, Richard D.	18 November 1944	None Listed	92-93
Taylor	20 March 1945	None Listed	92
Thomas, Madison	12 October 1944	None Listed	92
Wimberly, Willie Jr.	8 November 1944	None Listed	92-93
Watson, Joseph	8 November 1944	None Listed	92-93
Slovik, Eddie	31 January 1945	Shot	85
Pennyfather, William D.	18 November 1944	None Listed	92
Smith, George E. Jr.	8 May 1945	None Listed	92
Pygnte, Benjamin*	28 November 1944	Shot	92
McGran, Theron W.	20 November 1944	None Listed	92
McGhee	4 May 1945	None Listed	64-92
^Pearson, Robert L.	11 March 1945	None Listed	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (II).**
Jones, Cubip*	11 March 1945	None Listed	92
Jones, Kinney	20 March 1945	None Listed	92
Jefferies	5 July 1945	None Listed	92-93
Nelson, Henry W.	5 July 1945	None Listed	92-93
Jones, John T.	5 July 1945	None Listed	92-93
Mack, William	15 February 1945	None Listed	92-93
Mock	20 March 1945	None Listed	92
McMurray	July 1945*	Hanged	92
Till, Louis	July 1945*	Hanged	92
McCarter, William	May 1945*	Hanged	92
Kluxdal, Paul	October 1944*	Hanged	92
Johnson, Willis	June 1944*	None Listed	92
Hendricks, James	1944*	None Listed	92-93
Hopper, Benjamin F.	1945*	None Listed	92
Heard, Haze	May 1945*	None Listed	92
Newman, Oscar N.	November 1944*	None Listed	92
Valentine, Leo Sr.	November 1944*	None Listed	92
Holden, Marvin	January 1945*	None Listed	92-96
Spencer, Elwood J.	January 1945*	None Listed	92-96
Grant, General	March 1945*	None Listed	61-92
Green, George Jr.	March 1945*	None Listed	92
Baldqwin, Waxter J.	January 1945*	None Listed	61-92-93
Agee, Amos	March 1945*	None Listed	92-93
Watson, Frank	March 1945*	None Listed	92-93
Smith, John C.	March 1945*	None Listed	92-93
Davidson, Tommie	March 1945*	None Listed	65-92-96
Cooper, John D.	1945*	None Listed	92-93-96
Wilson, J.P.	1945*	None Listed	92-93-96
Guetha, Augustine*	January 1945*	None Listed	92
Gordon, Tom E.	July 1945*	None Listed	92-93-96
Davis, Arthur E.	1944*	None Listed	92-93-96
Jordan, Charles H.	1944*	None Listed	92-93-96
Clark, Ernest L.	January 1945*	None Listed	92
^Curry, William T.	20 April 1945	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Clay, Matthew Jr.	June 1945*	None Listed	92-93
Crews	1945*	None Listed	92
Bailey, Mileert*	18 April 1945	Hanged	92
Jones, James L.	18 April 1945	Hanged	92
Williams, Jewin*	18 April 1945	Hanged	92
Ferrell, Arthur J.	18 January 1945	Hanged	92
Senders, James B.*	25 October 1944	None Listed	92-96
Anderson, Ray W.	25 October, 1944	None Listed	92-96
Downes, William C.	February 1945*	None Listed	92-93
Davis, William E.	December 1944*	None Listed	92-93
^Crabtree, Harold	18 March 1945	Musketry	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Gibson	24 September 1945	Shot	58-69-92
^Baker, Henry	18 March 1945	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Harrison	March 1945*	Hanged	92
Reid	August 1945*	Hanged	92
Hawthorne, Samuel	29 January 1945	Hanged	92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Stevenson	None Listed	Hanged	92
Kendrick	July 1943*	Hanged	92-93
Davis	August 1945*	Hanged	61-92-93
Boswell	April 1945*	Hanged	92-93
Thomas	April 1945*	Hanged	92-93
Gill	April 1945*	Hanged	92-93
Jones	1944*	Hanged	92-93
Smith	September 1943*	Hanged	92
^Leonski, Edward J.	4 November 1942	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (II).**
^Fernandez, Ajelino	20 November 1944	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Brown, Arthur T.	2 October 1944	Hanged	66-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Gibson, Andrew	2 October 1944	Hanged	66-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I).**
^Greene, LeRoy E.	2 October 1944	Hanged	66-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Horn, Charles A.	2 October 1944	Hanged	66-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
^Washington, Eugene A.	2 October 1944	Hanged	66-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Thomas	1 August 1945	Hanged	92
Watson	29 August 1944	Hanged	92-93
^White, Lloyd L.	2 October 1944	Hanged	64-92-93	Further information was found in the National Archives (I) and (II).**
Fischer, Helmut	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Franke, Fritz	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Kuelsen, Guenther	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Ludwig, Heinrich	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Reyak, Bernard	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Stengel, Otto	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Wizoy, Role	28 July 1945	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Richie	21 April 1945	Hanged	92-93
Donnelly	31 May 1945	Hanged	58-92
^Peoples, James W.	2 September 1944	Hanged	92	Further information was found in the National Archives (II).**
Gauss, Erick	1945*	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Straub, Rudolph	1945*	Hanged	92	P.O.W.
Pearson	20 March 1945	Hanged	92
Williams	18 December 1944	Hanged	92
Davis	5 January 1945	Hanged	92
Davis, Lee A.	14 December 1945	Hanged	92
Smith	25 June 1943	Hanged	69-92
Waters	10 February 1944	Hanged	86-92-96
Cobb	12 March 1943*	Hanged	92
O’Conner	15 January 1945	Hanged	58-92-93-94
Hurse	20 September 1945	Hanged	92-93
Beshense	5 July 1945	Hanged	69-92-93-96
List	5 July 1945	Hanged	69-92-93-96
Davidson	5 July 1945	Shot	92
Reichl*	2 August 1945	Hanged	92
Bell	31 January 1944	Hanged	92
Beyer, Walter	1944*	Hanged	89-92	P.O.W.
Seidel, Berthold	1944*	Hanged	89-92	P.O.W.
Demme, Hans	1944*	Hanged	89-92	P.O.W.
Schomer, Hans	1944*	Hanged	89-92	P.O.W.
Scholz, Willie	1944*	Hanged	89-92	P.O.W.
Beven	26 September, 1944	None Listed	58-92
Brandon	26 January 1943	Hanged	92-93
Bohn	July 1943*	Hanged	92-93
Knapp	19 March 1943	Hanged	92-93
Line	None Listed	Hanged	92
Sykes	19 January 1943	Hanged	92
Rowe	17 October 1942	None Listed	92

