[OldPossum]

I gave no thought of the possibility of this attack breaking open a moral confrontation with the United States.

I know that these are simply the memories of who must be a very old man, but that sentence stands out. Just what the hell did he--and other Japanese warriors--think was going to happen? Did he think that the United States would shrug it off with some comment as, "Well, that's OK. You destroyed our Pacific Fleet, but that's alright. We didn't need those ships, aircraft, and most importantly, servicemen anyway."

[buccaneer81]

Wow. I just watched "Tora Tora Tora" again on Saturday. I had no idea Fuchida's life took this turn. Thanks for posting.

[sasportas]

Thanks for posting this, Lorianne, very informative.

Think of how much courage it must have took for a war hero of a Shinto and Buddhist country, and after being beaten so badly by a Christian country, to come out so openly for Christ. I really respect Fuchida for that.

I also think of certain key events that happened at Midway that could have tipped the outcome the other way: Fuchida coming down with appendicitus, and Admiral Halsey being put in the hospital with skin disease.

Japan was knocking on our front door at Midway. Had we lost the battle, the entire U.S. west coast would have been wide open to the Japanese.

Halsey was replaced by Admiral Spruance. Fuchida was replaced to lead the air attacks. Both key behind-the-scenes events that really worked in our favor. We won the battle. I see the hand of God in it.

[Redbob]

"Just before the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, I came down with an attack of appendicitis and was unable to fly. Lying in my bed, I grimaced at the sounds of the firing all about me. By the end of that day, we had suffered our first major defeat, losing 10 warships altogether."

Less than 6 months after the JAps' "glorious victory" at Pearl Harbor, and already the beginning of the end for them.

[ntnychik]

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