🇺🇲 WWII uncovered: 11th Airborne Division Raises First Flag Over Japan.

78 years ago today our 11th Airborne Division Angels raised the first American flag over Japan at the Atsugi Airfield on August 30, 1945 during our historic landings there!

"After MG Joseph Swing’s staff set up the first Allied CP in Japan at 0730 in Clifton’s selected hangar (with one table and one chair), William 'Bill' F. Rudolph of the 511th Airborne Signals Company stood by his orders to guard the ultra-secret SIGABA code machine as Swing established contact with MacArthur’s HQ in Manila.

Ten minutes later a photographer for Life told Rudolph to come help raise the American flag, perhaps hoping to capture a Joe Rosenthal-esque photo. Knowing he had to guard the SIGABA machine, Rudolph declined.

Instead, the first American flag on Japan’s homeland was raised atop the building by William’s 511th Signals buddies LT Edward Jacobs and PFC Rex Pack with Alfred 'Al' Cottone’s help (Pack was later honored by his hometown for this act). They used some pipe and nailed the 'pole' to a support beam to keep it upright.

"The Americans on the airstrip looked up at the flag with pride. It was a historic moment that, to the victorious Angels, symbolized freedom, and America’s resilience and sacrifices during the war.

RHQ-511’s 1LT Foster Arnett, who was recovering from his wounds in the states, shared the feelings of many that day: 'I’m a big fan of this country; I really am.

I think we got a lot of flaws... but, generally speaking we are greatest nation in the history of the world...'"

Text taken from the book DOWN FROM HEAVEN: THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION IN WORLD WAR II - VOLUME 2 LUZON CAMPAIGN AND OCCUPATION OF JAPAN by author and historian Jeremy C. Holm

Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!

-JCH 11th Airborne Division Association - "Angels"

don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Comments

A great story about a little bit of 'humanity' during a terrible war.

A great story about a little bit of 'humanity' during a terrible war. In April 1945, 2nd Lt. Peter During was a South African fighter pilot (N.7 Squadron) running missions over Italy when his Spitfire was shot down by German AA fire. He managed to crash land his plane behind enemy lines where he was immediately captured. Whilst been escorted to a German Lufwaffe Prisoner of War (POW) camp (he was a pilot and thus his interrogation and imprisonment was the responsibility of the German airforce), he opened a conversation with his captors. He was quickly able to establish that they could already see the writing on the wall, that the war was at an end and Germany would lose it. ...

French woman accused of sleeping with Germans during the occupation has her head shaved by vindictive neighbors in village near Marseilles.

French woman accused of sleeping with Germans during the occupation has her head shaved by vindictive neighbors in village near Marseilles. Antony Beevor wrote: "... In Paris, there were cases of prostitutes kicked to death for having accepted German soldiers as clients. (...) A large number of the victims were prostitutes who had simply plied their trade with Germans as well as Frenchmen, although in some areas it was accepted that their conduct was professional rather than political, others were silly teenagers who had associated with German soldiers out of bravado or boredom. In a number of cases, female schoolteachers who, living alone, had German soldiers billeted on them, were falsely denounced for having been a "mattress for the boches. (...) Women accused of having had an abortion were also assumed to have consorted with Germans. Many victims were young mothers, whose husbands were in German prisoner-of-war camps. During the war, they often had no means of supp...

After the end of world war 2,this letter was found in nazi concentration.

After the end of world war 2,this letter was found in nazi concentration camp,which contains following message adressing the teachers. Dear Teacher, I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no man should witness: Gas chambers built by learned engineers. Children poisoned by educated physicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot and burned by high school and college graduates. So, I am suspicious of education. My request is: Help your students become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated illeterates. Reading, writing, arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more humane. Don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

WORLD OF ALL

Search This Blog