General Yamashita
From: “Our Jungle Road to Tokyo” by General Robert Eichleberger
Although negotiations with Yamashita for surrender were completed after 8th Army had relinquished control of Luzon, the story should be told here. It must be remembered that Japanese forces at this period had little or no communication with the homeland.
On 7 August – the day of the fall of the first atomic bomb – an America pilot was forced to abandon his disabled plane and parachute behind the Japanese lines in northern Luzon. He was picked up by an enemy patrol the next morning and taken after 5 days of forced marches to Gen. Yamashita’s headquarters, then SW of Kiangan.
There he was subjected to vigorous and prolonged interrogation. He was threatened with physical violence when he steadfastly refused to answer questions.
On 16 Aug – the attitude of the Japanese interrogators abruptly changed. The pilot received medical treatment for his parachute-jump injuries and was extended many small courtesies. The next day the American was guided toward American lines; when the Japanese soldiers had gone as far as they dared, they gave the flier a letter, written by Yamashita himself, which explained the circumstances of the pilot’s capture and commended him for his military spirit and devotion to duty.
On 24 August – the same pilot flew an L-5 liaison plane over the area in which he had been held and dropped a message of thanks to Gen. Yamashita, along with 2 signal panels. The message, written by Gen. Gill of the 32nd Division, suggested that if Yamashita were in the mood for surrender negotiations he should display the 2 panels as evidence of his willingness to parley.
The following morning another pilot found the panels staked out according to instructions; also on the ground were many cheering, hand-waving Japanese soldiers, who beckoned the plane to land. Instead, a second message was dropped. It suggested that Yamashita send an envoy to the American lines to received detailed instructions for his surrender.
Late in the afternoon of 26 August, a Japanese captain, carrying Yamashita’s answer, entered the American lines under a flag of truce. The letter, which was written in English, was as follows:
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES
August 25, 1945
TO: GENERAL W.H. GILL, COMMANDING GENERAL KIANGAN-BOYOMBONG AREA, UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES
- I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication addressed to me, dropped by your airplane on Aug. 24th as well as your papers dropped on Aug. 25th in response to our ground signals.
2. I am taking this opportunity to convey to you that order from Imperial Headquarters pertaining to cessation of hostilities was duly received by me on Aug. 20th and that I have immediately issued orders to cease hostilities to all units under my command insofar as communications were possible.
I also wish to add this point the expression of my heartfelt gratitude to you, full cognizant of the sincere efforts and deep concern you have continuously shown with reference to cessation of hostilities as evidenced by various steps and measures you have taken in this connection.
To date however, I have failed to receive order from Imperial Headquarters authorizing me to enter into direct negotiations here in the Philippines with the United States Army…, but I am of the fond belief that upon receipt of this order, negotiations ca be immediately entered into. Presenting my compliments and thanking you for your courteous letter, I remain, yours respectively,
/s/Tomoyuki Yamashita, General, Imperial Japanese Army, Highest Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines
This message was the first in a series exchanged between Yamashita and Gen. Gill. The exquisite courtesy of the exchanges probably has for the average reader something of the quality of ‘Through the Looking-Glass’.
To be continued…….
Click on images to enlarge.
#############################################################################################
Military Humor –
#############################################################################################
Farewell Salutes –
John Coyne – St. Paul, MN; US Army, Korea, 187th RCT
Margaret Bergthold – Lookeba, OK; US Navy WAVE, WWII, nurse
George Gaw – Sacramento, CA; US Navy, Bimini Island, 53rd SeaBee Batt. / USMC, Korea
Desmond Hyland – Hawkes Bay, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 421274, WWII, Mosquito pilot
Ben Jenik – KS; US Army Air Corps, Sgt., 93rd Supply Squadron/490 Bomb Group
Tom Montalbana – Brooklyn, NY; US Army Air Corps, WWII & Korea
Harry Shakes – Winter Park, FL; US Army, WWII, ETO, Korea & Vietnam, Sgt. Major (Ret. 30 y.), 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts
Stephen St. Laurent – Portland, ME; US Army, Vietnam
Phyllis Tatel – Boston, MA; USO, WWII
William Webb Sr. – Columbus, GA; US Army, WWII
#############################################################################################
Posted on February 11, 2019, in Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, family history, Gen. Yamashita, History, Military, Military History, Pacific War, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 129 Comments.
