Cave of the Negroes incident
Encyclopedia
The Cave of the Negroes incident was a killing of three African American
Marines
by Okinawans
from the Katsuyama village near Nago, Okinawa
after the Battle of Okinawa
in 1945. Their bodies were hidden in the nearby cave and the incident was kept a secret until 1997. Since the killings the cave has been known as Kurombo Gama, which translated means Cave of the Negroes in English
.
, despite Japanese fears, "the incidence of rape remained relatively low given the huge size of the occupation force". However, its incidence increased after the criminalization of prostitution
; Dower states in his book, Embracing Defeat, that while the U.S./Japanese-sponsored brothels, like the RAA
, were open "according to one calculation ... the number of rapes and assaults on Japanese women were around 40 a day" until the spring of 1946 but after they were closed due to the criminalization of prostitution, the number rose to 330 a day across Japan. In one instance a large group of American soldiers surrounded and entered a hospital in Omori
and raped 77 women inside, one of the victims had given birth two days earlier and her baby was killed during the attack.
In Okinawa rape was so prevalent that most Okinawans over age 65 either know or have heard of a woman who was raped in the aftermath of the war. Villagers of the Katsuyama village in Okinawa claim that they were victims of such attacks. According to villagers three men, US Marines, would come to the village every weekend and force the men to hand over their women and then sexually assault them.
To cover up the American deaths the bodies were dumped in a local cave that had a 50 foot (15 m) drop off close to its entrance. Ever since the bodies were dumped in the cave it has been known as Kurombo Gama, which translated means Cave of the Negroes.
When the men did not return to their Marine Corps posts they were listed as possible deserters in the summer of 1945. After a year with still no evidence of what happened to them, they were declared missing in action
.
Finally a guilty conscience lead Kishimoto to contact Setsuko Inafuku, a tour guide for Kadena United States Air Base
in Okinawa who was involved in the search of deceased servicemen from the war. The two searched for the cave in June 1997 but could not find it until a storm blew down the tree blocking the entrance that summer. The local Japanese police were informed but they kept it secret for a few months to protect the people who discovered the location of the bodies.
When they finally told Marine officials the USMC located the bodies at the bottom of the mine shaft. Using dental records all men were identified as the 19 years-old soldiers who went missing in 1945. Their names were Pfc. James D. Robinson of Savannah, Ga., Pfc. John M. Smith of Cincinnati, and Pvt. Isaac Stokes of Chicago. USMC officials said that after the discovery of the bodies they did not plan a criminal investigation since the remains were discovered outside a military installation and out of their jurisdiction. The local police also did not open an investigation because in Japan the statute of limitations
on murder cases is fifteen years.
the island chain was occupied under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands until 1972. At that time, the U.S. government returned the islands to Japanese administration. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security
, the United States Forces Japan
(USFJ) have maintained a large military presence. 27,000 personnel, including 15,000 Marines, contingents from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and their 22,000 family members are stationed in Okinawa. Due to a variety of incidents, including the 1995 Okinawa rape incident, many people of Okinawa support the removal of American military forces from Okinawa island chain.
Military history of African Americans
The military history of African Americans spans from the arrival of the first black slaves during the colonial history of the United States to the present day...
Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
by Okinawans
Ryukyuans
The are the indigenous peoples of the Ryukyu Islands between the islands of Kyūshū and Taiwan. The generally recognized subgroups of Ryukyuans are Amamians, Okinawans, Miyakoans, Yaeyamans, and Yonagunians. Geographically, they live in either Okinawa Prefecture or Kagoshima Prefecture...
from the Katsuyama village near Nago, Okinawa
Nago, Okinawa
is a city located in the northern part of Okinawa Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 60,598 and the density of 288 persons per km². The total area is 210.30 km². The city was founded on August 1, 1970, and hosted the G-8 Summit in 2000.-...
after the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
in 1945. Their bodies were hidden in the nearby cave and the incident was kept a secret until 1997. Since the killings the cave has been known as Kurombo Gama, which translated means Cave of the Negroes in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Background
After the Battle of Okinawa a large American occupation force lived on the island. According to John W. DowerJohn W. Dower
John W. Dower is an American author and historian.Dower earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies from Amherst College in 1959, and a Ph.D. in History and Far Eastern Languages from Harvard University in 1972, where he studied under Albert M. Craig...
