Martin From Canada | 15 Aug 2017 11:21 a.m. PST |
link HIGASHI-SHIRAKAWA, Japan — Seventy-three years ago, a young Marine from Montana, deployed to the Pacific island of Saipan, stumbled across a body. A Japanese soldier, lying on his back, dead.Poking out from underneath his jacket was a "good luck flag" — a Japanese flag covered with the signatures and good luck wishes of 180 people from his family and his hometown of Higashi-Shirakawa, deep in the Japanese Alps. "Long-lasting fortune in battle" was written in large letters across the top. The 20-year-old Marine, Marvin Strombo, who was part of a scout-sniping platoon, reached down and took the flag. For decades, it was displayed in the glass-fronted gun cabinet in his home in Missoula, Montana, becoming a talking point among visitors and a point of pride for the veteran. But on Tuesday, the 72nd anniversary of Japan's Second World War surrender, Strombo traveled some 8,500 kilometres from Missoula to this remote village, population 2,338, to return the flag to the soldier's family. Local residents dressed in black and schoolchildren turned out for the ceremony. […]
Cheers Martin from Canada |
lloydthegamer | 15 Aug 2017 11:46 a.m. PST |
Martin, thanks for the link. The Columbia River Maritime Museum has a display of Yosegaki Hinomaru on loan from the Obon Society. When a flag is identified it is taken down and sent to Japan and replaced with one still needing identification. There is also a very poignant video that goes with the display. Lloyd |
45thdiv | 15 Aug 2017 4:01 p.m. PST |
Thank you for this post Martin. I read this to my wife and 10 year old son. I am glad to see these items being returned. While I enjoy history and have a few items from WW2, they are American Surplus or handed down to me by family members. Matthew |
Berzerker73 | 15 Aug 2017 6:14 p.m. PST |
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Mobius | 15 Aug 2017 8:40 p.m. PST |
That's just disturbing. An uncle who was in the 2nd Marine Div. for the battle for Saipan recovered a Japanese rifle. It belongs to our family now. That was payback for all the sacrifice Marines made. |
Skarper | 16 Aug 2017 2:14 a.m. PST |
Nice story. Rifles or issued items are different to items like this flag. I'd have no qualms about someone hanging onto a souvenir and if someone wanted to keep a personal item like this then it is really up to them. It clearly meant something to the family to get this back and also to the Marine who had taken it. So it's a nice result. Better that Strombo took the flag than leave it to rot anyway. |
Steve Wilcox | 16 Aug 2017 2:52 a.m. PST |
That's just disturbing. Why? What's wrong with him returning it? |
Mobius | 16 Aug 2017 5:01 a.m. PST |
It's ultimately up to the person who found it what they want to do with it. If this makes them feel better than let them return it. But, personal non-military items are more in line for this treatment. Does a flag that where "Long-lasting fortune in battle" was written in large letters across the top seem non-military? Things that were meant to kill you and your comrades or are in support of that probably should be left out. Have the Soviets returned the German standards they captured during WWII or the British returned French Eagles they captured at Waterloo?
