I was in Florida last week helping my mother and father with their taxes and other chores.
Dad is 88 going on 89 and he was on Saipan with the 2nd Marine Division as a young Captain the summer of 1944. I have known all of that all of my life. But not this:
Last Wednesday Dad started talking about his experiences on Saipan after the island was almost taken from the Japanese 65 years ago.
Dad stated how he was a young nervous Captain in charge of many men and had seen many of his men die in the other landings on other islands. After the island was taken Dad stated there were still many Japanese in caves with others from the civilian population. His unit was assigned to daily go find those caves and flush the Japanese out. His strategy was to use a form of a concussion grenade to throw in and then see how many of the exiting Japanese soldiers and their young boy civilian helpers would come out shaken. He advised he had his men set up and shoot any Japanese that had weapons and were trying to resist. He stated a few did surrender and the young civilian boys never were armed. He said he had many rifle men set up and suffered no casualties for the first week. Then a Major came and scolded him for taking too much time doing this. He ordered Dad to bring in 4 flame throwers and immediately burn every individual exiting the caves after the concussion grenades. Dad stated this was a direct order in time of war and he did it. He stated it shook his entire unit up seeing this happen for the next few months as he had to literally burn up hundreds of humans this way. Included were 10-12 year old boys in the caves with the Japanese. Dad asked his Colonel if he could either be reassigned or if they would review the policy but they denied it.
Now I am not judging anyone in this but to see a 88 year old man that I love dearly state this with great pain in his eyes and face truly lays out the horrors of all war. My brother did 3 years in Nam and I need to prepare for when he finally speaks about it.
Dad is 88 going on 89 and he was on Saipan with the 2nd Marine Division as a young Captain the summer of 1944. I have known all of that all of my life. But not this:
Last Wednesday Dad started talking about his experiences on Saipan after the island was almost taken from the Japanese 65 years ago.
Dad stated how he was a young nervous Captain in charge of many men and had seen many of his men die in the other landings on other islands. After the island was taken Dad stated there were still many Japanese in caves with others from the civilian population. His unit was assigned to daily go find those caves and flush the Japanese out. His strategy was to use a form of a concussion grenade to throw in and then see how many of the exiting Japanese soldiers and their young boy civilian helpers would come out shaken. He advised he had his men set up and shoot any Japanese that had weapons and were trying to resist. He stated a few did surrender and the young civilian boys never were armed. He said he had many rifle men set up and suffered no casualties for the first week. Then a Major came and scolded him for taking too much time doing this. He ordered Dad to bring in 4 flame throwers and immediately burn every individual exiting the caves after the concussion grenades. Dad stated this was a direct order in time of war and he did it. He stated it shook his entire unit up seeing this happen for the next few months as he had to literally burn up hundreds of humans this way. Included were 10-12 year old boys in the caves with the Japanese. Dad asked his Colonel if he could either be reassigned or if they would review the policy but they denied it.
Now I am not judging anyone in this but to see a 88 year old man that I love dearly state this with great pain in his eyes and face truly lays out the horrors of all war. My brother did 3 years in Nam and I need to prepare for when he finally speaks about it.