My great uncle was one of the last Americans alive who saw Hiroshima die.

[SoloDallas]

I got pretty deep into reading about the pacific side of WWII after watching that HBO series some time ago. I forget what it was called now, but you know which one.
After watching those 10 episodes, I felt the need to to dig into it.
I have read many things that made me - frankly - despise the Japanese people of those times.

 

[snaredrum]

I got pretty deep into reading about the pacific side of WWII after watching that HBO series some time ago. I forget what it was called now, but you know which one.
After watching those 10 episodes, I felt the need to to dig into it.
I have read many things that made me - frankly - despise the Japanese people of those times.

did you read "With the old breed" by Sledgehammer? great book.

 

[SoloDallas]

did you read "With the old breed" by Sledgehammer? great book.

YES. That was the first one I read. Twice!

 

[snaredrum]

YES. That was the first one I read. Twice!

my brother thieved mine after i read it... China marine is next on my list.

 

[SoloDallas]

my brother thieved mine after i read it... China marine is next on my list.

I was going to get into those books of guys who were POWs, actually.
Like GibsonByBirth's uncle. I started looking into those, then quit. Can be painful.

I understand today's Japanese folks are nothing like they used to be back then, but boy... ahem.

My uncle actually tells me that there's been two great movies from... what's his name... the guy - older guy now - who used to be a cowboy all the time, also did spaghetti-western early on. Recently he made two movies as a director (EDIT: yes, Clint Eastwood), one on the US side and one from the Japanese side point of view.

I haven't seen any of those two.
He tells me that once you seen the Japanese one, you'll be on the Japanese side.

Hard to believe after what I read about the pacific WWII, but I sense there may be truth to this.

 

[GibsonByBirth]

"The Sands of Iwo Jima" is the movie you are refering. I saw them both. I didn't lose perspective.

 

[SoloDallas]

"The Sands of Iwo Jima" is the movie you are refering. I saw them both. I didn't lose perspective.

Yes, those ones. I need to see them myself.

What did you think of the Japanese point of view?

 

[GibsonByBirth]

It showed them as humans in war. It was an interesting story but it was not all inclusive. It showed them prepare for and fight that defensive battle. It didn't show their rape of Peking or the rest of the Pacific nor their treatement of prisoners.

 

[snaredrum]

yeah, i still struggle to like the japanese as a race due to Nanking. silly, i know, but my grandpa was a soldier and commited exactly zero atrocities.

war is ridiculous.

 

[GitFiddle]

I had to post this. What a generation of people they are. We could only hope to be so honorable and caring.

LiveLeak.com - 90 year old wwII vet recounts war incident

 

[mudfinger]

Yes, those ones. I need to see them myself.

What did you think of the Japanese point of view?

Skewed. As Gibby pointed out, it didn't really delve into the atrocities committed in China and elsewhere.

But, at the end of the day, war is people killing other people, and therein lies the great tragedy of it all. No race is more culpable than another when it comes to the inhumanity of man.

 

[GibsonByBirth]

I will be posting the rest tomorrow. The second article is a repeat that appeared in another paper. I found it interesting that they stayed in the camp and waited for week after the war before the were actually pick up by the Americans. In that time they would scavage for what the could find outside of the prison. My uncle killed a Jap officer and took his wooden bike, sword and pocket watch. He gave the watch to my dad and gave the sword eventually to his grandson.

 

[SoloDallas]

But, at the end of the day, war is people killing other people, and therein lies the great tragedy of it all. No race is more culpable than another when it comes to the inhumanity of man.

Very well put.

The WWII and the Americans saviors still affects us as Italians to this day (well, I'm actually an US citizen). There's still - after all this time - a sort of admiration for what the Americans did back then.

 

[GibsonByBirth]

Very well put.

The WWII and the Americans saviors still affects us as Italians to this day (well, I'm actually an US citizen). There's still - after all this time - a sort of admiration for what the Americans did back then.

Thank you. That is reassuring to hear.

 

[GibsonByBirth]

 

[GibsonByBirth]