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Military

Historic Military Executions

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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

NameDate of ExecutionMethod of ExecutionArticles 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

NameDate SentencedDate of ExecutionOffenses

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).

In This Section

  • Military
  • Facts and Figures
  • The Military's Death Penalty System
  • Descriptions of Cases for Those Sentenced to Death in U.S. Military
  • Historic Military Executions
  • Racial Disparity in the Military Death Penalty
  • Additional Resources

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