[ought-six]

“The history we learned was, “Those Japanese just refused to surrender, darn it! That’s why 99% of them died.””

Well, the Japanese army back in WWII (and before that, actually), thought surrender was a supreme insult to the emperor, and they considered surrender as not only cowardly, but dishonorable.

The Field Service Code issued by General Tojo in 1941 put it more explicitly: Do not live in shame as a prisoner. Die, and leave no ignominious crime behind you.

[Travis McGee]

My father in law was a USMC radioman on Iwo Jima. Many many of his friends died in next foxholes/shell holes. He said they did not take prisoners. It was a very luck Jap who wound up alive, by fate or happenstance. He told this to me from his own lips.

5th MarDiv, landed on D-day, saw the raised flag on Suribachi with his own eyes, went the distance.

Your turn, based on “your recollection.”

[Travis McGee]

Here is my Father In Law, R.I.P.

I'm looking for the photos I took of his signed captured Jap "meathball" flag (signed by his platoon), and photos of the 2 Arisaka Rifles, 2 samurai swords, and the Nambu pistol he was authorized to bring home to CONUS following the 5th MarDiv occupation of Japan in 1946.

He was a big fan of Truman, for sparing them the invasion of Japan. And he was a big fan of flamethrowers, from his time on Iwo.

You might choose to believe the fantasy that every Japanese soldier fought to the death, and hence almost zero prisoners.

My FIL, who was there, told me different. They didn't take prisoners.

But there were no battlefield video cameras up-linking to 24/7 world news.

Naturally, the few official USMC film cameras were censored for war propaganda benefit.