Great War Ends!-- Part 7: Rescuing Our Men Held Captive

Once Germany was defeated and divisions and bombers began redeploying to Asia was the first time the United States was able to bring the full weight of its war machine on Japan.  Early in the war, GIs in the Pacific were often outnumbered, even as they fought the tropical heat and disease, and tens of thousands were taken prisoner.

At the same time Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, they also landed troops in the Philippines which eventually was forced to surrender.  Those who did were forced on the Bataan Death March and spent the rest of the war in horrible Japanese prison camps.  Among them were members of a National Guard unit from Maywood.

When Japan surrendered there began a frantic effort to find and supply our troops being held by them.  These camps were all across Japan and on the Asian mainland.  The locations of some of the camps weren't exactly known.  What was known, however, were the inhumane conditions and starvation being forced on our troops.

On August 25-- eleven days after the surrender, a U.S. search plane charted a prison camp 70 miles north of Tokyo.  Some 120 prisoners were naked, but all delirious with joy when they saw Lt. Roy Bean's fighter plane.

"I had no supplies but threw over my package of cigarettes," Bean said.  "In all the hell we have been thru, it did my heart more good to see those men than to go home."

--A Great Day, the Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

Nevada Played a Big World War II Role-- Part 1: USS Nevada

From the Dec. 7, 2013, RGJ "Chuck Weller: Nevada played rich WW II role."

The USS Nevada was making for open sea at Pearl harbor that day when it was hit by multiple bombs and intentionally run aground.  The crew earned two Medals of Honor and 13 Navy Crosses that day.

It was there at the Japanese surrender and had aboard it a saddle built in Reno with a silver plaque reading "Presented to Admiral Frederick Halsey, USN, for use on the favorite white horse of the emperor of Japan, by the Reno Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the war bond buyers of Washoe County, Nevada, 1945."

The saddle was recently returned to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

--GreGen

Toilet Troubles in World War II Caused the U-1206 to Be Sunk

I decided to write about one of the last post's 10 Unusual Events of World War II and chose Toilet Troubles.Relieving one's self in a submerged submarine is the same as on dry land, but getting rid of it is considerably more complicated  It requires advanced technology and training of personnel.

A horrible event on the German U-1206 involving system failure led to four deaths.  The original U-boat head system was a two-valve system good only during shallow dives.

Newer VIIC U-boats such as the U-1206 were outfitted with high pressure valves rigged for deep-water dives.

On April 14, 1945, while 200-feet deep off Scotland and under the command of Karl-Adolph Schlitt, the toilet was improperly flushed and began flooding compartments with sewage and salt water.  This concoction leaked onto the ship's batteries, creating deadly chlorine gas, forcing the submarine to surface.

While repairs were being made, the submarine was spotted by  British patrols and forced to surrender.  The Germans, however, scuttled their ship before leaving.

One sailor died in the attack and three more drowned and the other 46 were captured

Some historians blame Schlitt for the incident.  The U-1206 wreck was discovered in 2012.

You Know, Schlitt Sounds a Bit ZLike )____.  --GreGen

Give "Devil's Brigade" Gold Medals

From the Feb.24, 2012, LA Times "Give 'Devil's Brigade' Gold medal, U.S. lawmakers urge" by Richard Simon.

There was even a movie about the joint U.S.-Canadian unit of the same name.    Now, there is a movement in the U.S. Congress to give the unit a Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award to the First Special Service Force.

They participated in the Aleutian islands, Anzio and Southern France.  They led the Allied liberation of Rome and fought in the French and Italian mountains where they specialized in high Alpine combat.  They were also experts at covert amphibious landings and other unconventional operations.

During the war, they suffered 2,314 casualties and captured over 30,000 prisoners

Other World War II units who have already been awarded Gold Medals:  Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), Japanese-American members of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service.

Certainly an honor well-deserved.

Here's Hoping They get It.  --GreGen