[agrace]

My grandfather was a Forward Air Controller in the 7th Marine division. They were on ships, at sea, en route to the invasion of Japan. Estimates were 1 million allied casualties to conquer the home islands. Thank God for the bomb.

My Navy father-in-law (lightingguy's dad) was on his way over also and then his ship was turned around.

[lightingguy]

My father's ship turned around and came back to the US after Japan's surrender. My brother was stationed in Japan for more than a decade. While there he married a local woman whose father was in training to join the Imperial army when they surrendered.

Fast forward to 10 years ago when my parents went to Japan for a visit. The entire family (American parents and Japanese parents) went to one of the memorials, I don't remember if it was Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Anyway, my nephew was 9 at the time and the only truly bilingual family member. His Japanese grandfather asked him to translate a question to my dad. "Please, ask him how he felt to go there." My dad thought for a moment and responded, "Please tell him that I am glad we can go there today as family, never having to have fought one another. The bloodshed would have never ended." The Japanese grandfather rose to his feet and said in English, "I agree".

Then they embraced and becamed great friends.