Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ARTelevision
My uncle was there then and during the entire Pacific Campaign.
It affected his personality for the rest of his life.
Until the day he died his emotional aspect was unavailable to even his family. He was the most tightly wound and emotionally unavailable person I've ever known. The entire family knew why yet we never spoke of it - except to let each other know for the first time that we knew it and that we knew why. Unimaginable Horror is something that does occur on this earth.
|
My great-uncle fought in the Pacific as well, and he was never as outgoing or amiable as his brothers (one of whom was my grandfather). I've been told that he had been a very bright and cheerful person before the War, but remained withdrawn afterwards until he died. He always used to look at me like he just didn't "get" me. He also contracted malaria while there and lived with its effects for the rest of his life. He never talked about any of it.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lockjaw
The truly sobering thing about that pic is learning how many of those guys went on to get KIA or wounded. Most people just look at that picture as it's something unfeeling and symbolic. But when you learn the history behind the guys that did that lifting it really smacks you back to reality and the sacrifice of the people behind such a stiring symbol.
|
If I remember correctly, Mr. Bradley stated that 14 out of the 18 Marines he posed for the second picture died before leaving Iwo Jima. He also stated that when the Marines and photographers climbed to the top of Suribachi to raise the flag, they encountered many Japanese who were still alive and unharmed, but were "woozy" and unable to fight. They were, of course, all shot dead on sight, but it always bugged his dad as to why those Japanese soldiers just sat there and watched. Years later, he learned that the napalm attacks more than likely sucked all the oxygen away from the summit, and the surviving Japanese were simply dizzy.