*Starred dates and names indicate that the original was only partly legible.

** National Archives (I) - Records of Far East Command, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers and United Nations Command 1945 - 1957, Provost Marshall Section, Reg 554, Stack 290, Rm 50, Comp 7, Shelf 3, Entry 156.

National Archives (II) - Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, Reg 331, Stack 290, Rm 9, Comp 31, Shelf 1, File: “Execution Report.

Military Executions After 1951

Name	Date Sentenced	Date of Execution	Offenses
Bennett, John A.	8 Feb. 1955	13 Apr. 1961 (by hanging)	Rape, Attempted Murder (Premeditated)
Moore, Winfred D.	19 Aug. 1953	14 Feb. 1957	Murder(*), Assault w/intent to commit robbery
Thomas, Abraham	15 Apr. 1954	8 Feb. 1957	Murder-Premeditated (4 Spec. [counts])
Edwards, Thomas J.	1 Apr. 1953	14 Feb. 1957	Murder-Premeditated
Ranson, Ernest L.	5 Jun. 1953	3 Apr. 1957	Lifting weapon against superior officer, Murder-Premeditated, Rape, Robbery, Assault with dangerous weapon (2 Spec. [counts])
O’Brien, Bernard J.	19 Jun. 1952	31 Jul. 1954	Murder-Premeditated
Day, John E. Jr.	1 Oct. 1951	23 Sep. 1959	Murder, Premeditated assault w/attempt to do bodily harm w/dangerous weapon, assault
Beverly, Chastine	10 Oct. 1951	1 Mar. 1955	Robbery, Murder-Premeditated, Robbery
Suttles, Louis M.	10 Oct. 1951	1 Mar. 1955	Robbery, Murder-Premeditated, Robbery
Riggins, James L.	10 Oct. 1951	1 Mar. 1955	Robbery, Murder-Premeditated, Robbery

Executions after 1951 were listed as a supplement to the original handwritten list, under the heading “Death Sentence Ledger”

Copies of the original documents can be found here.

Additional information: From a Congressional report: “During the period December 7, 1941, to February 22, 1946, 141 death sentences adjudged by Army courts martial were carried into execution; 71 for murder, 51 for rape, 18 for murder and rape, 1 for desertion.”

Sources

INVESTIGATIONS OF THE NATIONAL WAR EFFORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
PURSUANT TO H. Res. 20 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS TO STUDY THE PROGRESS OF THE NATIONAL WAR EFFORT
(June 1946, at p.3).