The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Northern Marianas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Marianas. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
U.S. Vet Returns Captured Japanese Flag-- Part 4: Nearly Half of Japanese Soldiers Killed Overseas Have Not Been Found
Marvin Strombo was not only able to return Sadao Yasue's flag, but could also provide the Yasue family with some answers involving his death.
He said that he found Sadao Yasue's body on the outskirts of Garapan, a village in Saipan, when he got lost and found himself near the Japanese front line. He told them that their brother likely died of concussion from a mortar round. That Sadao was lying on the ground on his left side, looking as if he was sleeping and without severe wounds.
Garapan is in the United States Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.
And, importantly, with those details, the family can now hope that they might be able to find his remains now.
The remains of nearly half of the 2.4 million Japanese war dead overseas have yet to be found. It is an increasingly pressing issue as bereaved families are reaching old age and memories fade.
In 2012, Marvin Strombo was connected to the Obon Society, an Oregon-based non-profit that helps U.S. veterans and their descendants return Japanese flags to the families of the fallen soldiers.
Tuesday's handover meant closure for Strombo, too. "It means so much to me and the family to get the flag back and move on," he said.
A Great Story. --GreGen
Monday, June 15, 2015
Follow Up on Pagan Island-- Part 2: Many Bombing Attacks
After the war, Pagan island was under U.S. occupation and became part of the U.N. Trust territry of the Pacific before receiving U.S. Commonwealth status. the U.S. Navy maintained a small presence for awhile.
From Pacific Wrecks site:
Pagan island came under near constant U.S. bombing and aerial attack near the end of the war. Most missions were launched by the U.S. 7th Air Force. The first attack took placeJune 23, 1944 and two HellCats were lost. Those were the only losses recorded during the 79 attacks.
The last attack was made by USMC planes.
The Japanese troops on Pagan Island surrendered to Commodore Vernon F. Grant and the USS Rhind (DD-404) on September 2, 1945. The Rhind was named for Alexander Colden Rhind, a naval officer who commanded the USS Keokuk at Charleston which was hit by 90 Confederate shells and later sank during the Civil War. He also commanded Gen. Butler's powdership Louisiana at the First Battle of Fort Fisher in December 1864.
--GreGen
From Pacific Wrecks site:
Pagan island came under near constant U.S. bombing and aerial attack near the end of the war. Most missions were launched by the U.S. 7th Air Force. The first attack took placeJune 23, 1944 and two HellCats were lost. Those were the only losses recorded during the 79 attacks.
The last attack was made by USMC planes.
The Japanese troops on Pagan Island surrendered to Commodore Vernon F. Grant and the USS Rhind (DD-404) on September 2, 1945. The Rhind was named for Alexander Colden Rhind, a naval officer who commanded the USS Keokuk at Charleston which was hit by 90 Confederate shells and later sank during the Civil War. He also commanded Gen. Butler's powdership Louisiana at the First Battle of Fort Fisher in December 1864.
--GreGen
Follow Up on Pagan Island-- Part 1: Japan Took Control During WWI
From Wikipedia.
Back on June 6th, I wrote about the USMC proposal to use this island in the Pacific for large-scale amphibious landing practice. First, back in the 70s it was desert warfare training, now this. Are they trying to tell us something?
Anyway, some background on this island I'd never heard of before.
In 1914, during World War I, it was captured by Japan who was awarded control of it after the war by the League of Nations under the South Pacific Mandate.
An airfield was built on it in 1935 and the Imperial Japanese Navy garrisoned it in 1937. In June 1944, 2150 Imperial Japanese Army soldiers arrived and were cut off by the Allied offensive, receiving supplies only occasionally by submarine. Facing starvation, several hundred died of malnutrition.
--GreGen
Back on June 6th, I wrote about the USMC proposal to use this island in the Pacific for large-scale amphibious landing practice. First, back in the 70s it was desert warfare training, now this. Are they trying to tell us something?
Anyway, some background on this island I'd never heard of before.
In 1914, during World War I, it was captured by Japan who was awarded control of it after the war by the League of Nations under the South Pacific Mandate.
An airfield was built on it in 1935 and the Imperial Japanese Navy garrisoned it in 1937. In June 1944, 2150 Imperial Japanese Army soldiers arrived and were cut off by the Allied offensive, receiving supplies only occasionally by submarine. Facing starvation, several hundred died of malnutrition.
--GreGen
Saturday, June 6, 2015
U.S. Military Plans to Use Pagan Island Again-- Part 1
From the May 20, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Pagan Games" by David S. Cloud.
"Saipan, Northern Marianas-- The tiny Pacific Island of Pagan is a lost world of deserted black sand, feral pigs and huge fruit bats. Two active volcanoes, one at each end of the spoon-shaped isle, rise over a deep blue horizon.
"A rusting Japanese Zero fighter lies near a derelict Japanese-built runway still pock-marked with craters from an American bomber attack seven decades ago in World War II."
Now, the USMC wants the island to go to war again on a regular basis. The Pentagon had proposed leasing the entire 18-square-mile island for use in live-fire amphibious invasion practice.
There is some question as to why the Marines need amphibious practice since they haven't done one since the invasion of Inchon in Korea 65 years ago.
But, there are plans for practice at Pagan Island at least 16 weeks a year. Troops from Japan, Australia and South Korea might use it as well. Imagine American and Japanese troops operating together this time.
--GreGen
--
"Saipan, Northern Marianas-- The tiny Pacific Island of Pagan is a lost world of deserted black sand, feral pigs and huge fruit bats. Two active volcanoes, one at each end of the spoon-shaped isle, rise over a deep blue horizon.
"A rusting Japanese Zero fighter lies near a derelict Japanese-built runway still pock-marked with craters from an American bomber attack seven decades ago in World War II."
Now, the USMC wants the island to go to war again on a regular basis. The Pentagon had proposed leasing the entire 18-square-mile island for use in live-fire amphibious invasion practice.
There is some question as to why the Marines need amphibious practice since they haven't done one since the invasion of Inchon in Korea 65 years ago.
But, there are plans for practice at Pagan Island at least 16 weeks a year. Troops from Japan, Australia and South Korea might use it as well. Imagine American and Japanese troops operating together this time.
--GreGen
--
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)