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Steve Wilcox | 16 Aug 2017 9:31 a.m. PST |
It's ultimately up to the person who found it what they want to do with it. Exactly! Does a flag that where "Long-lasting fortune in battle" was written in large letters across the top seem non-military? Yes, to me it does. It's not a weapon. Things that were meant to kill you and your comrades or are in support of that probably should be left out. "…in support of" is a little too vague for me, but I can see your point re: weapons. However, anything else done in the spirit of reconciliation seems like a good thing to me. Have the Soviets returned the German standards they captured during WWII or the British returned French Eagles they captured at Waterloo? Those aren't personal belongings. |
Mobius | 16 Aug 2017 11:45 a.m. PST |
Those aren't personal belongings. Kamikaze pilot's head banners are. If one these were dug out the ruins of a US aircraft carrier where dozens of sailors were killed should it be returned to the pilots family? |
Steve Wilcox | 16 Aug 2017 12:02 p.m. PST |
Those aren't personal belongings. Kamikaze pilot's head banners are. If one these were dug out the ruins of a US aircraft carrier where dozens of sailors were killed should it be returned to the pilots family? I probably wouldn't myself in that particular case, but would have no problem if the person who found it returned it. Do you believe the personal belongings of US servicemen killed overseas should be returned by former enemies? |
Mobius | 16 Aug 2017 12:29 p.m. PST |
Do you believe the personal belongings of US servicemen killed overseas should be returned by former enemies? Yes. Would you consider Nazi death head rings personal items? |
Steve Wilcox | 16 Aug 2017 3:10 p.m. PST |
Do you believe the personal belongings of US servicemen killed overseas should be returned by former enemies? Yes. So why then do you have a problem with a Japanese soldier's personal flag being returned? Would you consider Nazi death head rings personal items? Rings are personal items, yes (unless state-issued). Distasteful ones in this case. Again, I would have no problem with the finder of said item returning it if they chose to. |
Brownand | 16 Aug 2017 3:21 p.m. PST |
I can see a discussion get out of hand! |
Skarper | 16 Aug 2017 9:55 p.m. PST |
There is to my mind no moral obligation to try to return such items to the family of the original owner. But it's nice if the person who took it wants to give it back and the family can be found and will receive it without rancour. I remember reading about how an author [forgot who] traced the family of a German he personally killed in Normandy and took some personal stuff. Maybe a diary or photos and also his pistol. He was able to meet the widow and daughter. The daughter was willing to be reconciled with him but the widow was still angry and bitter and wouldn't accept his apologies. Of course, it was a killing in war not a murder or even a careless accident. I can see why the author wanted to be forgiven but I can equally see why the widow might not want to forgive. |
lloydthegamer | 17 Aug 2017 11:10 a.m. PST |
The soldiers returning the Yosegaki feel the need for reconciliation. It is not your place to dispute their actions. They are doing what they feel needs to be done, and bless them for it. That war happened a long time ago, it's time to start letting go of past grudges and do some healing. Lloyd |
Ladauce | 17 Aug 2017 5:44 p.m. PST |
My grandfather served in the 2nd Marines, 2nd Division and had a Hinomaro Flag (among other things). After looking into things and talking with my family we will send the flag back too. I would also be interested in finding out where it came from (my grandfather died 37 years ago) and who it belonged to and their story. |
lloydthegamer | 18 Aug 2017 1:16 a.m. PST |
obonsociety.org/who-we-are Laduce (and others who are interested) try the link above if you want to know more about returning the Yosegaki Hinomaru and the impact it has on both of the families. If you're interested in a good book about returning, try this one: The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War. Good luck, Lloyd |
Mobius | 18 Aug 2017 7:52 a.m. PST |
2nd Marines, 2nd Division Isn't that redundant? |
ScottS | 18 Aug 2017 9:06 a.m. PST |
2nd Marines, 2nd Division Isn't that redundant? Not at all. "Marines" in this context refers to a Regiment. So that's "2nd Marine Regiment, part of 2nd Marine Division." (If you want to get really far into it, there is a 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Mar Div.)
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Ladauce | 19 Aug 2017 1:01 p.m. PST |
Lloydthegamer: thanks I was looking into using that organization. ScottS: yes, the Marines didn't waste time with regimental terminology. My grandfather was actually in 2nd battalion, 2nd Marines. Originally co.H weapons coy, then after Tarawa weapons companies were reassigned and he served out the rest of the war in Co. G. |
lloydthegamer | 21 Aug 2017 1:19 p.m. PST |
Most excellent, Ladauce, I think you will be very happy when you contact them. Lloyd |
Cacique Caribe | 21 Aug 2017 11:59 p.m. PST |
I wonder if similar flag returns have happened in the past, like after a civil war. Dan |
Ladauce | 22 Aug 2017 10:43 a.m. PST |
Dan: these are a bit different as the signed Yosegaki Hinomaro are not unit or military battle flags, which was what I originally thought. Instead they are personal flags with prayers and well wishes signed by soldiers family, friends and neighbors. So I would compare them to family photos or letters. Of course Allied soldiers and Marines couldn't read Japanese and thought they were military flags. My grandfather thought the writing were the names of the soldiers in the unit, at least that's what my uncle's passed down. |