As I understand it, this is not taught in a history class in Japan.

Every American should visit the Arizona memorial.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
As I understand it, this is not taught in a history class in Japan.

Nah the don't cover it or the Rape of Nanking, they just lament about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Every American should visit the Arizona memorial.

Absolutely. Sobering Memorial.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Every American should visit the Arizona memorial.

I agree. And also Arlington National Cemetery.

flashguy

Here is some interesting discussion of how the Japanese view Pearl Harbor.

It isn't that they hide it, but they do de-emphasize it and gloss over that it was a surprise attack.

https://www.ranker.com/list/ho...n-japan/kellen-perry

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Every American should visit the Arizona memorial.

I'll take it one further. I'd say you need to see the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

It is as moving as The US Cemetery at Omaha Beach.

There is a YouTube video on the Japanese Army Unit 731.

Unit 731 was tasked with developing biological and chemical warfare agents for the Imperial Japanese Army. They trsted them on native populations in Manchuria.

If you have a strong stomach I recommend watching that video. I will not put a link to it or embed it.

My girlfriend, who spent several years living in Hawaii, told me a couple days ago that the Arizona Memorial is still closed for repairs. Originally, they hoped to make it available by today, but missed the goal.

She also said that no survivors of the attack will be able to make it to Pearl this year, due to age and health issues. We are losing these WWII vets at a tragic rate.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

https://www.ranker.com/list/ho...n-japan/kellen-perry

Interesting summary. From that, there is the following picture. What's happening here - is that a large explosion that has thrown that much shrapnel and pieces into the air? Or is that ground fire at planes?

I think those are bursts of flak.

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Originally posted by Sig2340:
There is a YouTube video on the Japanese Army Unit 731.

Unit 731 was tasked with developing biological and chemical warfare agents for the Imperial Japanese Army. They trsted them on native populations in Manchuria.

If you have a strong stomach I recommend watching that video. I will not put a link to it or embed it.

I haven’t seen the one you’re talking about, but I’ve seen some others and done some reading. Absolutely sickening. As bad and worse than what the Nazis did, IMO. And they’ve never apologized for any of it, let alone acknowledged it afaik.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
My girlfriend, who spent several years living in Hawaii, told me a couple days ago that the Arizona Memorial is still closed for repairs. Originally, they hoped to make it available by today, but missed the goal.

She also said that no survivors of the attack will be able to make it to Pearl this year, due to age and health issues. We are losing these WWII vets at a tragic rate.

My VFW post still has a couple guys you still visit the post regularly who are world war 2 vets, but that number is very small across the country for sure. Even the Korea vets are not far behind, and the Vietnam vets many the result of agent orange related disease are dropping fast as well.
Even my fellow Iraq and Afghanistan brothers and sisters seem to be frequently dying off more than you would expect- from my one unit alone I have had troops younger than I lost to leukemia brain tumors ALS, other cancers.

I remember this every year and I'm so proud of my Father being a Pearl Harbor combat veteran. I don't like the term survivor, they were in combat. It seems like this is all but forgotten in our world today.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
There is a YouTube video on the Japanese Army Unit 731.

Unit 731 was tasked with developing biological and chemical warfare agents for the Imperial Japanese Army. They trsted them on native populations in Manchuria.

If you have a strong stomach I recommend watching that video. I will not put a link to it or embed it.

Koreans, Chinese and Filipino people also suffered greatly from Japanese brutal treatment. The Japanese were racist among the Asian population.

I had the sobering honor of standing Officer of the Deck watch on the USS Arizona twice back in the 1970s. They were very moving experiences.

When I was in the Navy in formation before attending SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape) training, a young officer asked if there was anyone who had already attended SERE training. A couple of guys raised their hands and were excused. He asked if anyone else thought they shouldn't have to attend SERE. An older guy standing in formation next to me raised his hand. The young officer walked back and with a smirk asked why he didn't need to go to SERE. The guy said, "I survived the Bataan death march and was a prisoner of war in Japan." The young officer looked like he was going to faint and stammered that he didn't have to go to SERE.

My visit to the Arizona and Missouri will be forever in my memory. Pictures are one thing. Seeing the Arizona under the water was another.

There is still a tiny bit of oil making its way to the surface.

May we never forget.

Three men had a significant impact on me as a young man and all were WWII veterans. One was an Army Air Corps B-29 pilot, one a Navy fighter pilot (Wildcats and Hell Cats), and one a Navy airplane mechanic.

The Navy airplane mechanic served on a Carrier that was based out of Pearl but he didn't enlist until after the attack and was based there during the rebuilding phase.

All three men went onto successful flying careers. The Wildcat pilot died 10 years ago. The B-29 pilot is in a retirement home and was chasing the ladies until he became wheel chair bound, and is now 94 years old. The Navy airplane mechanic was flying into his 80s but the FAA leaned on him until he retired from airshow flying 10 years ago. He is a little slower than when he mentored me but at 94 years old he still gets around and is sharp as a tack, if not a little hard of hearing.

I am a better man for having been shaped by these men, and others.

I can't say how deeply troubled I am that nation-shaping events like Pearl Harbor don't get the attention or respect due that they once did...or that younger generations aren't taught this.