On 4/17/2013 11:13 AM, Gary wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
>>
>> On 4/16/2013 4:31 PM, gloria p wrote:
>>> On 4/16/2013 6:49 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>
>>>> My wife says that there's a colony of vets living in the hills in the
>>>> area around Pearl Harbor. It's kind of sad. These guys, for one reason
>>>> or another, feel they cannot live among other people anymore.
>>>
>>>
>>> I can remember several times when I was growing up there was news about
>>> Japanese soldiers who wandered out of the wild in various Pacific
>>> Islands (1950-60s?) not knowing the war was over. They had lived a
>>> survivalist lifestyle for 20 or more years. I wondered at the time if
>>> they could ever adapt to the changes in civilization they'd find.
>>>
>>> gloria p
>>
>> The last ones surrendered in 1974. They were hailed as celebrities in
>> Japan. I'm not sure what these guys were thinking by holding out so long.
>
> "DIE, YANKEE DOGS!" ?

Possibly, but how long can a solder hold that kind of hate in their
hearts? My guess is that after a few years, they was just worn out.

>
> G.
>

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:29:25 -0500, Ema Nymton >
wrote:

> On 4/16/2013 11:08 PM, sf wrote:
>
> >> That makes sense, you look Swedish. People like being near family, which
> >> caused my push/pull between Texas and Louisiana. The newlyweds are
> >> trying to have children, so we will stay in the Houston area and wait.
> >> Every time we visit the dentist, I am tempted to move and become Janet
> >> Wilder's neighbor.
> >>
> > Hope you have some grandchildren to spoil soon, they're quite a
> > blessing.
>
> She is a wonderful young lady, and I am glad they found each other. If
> they have kids, that is fine, and if not, that is okay, too. I will have
> to borrow one of my big sister's grandchildren, she has 15 grandsons and
> 7 granddaughters.
>
That's more than twice what my SIL has!


--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:49:43 -1000, dsi1
> wrote:

> Possibly, but how long can a solder hold that kind of hate in their
> hearts? My guess is that after a few years, they was just worn out.

I think it was more "honor" than hate.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On 4/17/2013 12:19 PM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:53:15 -1000, dsi1
> > wrote:
>
>> The last ones surrendered in 1974. They were hailed as celebrities in
>> Japan. I'm not sure what these guys were thinking by holding out so long.
>
> Japanese soldiers were trained to never surrender and to die fighting.
> American/Filipino POWs were treated as cowards if they surrendered or
> were captured alive.
>

The Japanese military adapted and used the code of the samurai to gain
control of their solders just as the Shoguns had used the Bushido code
as a tool to keep their samurai in line. It stressed honor and loyalty
to clan and lord and a certain way of thinking regarding killing of the
enemy, and a proficiency in the martial arts. The Japanese people, after
the samurai class had vanished, just ate that stuff up when they started
invading China and other countries.

I can understand the appeal - the idea that you or your sons could be
samurai must have seemed to be the highest glory you could have in this
life.

Unfortunately, the Japanese leaders really believed in what they were
trying to sell to their people. My understanding is that Prime Minister
Tojo sent a message to the AJAs in Hawaii, telling them to fight hard
for their country and be loyal to the president. That seems strange to
us but that's the Bushido code for you.