What an incredible letter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He surrendered without actually saying it and maintained his dignity. Quite an accomplishment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another good reason why I keep email posts from friends, I had not read the actual circumstances around the surrender of the Philippines gp.
Informative and interesting as usual mate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Ian. I look forward to your opinions being as you were in similar jungles in your service.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smitty must’ve scared him out of his wits… 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
haha. I’m afraid Smitty was on Okinawa at this point though.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Rick. If you are able, the conclusion was posted today.
LikeLike
Great story
LikeLiked by 1 person
Much appreciated!
LikeLike
I enjoyed this post very much, GP. Thank you!
Derrick J. Knight posted he has just lost his oldest son Michael.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear God. I shot right over to Derrick’s site and left a comment, although I am not very good with words at such a time. Tomorrow would have been my Michael’s 47th birthday, he has been gone for 27 years and I still think of him everyday and the hole still hurts, so I know there’s nothing I can do for him, Jackie and the their family. But I tried. Thank you for letting me know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
GP you devil… 😉 I was caught up in this, waiting to see how it played out. Then you gave me a dose of my own cliffhanger medicine. LOL.
Yes, unfortunately I agree that this kind of courtesy has become scarce to the point of seeming like the stuff of fantasy stories… People in DC are (for the most part) horrible that way. Once I stumbled on an escalator. Rather than helping me get my balance, a business man pushed me aside, nearly knocking me back down.
Or the very large man at the main campus of my agency who knocked my shoulder with his body as he walked past me and said “Excuse you,” in a very snarky voice. Or the dozens who may have seen you 100 times at work, but alone in an elevator, if you say “hello” just glare silently at you in return.
Yes, it does seem to have gone through the looking glass.
Hugs.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I just can’t understand the utter lack of common courtesy. Is it really that difficult to have manners. I have been known to tell people that bump into – “well, if I get in your way, just knock me over, eh?” I get the strangest looks – like they can’t figure out my sarcasm. I think these days a lot of people become far educated beyond their intelligence!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen far too many be promoted or advanced just because they fit in one box or another (for whatever brownie points, or cronyism). They don’t have to learn any skills, including basic communications or common courtesy…
I admit it was infuriating for that guy to (I believe intentionally) bump me like that, and then tell me “Excuse you.”
I stand up for myself (and people hate that), but he kept going. His legs were longer than mine, and I didn’t want to miss my shuttle bus. I really wanted to go after him. But I also known it would have been foolish…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m afraid so, you can’t teach people act like that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read what I assume was an eyewitness account of Yamashita taking the surrender of Singapore from General Perceval in 1942. He was far less amenable that day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ya gotta admit, that’s human. How would you be? 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fair point!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found the article that way my source. Very long read, I’ll quote here the surrender as described.
…Sugita retorted that Yamashita would not grant a cease-fire until Percival had signed the surrender. Yamashita did not want to be deceived. Newbigging and Sugita agreed that Percival would come to the Ford factory at Bukit Timah at 5:15 pm with Newbigging, Brigadier K.S. Torrance, and an interpreter, Major Cyril Wild.
At 5 pm, as Japanese newsreel and still cameras ground and clicked, Percival and his three officers shuffled up Bukit Timah Road in their tin hats. Wild carried the white flag. Sugita and interpreter Lieutenant Hishikara escorted the four Britons into the Ford Motor Company factory, where they sat awaiting Yamashita’s arrival.
Yamashita was blunt: “The Japanese Army will consider nothing but unconditional surrender.” Aware that he was down to the last of his artillery ammunition, Yamashita was relying on his ferocious personality and bluff to browbeat Percival into surrendering. “Under no circumstances can we tolerate further British resistance.”
Percival asked for a cease-fire in two hours, at 7:15 pm. Yamashita agreed, then handed over a document of surrender. Percival started reading it and said, “Will you give me until tomorrow morning?”
