See this link to read a sad tale about an ex-POW who was so traumatised by his time on the infamous Burma railway he hide away until now.Daily Mirror story.
(Owen D @ Feb 8 2006, 08:17 AM) [post=45396]See this link to read a sad tale about an ex-POW who was so traumatised by his time on the infamous Burma railway he hide away until now.Daily Mirror story. [/b] This is a prime example of the reply I have argued with people for the past 30 years. "Those poor Japanese civilians", "those war mongering Americans" they never should have dropped the bomb. The poor Japanese people of Hiroshima & Nagasaki have endured horrible mental anguish, sickness, premature death because of that rotten Truman. What about the mental anguish and physical pain our troops went through. Not just fighting the Japanese but suffering the degrading torment of incarceration, starvation, mental depravity and then returning to their loved ones and having to deal with their demons. Sickness, Mental problems, Alcoholism, Marriage breakdowns, their children now 40 - 60 year olds who had to endure the return of broken men in a house that was once filled with laughter, now turned to hate and torment. Whose only sin was that they fought for their country and were strong enough to survive. I have known two such families, played with their children, stayed in their house, seen the environment that emanated from this torment. These people that protest the dropping of "the bomb" are pseudo deniers just the same as there are deniers of the holocaust. They protest the innocence of the Japanese against the bravery and heroism of the same people who won them the right to protest in a democratic society.
I once worked with a guy who was a prisoner on the Burma railway. It was not something he talked about and his problems are not something I want to talk about, except to say he never really got over it and some days were very bad for him. I think the saddest thing about the story is that he and his family seemed to feel that because of his mental health problems he had to be hidden from society. I am sure they took this too far, but it must have been really hard for people with experiences like his to fit back into civil society.
This is a horrible story...this poor guy was so wrecked by his three-year experience on the Death Railway that he could not emerge from hiding for the next 60. He needed the kind of counseling and therapy that is available today, but did not exist in 1945. The American POWs who came home had similar troubles...misdiagnosed on return home in 1945, the VA denied them desperately needed benefits for years. Often the VA would just shrug, and say, "Your problem is not war-related," or "This was not on your form in 1945," and deny benefits. But most of the POW health problems that they suffer today are directly caused by their ordeal...particularly shortened lives and heart trouble. And the mental trouble is nowhere near as obvious as diabetes, broken limbs, and lung ailments. I just hope this guy gets some time to enjoy a decent nursing home, and gets cared for by caring professionals. It would also help if he's surrounded by fellow veterans...he'll find healing in common ground. I know my father did.
Spidge I too have that axe to grind. Of all the vanquished nations Japan has shown the least remorse and I dont buy that "Its part of their society" drivel. They caused absolute carnage and were guilty of atrocities that rank right up there with anything the Einsatzgruppen were capable of. They still owe the Vets an apology for their treatment and indeed , Vets aside some of the countries that they occupied were treated terribly as a result of their occupation. God bless that poor man. May he live the rest of his days in peace.
(Kiwiwriter @ Feb 10 2006, 02:46 PM) [post=45569] It would also help if he's surrounded by fellow veterans...he'll find healing in common ground. I know my father did. [/b] Unlikely. We do not have any equivalent of the VA.
I agree with you all. I'm tired of hearing of the poor Japanese that had the A bomb dropped on them. They continued to kill POW,s after the surrender and they want us to feel sorry for them? Its a shame Korea happened because had it not maybe some of these people would have been tried liked they should have been.
