[metesky]

I have photos of my late uncle with Merrills Marauders in Burma standing with arms outstretched, holding a Jap head by the hair in each hand.

A killer in war, he came home, went to school on the G.I. Bill and lived a normal peaceful life until he died at 90.

Warm beer in the Burma jungle:

Dat's Mon Onc, middle row, second from left.

[Map Kernow]

Because of the racial aspect, and the exploitation by both sides of racist stereotypes of the enemy, the War in the Pacific was in the opinion of many particularly brutal. It goes without saying, even given practices among US soldiers such as "skull souvenirs," that Japanese military personnel in the Pacific were very often consciously savage towards American prisoners---not to mention civilian populations under their control. I recommend John W. Dower's War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War for more info.