Yamashita replied angrily, “If you don’t sign now we shall go on fighting. All I want to know is: do you surrender unconditionally or not?”
Percival went pale and started talking to the interpreter quietly. Yamashita, who later said he was not yelling at Percival but was really angry with the interpreter, who was fired after the ceremony, pointed his finger and shouted, “Yes or no?”
Percival looked at Hishikari and said, with bowed head and faint voice, “Yes.”…
The full text is here.
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/the-fall-of-malaya-japanese-blitzkrieg-on-singapore/
LikeLiked by 1 person
To their minds, the British had colonized and stolen resources enough in that part of the world. From their point of view, the British were intruding. As the victor, he had to be firm and demand respect. I think I’ve read that article in the link, but I’ll get to that now. Thank you for adding this in. I never really covered Yamashita in the CBI.
LikeLiked by 1 person
With your articles, I am having a glimpse of what my country was during the Second World War. Filipinos are familiar with Yamashita but not much as to his real persona. Thank you! I will be reading more. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was amazed at how well written and formal the letter was by the Japanese general. Rather impressive!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is, isn’t it? He carried this dignity throughout his life and death.
LikeLike
This is fascinating , GP! I am learning so much history from you that I have never been exposed to before – thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am very happy you’re interested in it, Dolly. I know I love your cooking!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words! This is a part of history heavily misrepresented in communist USSR, so I am very glad I am learning the truth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It must be difficult for them to block the truth in this day and age of internet and cell phones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The USSR collapsed in 1989, before internet and cell phones. All we knew was what we were fed by the official party line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad that some countries feel they have to do that to hold their citizens at bay. China and North Korea still do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They certainly do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see Gen Yamashita was hanged by the US for was crimes in 1946, so much for my thinking he was old school
LikeLiked by 2 people
He was blamed for crimes he didn’t even do, but people needed someone to blame. He was later buried first at the Japanese cemetery near the Los Baños Prison Camp. His remains would later be moved to Tama Reien Cemetery, Fuchū, Tokyo, Japan.
LikeLike
Which was a bad thing,and a blight on the US forces for executing him
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve read up on some of the trials and find many to be quite fair and impartial, but I lean toward ‘scapegoat’ in Yamashita’s case.
LikeLiked by 1 person
nice letter!
when there’s
a next time,
hope it’s
written
sooner 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Harry Shakes – Winter Park, FL another glutton for punishment. WWII, a D.Day Vet, Korean War & Vietnam. I noticed he was born in Cuba klved in Jamaica, before moving to the US. Reading his obit, it seems to read, that he became an American citizen, AFTER the war. Which strikes me a strange. there is no mention of what his parents were, He was Cuban by birth but the name seems Anglo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wondered about that myself. I was thinking his father might have been a serviceman stationed in Cuba at the time of his birth?
LikeLike
Obviously Gen Yamashita was an officer of the old school; I wonder did he perhaps in his youth have training in the USA or England? I’m going to have a look see what I can find out about him. Thanks GP
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know he was in Europe between the world wars, but I do not know of any time in the U.S. So glad to know you follow through with your own research, Beari!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great writing. It’s an area of history we never hear about.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s true. Mention WWII and everyone pictures Europe or a major USMC battle. The war was certainly much larger than that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s frustrating our schools seem to just think taking a few of the kids to Dunkirk represents a full grounding in wwii.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is good that they take them there, if they explain that area fully, but you are quite right about it being too little – by a landslide. That war not only affected the world, but it changed the world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post about General Yamashita brings to mind one, Major John Andre, of the British Army during the American Revolution. Though, not in all respects, there still appears to be similar circumstances. The betrayal aspects for one, where war crimes appear to have been committed, but by those under him and without his knowledge. The trial being yet another along with his own dignified conduct displayed at the gallows. History does seem to repeat itself.
LikeLiked by 2 people
People had a need to blame someone, they know they can’t punish the entire Japanese Army, unfortunately this honorable man was chosen. I imagine the situation was similar with Major Andre.
