Monthly Archives: December 2019

World War II

Combat! – Part 1

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lalanne

I just remembered one other TV “macho man” my mom was infatuated with along with Vic Morrow… Jack LaLanne! Remember him? The fitness guy who wore grey workout clothes? LOL Geez, mom always gave my poor dad some sharp words about how “unmanly” he was…

Mustang.Koji's avatarMasako and Spam Musubi

c-10-645

Back in the very early 1960’s, my dad picked up a used B&W TV set from an appliance store’s outdoor parking lot sale at Atlantic Square in Monterey Park, CA.  It was loaded into the cavernous trunk of his 1955 Ford Victoria coupe, also bought (really) used.  He probably should have spent the money on repairing the car instead of buying that TV.  Anyways, the TV was our first one, dust covered vacuum tubes and all.  At least it turned on.

Well, mom commandeered it.  Don’t ask me why.  After all, she didn’t speak much English at all having come here just a few years earlier.

While I was able to watch The Mouseketeers, Sheriff John and Engineer Bill in the morning, the night belonged to mom.  She decided what to watch.  I don’t recall dad ever saying anything either, but then, he never did.  (ps Sheriff John read off…

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World War II

Vintage Japanese Art

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Since Aunt Eiko passed away a couple of months ago aged 93, it reminded me of all this wonderful artwork she had inherited from her great grandfather. Remarkable these fragile pieces had survived the bombings from WWII.

Mustang.Koji's avatarMasako and Spam Musubi

dragonfly

My Aunt Eiko had these in a brown paper bag of all things.

Hundreds of old Japanese artwork kept by my Great-Grandfather Wakio Shibabayama.  Born August 17, 1874 in Kaga City of the Ishikawa Prefecture.

Sumi-e.  Watercolors.  Sketches.  On thinner-than-tissue rice paper.  Dog-eared from what appears to be many years of handling by my Great-Grandfather.

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My Aunt Eiko’s knowledge of Wakio (her grandfather on her mother’s side) is unfortunately sketchy.  No pun intended.

Her knowledge of these paintings is even sketchier unfortunately.

But they survived the war and I don’t know how they did.  They are so fragile to say the least.

Surprisingly, some artwork was painted on several sheets of rice paper glued together.  I don’t know what kind of glue it was but it sure beats Krazy Glue.  And it’s non-toxic to boot.  I think.

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armor An apparent samurai in full armor.

Aunt Eiko knows Wakio was…

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World War II

The Eighth Marines – Saipan

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Since the Japanese had begun building defensive fortifications on Saipan as early as 1934, one cannot imagine the terror these young Marines encountered… and endured.

World War II

The Eighth Marines – Tarawa

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The carnage… So many young men and still younger boys…

The fear must have been unimaginable. The heart of the Marine Corps as they say rests with their brothers in arms standing – or laying down – by you. The carnage was something one could not part from, either there on that godforsaken atoll or in the surviving souls for the rest of their lives. Yet, among all that carnage and fear, God must have tapped a young Marine on the shoulder and whispered, “You are a US Marine…”

God bless them all, Sir.

World War II

The Eighth Marines – Guadalcanal

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Brave young American men, all of them were. An excellent inisight on the fight for Guadalacanal, undernourished and ill, yet still went into combat against the strong willed Japanese army and navy. Heroes all.

World War II

Semper Fi to my Marine Buds!

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May I live to see another sunrise…

God bless the Corps…

…and our US Navy. 🙂

World War II

Sympathies?

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With my WWII history blogs, some feel I am sympathetic towards the Japanese offensive military actions of that time. To the contrary, I am but presenting facts from buried history. Certainly, propaganda from both sides of the Pacific and family losses understandably have a tremendous influence on individuals.

We all know what today is – December 7th… a day which will live in infamy as FDR said. Yet, there are many forgotten or unknown behind the scenes history.

What Did FDR Know? – Part 2