Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

War Is Hell


“War is hell” Civil War general William T. Sherman once said. Some more than others. Like the war against Japan in the Pacific during W.W. II. All this as the Americans fought fanatical resistance island hopping their way to Tokyo.

Ugly, brutal, dehumanized, suicidal, no holds barred, take no prisoners……  It’s all there in Jeff Shaara’s historical fiction novel The Final Storm.  Why read about such true but ugly history? Fair question. Especially when it’s so much easier, more comfortable to turn our back on “real” reality,  when our youth culture is obsessed with video game violence, sham “reality" TV and  facile “saving democracy” generalizations about some of our more recent wars. 

This book will take you into the eye of the storm in the spring of 1945, as the United States turns its vast military resources toward a furious assault on the last great stepping-stone to Japan – the heavily fortified island of Okinawa.  The three-month battle features some of the most vicious combat of the entire Second World War, as American troops confront an enemy that would rather be slaughtered than experience the shame of surrender. Told through the voices of combatants on both sides, The Final Storm reminds us that the real reality of war is truly hell. That the sacrifice of those who confront suicidal fanaticism should never be forgotten. I highly recommend this book.  And a short clip from my cousin Terry in Idaho showing one small ship defending the American Fleet surrounding Okinawa against Kamikaze attackers….   https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4zkp7hvrgbcd7gd/D-qPNsG9ym#lh:null-Laffey%20Enhanced%20vo%203.wmv

 

11 comments:

  1. I sure agree with your sentiment.

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  2. Helps others to also truly appreciate the sacrifice those in the military actually make as we just stand by the wayside waving flags, sometimes give them a parade upon their return and then turn our backs on the harsh realities they have been through when they need help after they war they fought for us is over the war they go through within themselves after the fact is jut as bad sometimes even worse. I am the daughter of a military father that went through a year of the Vietnam war.

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  3. From all that I see on the news, war is a terrible thing.

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  4. My dad never spoke of his WWII days.

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  5. My Daddy is one of the men who fired upon Kamikaze planes as they barreled their way toward their suicidal mission. I assure you that my heart and mind are firmly planted to thank each and every veteran who put his/her life on the line serving our great nation.
    My Daddy is still living. I love him with all my heart.

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  6. The war in the Pacific was carnage, on a scale we can't imagine today. We have no frame of reference. We lost over 110,000 soldiers, mostly Marines, in the island-hopping. The conditions alone, mud, rain, disease and scarce food and water would be enough to disable most armies. The mindset of the Japanese soldier is incomprehensible to us now.

    I had my own war in Viet Nam, but what I went through pales in comparison.

    One thing that will prevent WW2, at least it's scale, from happening again is communication. Back then few knew until after the war the extent of genocide that was happening not only in Europe, but in China, where an estimated 18 million Chinese civilians died in the war.

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  7. Despite the brutality, these stories are very compelling. Reminds us of the horror of war.

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  8. Can you imagine 80 minutes out there? I cannot, all our fighting men are heros. The video was a good reminder. Thanks for sharing it.

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  9. Yes, war is hell... I have some information written in the late 1800's from my 2GGrandmother--when she lost so many sons and family members to the Civil War... Her words made me cry. So sad...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  10. I like historical fiction. I'll have to put this on my list.

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  11. When will we ever be able to say "no more war." -- barbara

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