LikeLike
Yeah, I think with Andre the Continental Army wanted to set an example. Perhaps the case with Yamashita as well. Seems tragic and unfortunate in both cases.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True. It was a different world.
LikeLike
A different time for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you GP! There is so much i’d never heared before i found your blog. Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure, Michael. Whenever I hear someone mentioning WWII, it is normally about the ETO. The only time you generally hear about the Pacific, it is the major battles of the USMC. Although they deserve attention, that isn’t all that went on. Sort of like when the ETO is mentioned, you rarely hear about Africa or the Middle East. (at least that’s how it is here).
LikeLike
Will you be writing about Yamashita trial, next? I looked him up on Wikipedia was rather dismayed at what happened next.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Next will be his surrender. When I first started this blog, I went through the war rather quickly, but Yamashita’s trial is mentioned on this post
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, interesting to see how the Americans dealt with war trials. I read a book about Nuremberg where the Americans had to work with the British and Russians. Again, the Russians expected it to be a show trial. What was interesting was who was executed and who was given long sentences (like Speer).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Opinions are diverse on the trials held in the Pacific, some say they were quite fair and others not, but I’ll give straight facts here and allow you to make your own decision.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, that’s always the best way, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always thrilled when a reader finds something of interest here and goes on to continue researching it!! Thank you so much for telling me, Emma.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Looking forward to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I decided to add some of Yamashita’s trial here in today’s post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The level of formality of the letter says a lot about the intelligence and respect commanded by Yamahita, to both his men and his adversaries.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Exactly. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some people I trust, some I respect, others I would never turn my back on. How far below the surface of the modern Japanese lurks the Samurai?
If such a statement makes me a racist: I am a racist.
There’s much about Jap culture I deeply respect and admire … but …
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was a different world and we should learn from it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It never ceases to amaze how polite bullies can be if you kick their teeth in.
LikeLike
But here it was not the case. This was a respected commander during a brutal war that brought out the best and worst on both sides. He maintained his dignity to the end.
LikeLike
Given the given, certainly can’t argue with that. A real pity he was an exception …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Much appreciated, Dave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Janet's Thread 2.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I appreciate you sharing this history, Janet.
LikeLike
I suppose that somebody somewhere will have had a scarier penfriend, but I do wonder who it would have been. Al Capone? Freddy Krueger?
LikeLiked by 2 people
If he was anything, he was traditional and honored the Emperor’s wishes, at least. But I have to laugh thinking of being a pen-pal to Freddy Krueger!!
LikeLike
Waiting for the next part. Was this general in charge the Bataan Death March and imprisonment? If so…
LikeLiked by 2 people
No, he was in the CBI Theater at that time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story GP. Can’t wait for the next installment.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, John, see ya Thursday then!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a remarkable story! Thank you for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yamashita was quite a commander and a man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
During my tour along the DMZ in Vietnam, we marines hated the NVA with a vengeance. Basically, no quarter was shown by either side, even though we were supposed to take prisoners if the chance presented itself. But after finding one of your fellow marines who was killed execution-style (hands bound behind back, shot through the back of his skull), those orders were rarely obeyed. It took many years of healing and maturing before I came to the realization that the NVA were fighting for their people and to unite their country. War is such a sad thing. Today I hold no animosity at all for the Vietnamese people, only respect.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I understand what you’re saying. I just don’t think there are some people I can reconcile in my mind, like Hanoi Jane.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here. No respect for traitors.
LikeLiked by 2 people
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Yamashita was quite a warrior. Good post as usual.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Jacqui. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to come here.
LikeLike
This seems to follow in the tradition of ‘mutual respect’ that was often practiced by some Japanese troops, once they had to admit defeat. Of course, there were equally as many who hated the surrender, and never reconciled to that same defeat. Yamashita’s men will have been grateful that he spared them a pointless death, right at the end.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly right, Pete. He saved many lives and that was his main concern, along with taking the responsibility of failure to the Emperor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an astounding story, I knew nothing of that from my reading, and what a great way to end that theatre’s conflict.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He was an excellent commander and one that maintained his dignity to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stories of humanity within the context of war are always especially meaningful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very well said, Ken. And I agree 100% !!
