The War (WW2)

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Sneaks

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I've been fascinated by the recent airings of Ken Burns's 14 hour movie/documentary on World War two that's been on PBS lately. What brings it home to us Brats is that our old friend and C-Brat Emeritus took an active part in that war as a carrier pilot and the details of the carrier pilot's contribution is documented in depth during this film.

Here's the description.

Many of us here grew up during that war and can relate to much of what went on here in the States. Highly recommended viewing.

Captain Lampman, thanks for being there for us.
 
Here here Don, I wholeheartedly second your statements on all those who participated in the war(s) effort. Two of my uncles were in the war, Okinowa, and my father-in-law, Morroco. I waited for that show to air day by day, when 8pm arrived, all work stopped, yes, even on my C-Dory...great show, well done as usual by Ken Burns (and co-producer).
 
A must see for sure.

One uncle a 1st Sargent in Patton's 3rd Army was in one of lead units liberating a concentration camp. He said after that He couldn't even pat the heads of the children He encountered when continuing on across Germany. With all the horrors of war He new why He was there. Also had uncles in the submarine service, Army in South Pacific and in coast guard at home.

My Dad was a 17 year old private in the Marines when the War started and was on the first convey of troops to leave the states and eventually hit the beach on Guadalcanal. Fortunately for my brothers and sisters, myself and our extended families, while on Guadalcanal He came down with a very severe malaria, so ended up back in the States. Very few in his unit who went on to the rest of the island chains leading to Japan survived this war.

My Dad is the only one still alive among all my relatives who served during WW11. It won't be long before only documentaries ect will be able to tell how it was.

I have ancestors that served on both sides in the Civil War and the person who I was closest to when very young survived 5 major campaigns in WW 1. I served during the Vietnam War and my oldest Son was killed while on active duty with the Coast Guard in l993.

With the above in mind I think I've earned the right to make a comment on the one portion of Ken Burns WW2 documentary that I didn't care for.
The portrayal of anguish and suffering of the Japanese upon the bombing of Hiroshima followed by the cheering and happiness of the American People with the impetus being how horrible people were to be pleased with such an horrific event. I would have been one of the ones cheering then and at this late date still cheer in my heart, because the alternative would have been most likely at least 20 times as many of our own young soldiers killed trying to subdue Japan as the Japanese who died in Hiroshima. With many more millions of Japanese children, civilians and soldiers who would have died in the process just as horribly as by the N bomb. If you think differently read about the fire bombings of Tokyo and Dresden Germany. Then compare that with the continued incendiary bombing of the whole of Japan and the casualty rates between the US and Japan at Ira Jima and Pelieu. With the mind set of the Japanese leaders and people at that time there was really no other choice that would have ended with a better outcome and being that we didn't bomb ourselves to start the war anything that ended it with out more suffering of our own was worth cheering.

War as evidenced by this documentary is horrible, but with all the screw ups by our leaders on our side that cost even more lives it was still a war in which we were fighting to survive against genuine in your face evil. If you read about our first involvement of the war in the Atlantic Theater which occurred in North Africa it wasn't untill our soldiers got hardened to the horrors of war and an enemy that they had to kill or be killed that we started winning.

Anyway its true. "Never have so many owed so much to so few" I know that this was said in reference to the pilots protecting Britain, but its true to all who served too. We don't have much time to thank the ones that are left. So---from me and mine a real heartfelt thanks----We do owe you.

Jay
 
What astonishes me is the continued refusal of the official Japanese government and/or culture to acknowledge such events as the rape of Nanking. I'm sure some individual Japanese feel that something went horribly wrong during that war, but the school textbooks, etc. are continually being revised to show the Japanese more and more as victims, not aggressors.

The Germans have done a better job at coming to grips with their past as have we with our treatment of Native Americans and African-Americans. Sure there is continued anti-Semitism in Germany and racism here, but nothing comparable to the level of institutional denial that I see in Japan.

Warren
 
Jay,
Very well put. What is so interesting is the way that history has been either changed or interputed--thu time.

I was not able to see the first of the series because of our travels, but certainly will view the remainder. I have a collection of WWII tapes and DVD's.
 
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