Here are Part 1 of 4, Part 2 of 4, and Part 3 of 4 – just in case you would like to review some or all of them before reading this Part 4 of 4.
Another December 7th has come and gone. It remains a dreaded day for me each year – not that anyone that surrounds me ever reminds me, I cannot help but remind myself of it. It is a day of infamy indeed.
Memorable quotes and my random notes – III of III
Notable comments from the book are identified with quotation marks. For this last of the four reviews, there are actually no comments by me – only what Fuchida wrote. No words of mine can do justice to the tremendous historical value this book provides. I highly recommend it. Here are Fuchida’s words:
“When I led our 360 planes over Pearl Harbor and radioed the message, ‘Tora, Tora, Tora,’ meaning ‘we have succeeded with the surprise attack,’ …”
“… However, I felt an ache in my heart as I thought about the grieving families of those who died. As a member of the military, I was convinced that war itself was one of the ways to attain peace in the name of justice, so I continued to fight, risking my life as a soldier. I believed that it was just because it reflected the loyalty of a soldier to his mother country, but now I know that justice is not something that can be defined by human beings at their discretion. It can be measured only on the scales of Jesus Christ.
“… I was shown to the stage… and sat next to Billy Graham. Mrs. Graham was also present, and I greeted her when we were introduced… I stood on the stage. I delivered a testimony that lasted approximately 15 minutes, pronouncing each word slowly and clearly. There was dead silence as everyone inside the tent tried to catch every word I said. I did my best as a speaker, and the audience listened most attentively. Then, something very inspirational happened. It was the grace of the Holy Spirit. I finished my speech. And I was greeted with repeated thunderous applause. Billy Graham stood from his seat to receive me as I was descending the stage. He gripped my hand and, holding my shoulder, had me sit on a seat on the platform. But the applause did not stop and, as it continued, got even louder. It was like a call for an encore. Billy signaled me with his eyes to stand again on the stage. I stood on the stage as I had no choice. Again, there was applause, but as I had nothing more to say, I waved my right hand and smiled.”
“President Truman, laughing, said, ‘Captain, as far as Pearl Harbor is concerned, we were both guilty… No, not only before God but before human beings, we will both be proven to be guilty as a fact of history.’”
“I listened carefully to what he (Japanese prisoner of war in the U.S.) had to say. According to him, these people were all severely injured. They had lost an arm or a leg, and they were interned in a hospital for prisoners of war in a hot-spring town in the Rocky Mountains in Utah. There, they received treatment, and even artificial arms or legs were provided for them.
“It was about a half-year before the end of the war when a young American woman appeared at the camp. She was around 20 years old, and she started to care for the injured Japanese prisoners of war with all her energy.
“She told us, ‘Everyone, if you should have any inconvenience or if you are in need of anything, please let me know. I will try to make sure that you are comfortable.’
“At first, the Japanese prisoners thought there might be some hidden intention to seek publicity or something even more sinister. They could not understand why a Yankee girl would suddenly appear and offer to help them. However, there was nothing feigned about what she did. She came in the morning and left in the evening; she provided nursing care to the injured prisoners who were missing an arm or a leg, to the extent that even most family members would not extend. As soon as she noticed anything that the prisoners were lacking, the next morning she brought it to them. As this continued for two, then three weeks, the prisoners were moved by her. When there is such unexpected kindness, it is human nature to ask why. ‘Lady, why do you treat us so kindly?’
“The woman hesitated at first, but they kept pressing her for an answer. She finally said, ‘Because my parents were killed by the Japanese Army.’
“When I heard this, I was astounded. I leaned forward and said, ‘Tell me more details about your story.’
“The Woman’s name was Margaret Covell, and her parents were Baptist missionaries who had been sent to Japan.
“… During this chaotic situation, Japanese soldiers discovered the hiding place of the missionary Covell and his wife. When they searched through the couple’s possessions, they found a small radio receiver. The solders decided that this was a secret communications device and executed the couple for engaging in espionage. They beheaded them on the spot with a Japanese sword. It was indeed an act of atrocity.
“Before long, US forces occupied the area. The execution of the Covells came to light as local witnesses came forward. This led to war crimes trials later. Lieutenant General Masaharu Honma and General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commanders of the Philippines, were tried and executed, having been accused of dereliction of duty in overlooking and tolerating such acts of atrocity by the Japanese Army.
“Eventually, these facts were communicated to the Covells’ daughter, Margaret, who had been looking after their house while waiting anxiously in Utah for her parents’ return. Now, she was abruptly told about her parents’ death and how they were executed by Japanese soldiers on suspicion of espionage. Her eyes filled with tears of sorrow, and she felt an uncontrollable strong rage against the Japanese soldiers who executed her beloved parents.
“She also received the testimony of locals who witnessed the execution. According to the witnesses, her parents had their hands bound and were blindfolded, but they continuously offered prayers.
“Margaret tried to think about how her parents prayed in their final moments on earth. Then, it occurred to her in her heart that, as the daughter of these parents, the meaning of their prayer was forgiveness, not hatred of those Japanese who killed them. She thought that it was the will of her parents that she provide comfort to the very Japanese she should have hated.
“… And until the prisoners were repatriated to Japan, she visited the hospital every day for six months without fail, providing her heart-felt services.
“I was immensely moved by this story. After all, we have to put an end to the bitterness of hatred. Because of this story, I stopped my research on the cruel treatment of Japanese prisoners of war on the spot.”