LikeLike
It is heart-warming to know that even in the worst scenarios of war there are people with character, like the Japanese general Yamashita, who do not let you lose faith in humanity. Looking forward to reading the rest of the story. Great post, GP!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I just knew you would see that in this General. He was certainly one who commanded respect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly an air of unreality – as they all must have been experiencing at that time
LikeLiked by 2 people
Certainly not one ever experienced before! Thanks for coming by, Derrick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have been very helpful in sharing these articles, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome. These are great stories to share.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reading this is difficult in an age of instant worldwide communication. It’s easy enough to imagine for me, who started out with a party line and needing the operator to place certain calls. I can only imagine how someone in their 20s or even 30s thinks about this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
haha, it’s probably a tale from the cave-man days!! I had a party-line in my first house after leaving home.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a party-line when I was a kid, until I was about 9 years old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny, I didn’t growing up, but I did in 1972. I suppose because the area wasn’t really built up there yet – now it’s packed!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know this story about Yamashita and his treatment about the American flier. I wonder if he suspected what would happen to him after the formal surrender at USS Missouri and tried to lessen the blow of what was to follow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
NO, he was too smart for that. He knew what was in-store for him. As a professional soldier and being a Japanese commander, he maintained his self-esteem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess you’re right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rose could you kindly reply to this as to the spelling?
“It was wonderful. I enjoyed the friendship of the people in the Philippines, just as my father did. I was stationed at Clark Air Base, which was the largest U.S. overseas base when I was there. There was a town, or community, that was called Bario Lorio (spelling?), which was very close to Clark, and adjoining Angeles City. We talked about this location relationship. Thanks for your question. Please have a good day.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
GP, could it be Laurel? I checked my Atlas but I could not locate a Barrio with that name. When was that? You know they have been changing names of towns every so often when they introduced the Barangay system. I have to check with one of my brothers. His wife is from Bulacan which is not that far from Clark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The man was stationed by Clark Field during the Vietnam War.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The area has changed after Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose it would.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It got to be Laurel. There is a long stretch of road named Jose P Laurel Ave and a Barangay Hall called Margo Barangay Hall on Jose P Laurel Avenue near Clark. Barrios are now called barangay. I presume the barrio was renamed. That area was loaded with restaurants and bars I guess to cater to the service men. Beats me, I lived too far from there to know anything.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for checking for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. That area eludes me. With my father’s strict rule, I don’t think he would let me near those bars.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, no, I don’t imagine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating story. Look forward to more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for saying so, Annie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Despite the difficulties in communicating at the time, there’s also something to be said for the directness of communicating via signal panels and envoy-carried letter. Of course there were ways to disrupt, and certainly there were those early ‘hackers’ we know as code-breakers, but still: there are times when a just slightly slower pace allowed for a little more thought, and I suspect General Yamashita was doing some thinking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m sure he was. And right up to the end, he thought about the welfare of his men – hence his surrender rather than commit suicide.
LikeLike
Something remarkable in the respect and dignity of their correspondence. Having the upper hand, I suppose the Americans didn’t worry about anyone pulling any punches.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Despite being enemies, there was a respect there too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s hard to square the sensitivity and obvious intelligence of Yamashita’s letter, with the brutality shown by Japanese troops in the Philippines.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The brutality of war changes a person, especially when you don’t expect to ever go home again. Some Japanese soldiers killed themselves rather than face their family again after all they saw and did. They were soldiers following orders and also deathly afraid of their own superiors.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fascinating. I remember the last Japanese soldier to get the word of the surrender but had never thought about Japan’s [and the U.S] problem of communicating the surrender to the Japanese in the field, even including those in higher commands.
LikeLiked by 2 people
True. Not all the territories had surrendered when the major one was signed on the USS Missouri, that’s for sure.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: FEATURED BLOGGER REPORT: General Yamashita – Conclusion – By Pacific Paratrooper #AceHistoryDesk reports | ' Ace Worldwide History '
Pingback: FEATURED BLOGGER REPORT: General Yamashita By Pacific Paratrooper #AceHistoryDesk reports | ' Ace Worldwide History '