From Camp MacKall to Tokyo…
Just as General Douglas MacArthur said to Gen. Robert Eichelberger that it was a long road to Tokyo, so it was for Smitty. Yes, the stretch from Broad Channel to Camp MacKall and finally Atsugi Airfield was a long and arduous road, but here, the 11th Airborne Division arrives in Japan to begin the Occupation and to help start the rebuilding of a country.
With the initial arrival of the division, rarely was a female between the ages of 8 and 70 seen on the streets. The Japanese had heard their government’s propaganda for years as to the American looting and raping, so they were understandably afraid of the conquering troops. But many were confused about the peaceful attitude of the soldiers and a member of the 511th regiment was stopped one day by a Japanese officer, he asked, “Why don’t you rape, loot and burn? We would.” The trooper answered that Americans just don’t do that.
With the New Grand Hotel surrounded by troopers, the manager and his staff bowed to Gen. MacArthur and his party and directed them to their suites. Tired and hungry from their long flight, the Americans went to the dining room and were served steak dinners. Gen. Whitney remembered wanting to take MacArthur’s plate to make certain it hadn’t been poisoned. When he told the general his concern and intentions, MacArthur laughed and said, “No one can live forever.” The hotel would become his headquarters and later that evening, MacArthur told his staff, “Boys, this is the greatest adventure in military history. Here we sit in the enemy’s country with only a handful of troops, looking down the throats of 19 fully armed divisions and 70 million fanatics. One false move and the Alamo would look like a Sunday school picnic.” (The fact that nothing happened, I believe, said quite a bit about Japanese integrity.)
The division Command Post was moved from the Atsugi Airfield to the Sun Oil Compound in Yokohama. This compound had about 15 American-style homes complete with furniture, dishes, silver and linens. The senior staff officers were not so fortunate. They were put up in warehouses on the docks, often without heat.
In the Philippines, the Japanese emissary General Kawabe, finished their surrender talks. Kawabe’s aide, Second Lt. Sada Otake, introduced himself to a Nisei G.I. standing guard outside. The guard, in response, said his name was Takamura. Otake said he had married a Nisei by the same name and did he had a sister named Etsuyo? The guard nodded and Otake said, “I’m her husband. Look me up in Japan.” And the brothers-in-law shook hands. (Small world or fate?)
On the reverse side of this photo, Smitty wrote: “A picture of the General”s gang taken in the living room at Yokohama. Reading left to right – baker, first cook, Mess Sergeant, me headwaiter and on the floor, second cook. Those glasses you can see were always full. You can’t beat this Japanese beer.
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On 1 September, newsmen Harry Brundige and Clark Lee, with the help of a Japanese newsman, located Tokyo Rose with her husband in their hotel, the Imperial. Brundige offered her $2,000 for an exclusive interview for “Cosmopolitan” magazine. She agreed and together they typed out 17 pages of notes. The editor of the magazine was so astounded that Brundige had made a deal with a traitor that he rejected the story. The notes were handed over to Lee, who wrote his own version of the story for the International News Service.
On the reverse side of this photo, Smitty wrote: “Another picture of the gang. This was taken while in Yokohama at the Oil Co’s homes. This was really the best we ever had. Private ten-room home with all the trimmings.”
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RESOURCES: “The Rising Sun,” by John Toland; “Rakkasans” and “Angels” by E.M. Flanagan; flightknights.net and Everett’s scrapbook.
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NEXT GUEST POST – on Tuesday, April 9th at Greatest Generation Lessons – check it out and maybe drop a line to comment – good or bad, Judy and I are inquiring minds and we want to know.
Posted on April 7, 2013, in SMITTY, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 11th airborne, Atsugi, Broad Channel, family history, History, Japan, Military, Military History, Pacific War, veterans, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 28 Comments.
Enjoy your site. My 92-year-old father served in the Pacific Theater. He was a Navy Pharmacist’s Mate.
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Thank you for stopping in to read, I appreciate the comment. If you have further info on your father feel free to add or jump in with some of the questions and conversations going on.
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Reblogged this on Heil World Wars.
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Great post. We can take pride that most soldiers entered with honor and not barbaric intent.
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Yes!! I believe thanks to that, the Occupation went as well as it did.
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What a great blog you have here. You have a wealth of information. Thanks for stopping by my site. Hope to hear from you again.
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Thanks for the compliments. Just got back from your site, enjoyed it immensely. Hope you return to read more.
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I believe I will…:)
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Hi! I have nominated your blog at Very Inspiring Blogger award 🙂
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As much as I feel honored by your nomination, I will have to decline. This blog is not for me but those before me. Thank you for offering.
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I can’t honestly say my blog is for me either, but I understand your point 🙂 And I do like your blog!
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Thank you for understanding. The awards are actually a new version of a chain letter.
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I really enjoyed the articles about the occpation of Japan.
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Thanks, there’s more to come.
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Thanks for the likes 🙂
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Certainly my pleasure.
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Fascinating post as usual. Thank you for your diligent research – loved the brother-in-law story.
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Thank you. Yes, the Nisei story seems to be the most popular.
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Great excerpts. I particularly liked the Nisei piece.
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Thanks for coming by, I liked that one myself.
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Fancy the in-laws meeting there – fate – yes, for me it is.
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Isn’t that something! I really liked finding that story.
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This is all so interesting. A whole side of the war that I know nothing about it.
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You’re not alone. A lot of people think the main war was in Europe because that was how the government felt at the time.
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A reblogué ceci sur Lest We Forget and commented:
Peace at last…
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Merci.
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Peace finally. Love your father’s pictures.
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Yup, Japan at last.
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