12-230 Garand Picture of the Day- Tateyama, Japan

[Mark in Rochester]

U.S. AND JAPANESE PHOTOGRAPHERS taking pictures of U.S. troops landing at Tateyama, Japan (top); vehicles landing at Wakayama Beach, Honshu (bottom). Following the defeat of Japan, Allied troops landed on the Japanese islands to begin their occupational duties. The invasion of Japan had been planned but the surrender of the enemy made assault landings unnecessary. However, many troops and much of the equipment landed over the beaches.

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[Bob Seijas]

My father was in the Philipines prepping for the invasion, became part of the first occupation forces... he was in Nagasaki two weeks after the bomb. Truman was not one of my favorite Presidents, but I bless him for dropping the bombs. BTW, just watched "Railroad Man" on TV, an Aussie film based on a true story about a Brit POW in the Pacific -- IMO the Japs deserved every bit of what they got, and then some, the swine.

[browningautorifle]

I wasn't present Bob, and my dad was in Europe. He bore a grudge until his dying day. There's a reason for that. My great uncle was USMC from '19 to '23 and did time in the Philippines. He bore a grudge against the Japanese for his life...in both cases, that's something that history can't re-write and political correctness can't change. I have my own share of issues from my own overseas service and no one's going to change those thoughts...

[Paul S.]

... and my dad was in Europe. He bore a grudge until his dying day. ...

I took note that your dad fought in Europe. IIRC, 1st Canadian Div. was in Italy, France and Northern Europe so I gather from your later remark that he must have served with them. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that the grudge he bore was against the Japanese.

I wondered if might have known blokes who had been captured at Hong Kong.

[browningautorifle]

the grudge he bore was against the Japanese

No, it was my great uncle that hated the Japanese. Can't say why though...yes, dad was 1 Div, red patch.

[Paul S.]

Jim, I suspect your dad had another reason for bearing a grudge. He knew what the Canadian force defending Hong Kong suffered both in battle (Canada's first infantry engagement of WWII) and in captivity.

Link: HyperWar: Canadian Participation in the Defense of Hong Kong, December 1941

Officers of HMCS PRINCE ROBERT with liberated Canadian POWs at Shamshuipo Camp, Hong Kong. August 1945.

[browningautorifle]

He fought Germany, and a few Italians too. He didn't call them that though. He was captured by Germany three times and once he escaped naked...with a broken radius in his right arm. That looked terrible to his dying day. "Twice the Germans broke it and once I did" he said.

[CINDERS]

Most of our AIF WWII vets that I have had the pleasure to talk too will or if they do talk deplore the tactics of the IJA and the navy as their submarines after sinking a ship picked up the survivors and then had sword practice on the after deck of the sub so much for the mariners code.......

A small story for you ;
I worked with a chap when I was a farm hand (1978-80) his name was Ken Warburton (Dec) a WWII vet and a guest of the Wehrmacht for a few years, Ken talked to me as I one day mentioned that my dad went through PNG and a few islands up that way in the 4 years he was at war '41-'45.
Anyway Ken was a real cracker of a bloke the ol' school aussie we seldom see or hear about the story goes; Apparently they were in a pitched battle with the Germans (cannot remember where) and Ken had the 303 shot out from his hands and was then captured by the enemy "You prisoner Kome Ja" so that was his lot.
After being in the Stalag for a while, starvation was on every ones plate (no pun there) one night in a bid to ease their pain Ken volunteered to go under the wire to get food, he managed to find some potatoes and was busy digging them by hand and putting in his jacket when a guard sprung him.
He could have shot Ken there and then, Ken said the muzzle of that K-98 looked like a train tunnel, the guard said in broken English but the implication was clear, go back the way you came, take what you have as next time I catch you out here I will kill you.................Ken did as he was directed and never again went out of the wire until liberated.

So there were those in the German Services that perhaps did not have the same vision as the idiot in command, but the other enemy in the words of Gene Hackman from Crimson tide " Drop that F******* twice Sir " and so it was.