Most people have heard the term, “The Greatest Generation,” coined by Tom Brokaw. He published his book by the same title in 1998. I love reading books in their original language whether they are written in English or Japanese. Like most books written in English, this book gave me a perspective that I probably would not have been able to appreciate as much the fine nuances if I were to try to read it through someone else’s translation.
One of my nightly routines since August 15, 2012 has been to locate and contact as many World War II veterans as possible. Since then, assuming that the number of views on YouTube counts is a fairly good indicator, I have been able to reach out to over 500 of them. I have also been privileged to meet some of them in person, and others on the internet. I’m delighted to see that my message is spreading steadily. Although this has been a very slow process, it is gratifying to me nonetheless. If you know of any WWII veterans, please share this two-minute video with them: www.ThankYouVeterans.net.
As I study the events surrounding WWII, it has become clear to me that I may not have come to exist – particularly if Japan were to have refused to surrender in 1945. Why do I say this? Well, the Imperial Japanese military was brainwashing its ranks and the civilians to “fight to the death in honor of the Emperor.” With this mantra and with the lesser military capabilities of Japan in comparison to that of the Allied Forces, of which the United States was a major part, the Japanese population would have been annihilated before the war ended. So, when I say I owe my life to the American WWII veterans, it is not an exaggeration at all. This is why it is important for me to say, “Thank you,” to as many WWII veterans as possible.
Beyond what I read in each article that Google Alert brings to me, which enables me to make the initial contact, it is rare to get to know each veteran. The process of getting to know them is usually accelerated when a veteran has written one or more books. As soon as I discovered the gentleman I’m about to introduce to you, he began to hold a very special place in my heart. Jerry Yellin is his name. So far, I have read two of his books:
The first one, “Of War and Weddings,” I read the entire book on the way to Guam in December 2012. Here is my review of the book on Amazon. (Once there, please scroll down to find it. I think it’s the seventh one down.)
The second book, “The Blackened Canteen,” I finished reading on the way back from Guam. Once again, here is my review on Amazon.
I think of Jerry, a WWII fighter pilot, as a man of intelligence, discipline, and strong character. Yet the trauma from the continuous exposure to combat caused him to have difficulty adjusting back to civilian life for 30 years after the war. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) until Helene, his wife, introduced him to transcendental meditation (TM) in 1975. He credits TM for enabling him to get a sense of normalcy back in his life. A number of individuals including Dr. Mehmet Öz, the well-respected heart surgeon and TV personality, use it and highly recommend it as well.
Jerry devotes his life to promoting TM for today’s soldiers. Spirit of 45 and Operation Warrior Wellness are two of his passions. Here is Jerry’s 5-minute video in which he covers both of these topics. Other than humans, no creature inflicts such pain to its own kind on a massive scale.
This photograph of me on the right – with two of Jerry’s books – was taken at the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center, which is part of the War in the Pacific – National Historical Park – in Guam. You could go through the Visitor Center within ½ hour to an hour. I have a strong desire to understand what happened during WWII – so I spent three hours, reviewing everything that was available. Between this museum and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, I have learned in much greater depth about the atrocities inflicted by the Imperial Japanese military than how much I was aware of through the history lessons in Japan. Being bilingual, and having lived in two cultures that are worlds apart, I believe it is my duty and obligation to keep the truth alive about one of the darkest aspects of human nature.
I am grateful to Jerry and many other WWII veterans who found it in their heart to forgive the former enemy.
