WJHopwood
2015-08-28 22:36:08 UTC
Every August since the end of WWII there has
been speculation in the media about whether
or not it was necessary for the U.S. to have
used atomic weapons to obtain the surrender
of Japan in August of 1945.
Most of those opposed to the use of "the
bomb" have taken the position that "other
military means" (probably invasion) would
have been morally superior and just as
effective. It seems to me that many of those
with such a view are individuals who would
not have had to participate in such "other
military means" themselves if the bombs
had not been used.
But in a new twist to the annual A-Bomb
discussion, in the August 28, 2015 Wall Street
Journal there is an interesting review of "The
Last to Die," a new book by the present editor
of "Military History" magazine, Stephen Harding.
This book describes the unique circumstances
under which a 20-year-old American airman,
Sergeant Toni Machione, was the last
American to die in combat with Japanese
forces in World War II even though his death
was on August 18, 1945, three days after
Emperor Hirohito had surrendered. How
could this have been combat related?.
Although there existed in this three-day interval
a "cease fire" between Japan and the U.S., a
part of the Japanese military not only did not
recognize the cease fire but defied the Emperor
and did not recognize an end to the war itself.
During the interim between the cease-fire
agreement and the official surrender
ceremonies, the U.S. was making preliminary
plans for the occupation of Japan. Thus it
was that two B-32's were scheduled for a
photo-reconnaissance mission to determine
the condition of several selected Japanese
air bases which were at desirable locations
for use of the occupying forces. .
The mission was dispatched on August 18,
1945. Aboard was Sergeant Marchione who had
volunteered to assist in the mission even though,
as the book reviewer wrote: "The crew on the
B-32 knew that powerful factions within the
Japanese government had opposed Emperor
Hirohito's surrender only three days earlier."
Unfortunately, as it turned out, the mission
encountered several Japanese zeros under the
direction of Japanese army officers who opposed
the surrender. The zeros attacked the B-32's
and in the gun battle which ensued Sergeant
Marchione was fatally shot.
When news of the incident reached General
MacArthur, he elected to consider that it was
not an act condoned by the Japanese
government in charge but an act by renegade
military personnel whom he chose to ignore
and continue with preparations for the official
surrender ceremony which took place on
September 2, 1945. Inasmuch as Sergeant
Marchione's death occurred before the official
surrender ceremony, the U.S. and Japan were
technically still at war so it was considered
combat-related and his family learned that he
would be posthumously awarded the Purple
Heart for the wound causing his death.
WJH
been speculation in the media about whether
or not it was necessary for the U.S. to have
used atomic weapons to obtain the surrender
of Japan in August of 1945.
Most of those opposed to the use of "the
bomb" have taken the position that "other
military means" (probably invasion) would
have been morally superior and just as
effective. It seems to me that many of those
with such a view are individuals who would
not have had to participate in such "other
military means" themselves if the bombs
had not been used.
But in a new twist to the annual A-Bomb
discussion, in the August 28, 2015 Wall Street
Journal there is an interesting review of "The
Last to Die," a new book by the present editor
of "Military History" magazine, Stephen Harding.
This book describes the unique circumstances
under which a 20-year-old American airman,
Sergeant Toni Machione, was the last
American to die in combat with Japanese
forces in World War II even though his death
was on August 18, 1945, three days after
Emperor Hirohito had surrendered. How
could this have been combat related?.
Although there existed in this three-day interval
a "cease fire" between Japan and the U.S., a
part of the Japanese military not only did not
recognize the cease fire but defied the Emperor
and did not recognize an end to the war itself.
During the interim between the cease-fire
agreement and the official surrender
ceremonies, the U.S. was making preliminary
plans for the occupation of Japan. Thus it
was that two B-32's were scheduled for a
photo-reconnaissance mission to determine
the condition of several selected Japanese
air bases which were at desirable locations
for use of the occupying forces. .
The mission was dispatched on August 18,
1945. Aboard was Sergeant Marchione who had
volunteered to assist in the mission even though,
as the book reviewer wrote: "The crew on the
B-32 knew that powerful factions within the
Japanese government had opposed Emperor
Hirohito's surrender only three days earlier."
Unfortunately, as it turned out, the mission
encountered several Japanese zeros under the
direction of Japanese army officers who opposed
the surrender. The zeros attacked the B-32's
and in the gun battle which ensued Sergeant
Marchione was fatally shot.
When news of the incident reached General
MacArthur, he elected to consider that it was
not an act condoned by the Japanese
government in charge but an act by renegade
military personnel whom he chose to ignore
and continue with preparations for the official
surrender ceremony which took place on
September 2, 1945. Inasmuch as Sergeant
Marchione's death occurred before the official
surrender ceremony, the U.S. and Japan were
technically still at war so it was considered
combat-related and his family learned that he
would be posthumously awarded the Purple
Heart for the wound causing his death.
WJH