A stellar accounting of the kamikaze by gpcox!
1 February 1942 is the earliest mention of a Kamikaze attack, but it was more likely an opportunist rather than a planned event. The USS Enterprise was damaged by the crashed plane. Admiral Takijiro Onishi did not create the Special Attacks Groups (Tokubetsu Kogeki Tai) until 19 October 1944, and gave them the title of Kamikaze after the ‘Divine Wind’ that scattered the Mongol invasion of Kublai Khan in 1274 and 1281.
These men volunteered mainly out of a sense of duty, generally university students, in their 20’s, being taught to “transcend life and death… which will enable you to concentrate your attention on eradicating the enemy with unwavering determination…” — an excerpt from the Kamikaze manual kept in their cockpit. Three times as many men volunteered as the number of planes available and experienced pilots were rejected. They would prepare for their fate by writing letters and poems to…
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Masako and Spam Musubi 
Koji, I am honored that you felt this article worthy of being attached to your site. Thank you.
This is a great piece… It was a no brainer. 🙂
I like the phrase stellar accounting to describe this post.
Indeed, Pierre!
Koji,
I always appreciate you re-blogging different posts. You have an amazing ability to find great writers.
By the way, the Kamikaze pilots were incredibly brave. To undertake a one way trip and to complete the mission takes determination and conviction. When I was in college, I couldn’t make myself go to class on a daily basis. Different times, I guess.
So many brave men and women died during that war. I hate war.
We all hate war… but sometimes, it becomes the only alternative. Given that, our returning vets and the immediate families (including those that did not return) need the best possible care and recognition.