Heck, without the souvenir taking, this flag would have been lost, buried, destroyed, 75 years ago. Now, it's been returned by a man who earned the right to return it. An excellent story, all around.
” I read the article, and it mentioned several times the “guilt” soldiers felt for taking the flags as souvenirs. I’ve not come across that with any of the veterans I know, was wondering if this was a little revisionism on the part of the author. “
Same here. Jap flag from Iwo Jima is in a cedar chest in the bedroom. Couldn’t care less whose it is; they waged war and the flag taken. If you don’t want to lose something you hold dear, don’t wage war.
“a little revisionism on the part of the author”
Possibly so. Japan and the US are on the precipice of a shooting war as allies against North Korea. This kind of feel good ‘healing’ story could be part of an effort to smooth over any residual resentment.
“I’ve not come across that with any of the veterans I know, was wondering if this was a little revisionism on the part of the author.”
There could be some revisionism, or it could be old men doing whatever possible to deal with the facts of their youth.
They did and witnessed terrible things that they never would have imagined outside of hell itself. I can not begin to imagine what they think of in their private moments.
A neighbor of mine, gone 20 years now, brought back many souvenirs from his time in George’s 3rd army.
The first rifle I ever fired was a Mauser he took from a Wermacht soldier he killed.
He brought back several firearms and some posters and banners.
He viewed his souvenirs as spoils of war taken in combat.
He never hated the men of the Wermacht but despised the SS.