, despite Japanese fears, "the incidence of rape remained relatively low given the huge size of the occupation force". However, its incidence increased after the criminalization of prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
; Dower states in his book, Embracing Defeat, that while the U.S./Japanese-sponsored brothels, like the RAA
Recreation and Amusement Association
The , or more literally Special Comfort Facility Association, was the official euphemism for the prostitution centers arranged for occupying U.S...
, were open "according to one calculation ... the number of rapes and assaults on Japanese women were around 40 a day" until the spring of 1946 but after they were closed due to the criminalization of prostitution, the number rose to 330 a day across Japan. In one instance a large group of American soldiers surrounded and entered a hospital in Omori
Omori
is a district located a few kilometres south of Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan accessed by rail via the Keihin Tohoku line, or by road via Dai Ichi Keihin. Ōmorikaigan, the eastern area of Ōmori, can be reached via the Keikyu line....
and raped 77 women inside, one of the victims had given birth two days earlier and her baby was killed during the attack.
In Okinawa rape was so prevalent that most Okinawans over age 65 either know or have heard of a woman who was raped in the aftermath of the war. Villagers of the Katsuyama village in Okinawa claim that they were victims of such attacks. According to villagers three men, US Marines, would come to the village every weekend and force the men to hand over their women and then sexually assault them.
The attack
Decades later villagers revealed that the marines were so confident that the Japanese were powerless that they often came to the village without weapons. Taking advantage of this the villagers ambushed the Americans with the help of two armed Japanese soldiers who were hiding in the nearby jungle. Shinsei Higa, a retired teacher, who was sixteen at the time remembers that "I didn't see the actual killing because I was hiding in the mountains above, but I heard five or six gunshots and then a lot of footsteps and commotion, By late afternoon, we came down from the mountains and then everyone knew what had happened."To cover up the American deaths the bodies were dumped in a local cave that had a 50 foot (15 m) drop off close to its entrance. Ever since the bodies were dumped in the cave it has been known as Kurombo Gama, which translated means Cave of the Negroes.
When the men did not return to their Marine Corps posts they were listed as possible deserters in the summer of 1945. After a year with still no evidence of what happened to them, they were declared missing in action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
.
Discovery
Kijun Kishimoto was almost thirty during the incident and grew up in Katsuyama. He was away from the village when the men were killed. In an interview he stated that "People were very afraid that if the Americans found out what happened there would be retaliation, so they decided to keep it a secret to protect those involved."Finally a guilty conscience lead Kishimoto to contact Setsuko Inafuku, a tour guide for Kadena United States Air Base
Kadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
in Okinawa who was involved in the search of deceased servicemen from the war. The two searched for the cave in June 1997 but could not find it until a storm blew down the tree blocking the entrance that summer. The local Japanese police were informed but they kept it secret for a few months to protect the people who discovered the location of the bodies.
When they finally told Marine officials the USMC located the bodies at the bottom of the mine shaft. Using dental records all men were identified as the 19 years-old soldiers who went missing in 1945. Their names were Pfc. James D. Robinson of Savannah, Ga., Pfc. John M. Smith of Cincinnati, and Pvt. Isaac Stokes of Chicago. USMC officials said that after the discovery of the bodies they did not plan a criminal investigation since the remains were discovered outside a military installation and out of their jurisdiction. The local police also did not open an investigation because in Japan the statute of limitations
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is an enactment in a common law legal system that sets the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on that event may be initiated...
on murder cases is fifteen years.
Aftermath
After the Battle of OkinawaBattle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
the island chain was occupied under the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands until 1972. At that time, the U.S. government returned the islands to Japanese administration. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
The was signed between the United States and Japan in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1960. It strengthened Japan's ties to the West during the Cold War era...
, the United States Forces Japan
United States Forces Japan
The refers to the various divisions of the United States Armed Forces that are stationed in Japan. Under the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, the United States is obliged to defend Japan in close cooperation with the Japan Self-Defense Forces for...
(USFJ) have maintained a large military presence. 27,000 personnel, including 15,000 Marines, contingents from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and their 22,000 family members are stationed in Okinawa. Due to a variety of incidents, including the 1995 Okinawa rape incident, many people of Okinawa support the removal of American military forces from Okinawa island chain.