Conv-Conscripted into the Japanese Army

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From: Frank Rogers

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: Conscripted into Japanese Army

Interesting life story: I worked with a “Japanese” born in Oregon, who had gone to Japan to study before WW2 and was stuck there. He was married to a Japanese. He was conscripted into the JN army and sent to Manchuria. Fortunately, because he was native English speaker, he was recalled to work in the propaganda department in Tokyo, where he spent the duration. His group knew the true story of what was happening and that JN was surely losing, but they had to keep up the illusion. After the war he remained in Japan, was very close to the Imperial family. He and his daughter played tennis with them, including the Crown Prince, (now Emperor). George - name changed to Jiro - Somekawa was newspaper writer and editor with me at JCTV. Died of cancer about 1997.
Frank

From: Marc Yablonka

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: Conscripted into Japanese Army

I had the honor of meeting the late and much written about WWII Army Air Corps P-51 pilot Jerry Yellin through my former membership in the Military Writers Society of America some years back. Jerry flew the last bombing mission over Japan from his base on Iwo Jima, which we had captured by then. Only, unbeknownst to Jerry, because the message never got through to his squadron, Japan had surrendered three hours before the mission was given the green light.
On that mission, he lost his Wingman, a fellow Brooklyn New Yorker. After the war, he went to his Wingman's house to give his Wingman's mother her son's wings. The woman looked at him and said, "That should have been you who died out there that day, Captain Yellin!" Jerry handed the wings to her other son, went outside, sat down on the front porch steps, the snow falling all around him, and cried like a baby. They didn't call it PTSD in those days, but, after that day, Jerry lived with whatever it was termed then--as well as guilt and deep, deep hatred for the Japanese--for decades.
Jerry and his wife had a son. The son grew up, became an English teacher, decided to take a job in....you guessed it....Japan. His son met and fell in love with a Japanese gal. They decided to marry. When Jerry and his Mrs. received the news and the subsequent wedding invitation, Jerry told his wife, "I'M NOT GOING!" As women usually do, his wife had the better sense and Jerry agreed to attend. As it turned out, the bride's father had been a Mitsubishi pilot. After an initial sizing up, the two became fast friends and remained so until Jerry passed not all that long ago. He made several trips to Japan in the ensuing years and, in short, did a 360 on the country of Japan and its people. He wrote about the experience in his book entitled "Of War and Weddings."
On a personal note, my late dad, Army Air Corps Radioman on Saipan, underwent a similar cathartic experience when the company he was heading up began to do business in Japan. The night before he left on the first of what would become several trips to Japan, he confided in me, "I never thought I would get caught dead in that country!" He, too, came back a changed person as regards Japan and its people. He had Alzheimer's when he passed and it became common, whenever I took him to the VA for his appointments, for him to start talking about Japan. He'd finish his story, be quiet for a few minutes, and then start all over again telling me the same story about Japan that he had just finished telling me five minutes before.
RE: Jerry: He credited TM (Transcendental Meditation) as the cure for his PTSD. It also brought him a friendship with, of all people, Beatle Ringo Starr!
Marc Phillip Yablonka

From: Marc Yablonka

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: My Grandfather

My grandfather was a forced conscript into the Russian Army, and, according to my late dad, was assigned sentry duty during the signing of the Armistice. At one point in the proceedings, Leon Trotsky, then still in favor, walked out, walked over to my grand dad and said, "It won't be long now, comrade," and walked away. One for the family archives I guess.
Marc Phillip Yablonka

From: Nancy Smoyer

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: Conscripted into Japanese Army

"On that mission, he lost his Wingman, a fellow Brooklyn New Yorker. After the war, he went to his Wingman's house to give his Wingman's mother her son's wings. The woman looked at him and said, "That should have been you who died out there that day, Captain Yellin!"

Marc,
I hate hearing stories like that, and it's not the first time. I'm afraid I understand the sentiment, but I don't understand saying it. I wonder if that mother has been regretting it all her life.
I think I've told this story before, but maybe not to you all. After I got home and my brother had been killed, several friends of my parents and I were sitting around our club pool.. The son of one of them who had just come back from VN came toward to us wearing regular clothes. I can't remember how I knew, but I knew who he was and met him part way there.. His guilt and reticence was all over his face, and I had the thought, why you and not Billy. I welcomed him, talked for a little bit and tried to ease his joining the group.
But I had that thought, and not the first time......
Nancy

From: Nancy Smoyer

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: Conscripted into Japanese Army

Nancy,
Marc,
Actually, I' really glad I grew up in the 60s. As strange a time as it was, I loved the newfound freedom which others were finding (I only slightly took advantage of it), the music, the hippy-dippy clothes, the long hair, etc., etc. And I loved my time in Vietnam. Can you say conflicted? :-) As they say, the best of times, the worse of times.
Nancy

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From: Marc Yablonka

Dated: November 3, 2018

Subject: Conscripted into Japanese Army

Nancy,
I have no idea whether Jerry ever saw or spoke to his Wingman's mother again, but I do know that when our hearts are in pain, it is easy for our emotions to run away with themselves. I've had students over the years who have said things to me like, "Wow! I wish I'd grown up in the 60s!" My reply has always been, "No you don't! It was a terrible time!" One in which a young woman who had lost a brother in Vietnam could then and can now be forgiven for thinking a thought like that I think.
Marc Phillip Yablonka

Conscripted into the Japanese Army

Started with a Message on Forced Conscription into the Russian Army

November 2018

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