[jonascord]

Something else to ponder. No more than 10% of the Japanese garrisons that were subject to invasion by Marines or Army surrendered. They would rather die than surrender. By 1945, after 3 years of this, the US military was more than willing to grant that wish. It started with the Goettge Patrol, back on the 'Canal.

Too many Marines had tried to tell a Japanese to raise their hands, only to watch a grenade drop that had been under an armpit.

The Japanese military were training children to carry grenades and rush Americans. Surrender is a heavy stone, death is as light as a feather.

[basalt]

dumb question..this was total war...civilians were legit targets. More people died at Dresden in a single night of fire bombing....