(Thread) Every year around August 15th I dust off one of my most prized possessions: an old letter my grandfather wrote me answering my questions about his experiences in the postwar occupation of Japan.
Today, on the 73rd anniversary of V-J day, I’d like to share some excerpts
Today, on the 73rd anniversary of V-J day, I’d like to share some excerpts
(2/9) Some background on my grandpa first:
・Forged his birth certificate & enlisted at 16
・Spent his 1st year of service as an Army boxer (story for another day)
・Landed on D-Day
・Sent to PI for mop-up fighting before V-J day
・Among the 1st to arrive for the occupation
・Forged his birth certificate & enlisted at 16
・Spent his 1st year of service as an Army boxer (story for another day)
・Landed on D-Day
・Sent to PI for mop-up fighting before V-J day
・Among the 1st to arrive for the occupation
(3/9) More background:
・Was present for the occupation until heading off to the Korean War. Returned to Japan afterwards.
・”Met” my Japanese grandmother making a call—she was a switchboard operator. Loved her voice so he tracked her down (again, a story for another day)
・Was present for the occupation until heading off to the Korean War. Returned to Japan afterwards.
・”Met” my Japanese grandmother making a call—she was a switchboard operator. Loved her voice so he tracked her down (again, a story for another day)
(4/9) On with the letter...
I asked him about his first impressions upon landing in Japan, and among other things, he described the devastation caused by allied bombing campaigns:
I asked him about his first impressions upon landing in Japan, and among other things, he described the devastation caused by allied bombing campaigns:
(5/9) One question I asked was about the toughest thing he had to do during the occupation.
His answer made me think about this same type of activity in Iraq/Afghanistan and how different things turned out there.
Also, we Americans today need to reflect on his last sentence...
His answer made me think about this same type of activity in Iraq/Afghanistan and how different things turned out there.
Also, we Americans today need to reflect on his last sentence...
(6/9) Then I asked him about the easiest aspect of the occupation:
(7/9) I also asked him about Japanese reactions to the Allied occupation:
(8/9) When I asked him about the best policy decision made for the occupation, here was his answer:
[Note: he jokingly references the bamboo spear because every Japanese—young, old, woman, child—were given weapons and taught basic fighting techniques to resist invasion forces]
[Note: he jokingly references the bamboo spear because every Japanese—young, old, woman, child—were given weapons and taught basic fighting techniques to resist invasion forces]
(9/9) I’ll end with my favorite part of the letter: one of his anecdotes.
He had experience as a tanker, so among his first jobs during the occupation was driving heavy machinery from the port to different bases in the area. Here’s what happened one day:
He had experience as a tanker, so among his first jobs during the occupation was driving heavy machinery from the port to different bases in the area. Here’s what happened one day:
