The little things which shape history......
May 2, 2015 15:31:51 GMT -6
727sky, Glencairn, and 2 more like this
Post by Deleted on May 2, 2015 15:31:51 GMT -6
I was off reading random things, in search of news off the beaten MSM path, when I stumbled across an intriguing headline.
Ni’ihau — The island paradise that's 'off limits' to visitors
I've heard of this island, of course, but no more than the name and nick name it acquired over the years. 'The Forbidden Island'. I certainly knew no real history of it, let alone how it may have played more than a passing factor for military policy formation and thinking, and of key Political people in the days of World War II's open for America.
Here is what I came across, and if anyone may know more to add, I'd be curious to hear about it!
I think I recall that in some vague and distant way for a Japanese Pilot having gone down in relation to Pearl Harbor, but nothing more. What happened next, I most definitely hadn't heard about. It isn't the sort of thing I'd have forgotten, if I had! (Oh..the things history writers consider important for the books and what they don't drives me batty!)
I guess that was one thing about the War time Japanese. They were a sort of self cleaning oven when fights had run their course. No messy POW issues for our side to worry about, in most cases. (...Yikes on how that came about..but "Murica" wasn't to blame for that)
I don't think it requires imagination to see the article here may be underestimating the importance of that whole episode, and its why I truly wish I'd known about it much sooner. It puts SOME...(and perhaps not much) but SOME context to the internments that came next....
Source
Well, isn't that just something? I seriously doubt the U.S. military or the President....on December the 8th, 1941, would have known, or cared to know, that was a designated crash down area for the pilots, and not a planned area to find local Japanese resident support. (sigh) ..and no one was even joking about benefits of doubts to consider such a thing at that moment in time.
I do seriously wonder how much that incident, in the shadow of Pearl itself, actually DID play a direct role in the thinking of the internment orders?
This is from a U.S. Government site that catalogs the simple history of some things, such as executive orders like ...9066.
Source
When and If the fights abroad become fights at home this time, I wonder? Will we prove to have learned from our history? Will we repeat our history? Perhaps, will we even compound the errors of the past into greater errors, yet to come?
Which is which for action, and which will be followed in this crazy nation we have today will be interesting to watch.
Ni’ihau — The island paradise that's 'off limits' to visitors
I've heard of this island, of course, but no more than the name and nick name it acquired over the years. 'The Forbidden Island'. I certainly knew no real history of it, let alone how it may have played more than a passing factor for military policy formation and thinking, and of key Political people in the days of World War II's open for America.
Here is what I came across, and if anyone may know more to add, I'd be curious to hear about it!
On December 7, 1941, Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi crash-landed his Zero on Ni'ihau after participating in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I think I recall that in some vague and distant way for a Japanese Pilot having gone down in relation to Pearl Harbor, but nothing more. What happened next, I most definitely hadn't heard about. It isn't the sort of thing I'd have forgotten, if I had! (Oh..the things history writers consider important for the books and what they don't drives me batty!)
He sought out several residents of Japanese ancestry for aid in getting away from the rest of the islanders, found some weapons and took several hostages.
But eventually, Nishikaichi was killed by Niihauans Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele and Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele, although Ben Kanahele was wounded during the tussle. Yoshio Harada, one of the locals who had helped the pilot, committed suicide rather than be accused of helping the pilot.
But eventually, Nishikaichi was killed by Niihauans Benehakaka "Ben" Kanahele and Kealoha "Ella" Kanahele, although Ben Kanahele was wounded during the tussle. Yoshio Harada, one of the locals who had helped the pilot, committed suicide rather than be accused of helping the pilot.
I guess that was one thing about the War time Japanese. They were a sort of self cleaning oven when fights had run their course. No messy POW issues for our side to worry about, in most cases. (...Yikes on how that came about..but "Murica" wasn't to blame for that)
I don't think it requires imagination to see the article here may be underestimating the importance of that whole episode, and its why I truly wish I'd known about it much sooner. It puts SOME...(and perhaps not much) but SOME context to the internments that came next....
This "aiding the enemy" incident gave rise to the sense the U.S. Military had that even Japanese who were American citizens might aid Japan. As an interesting aside, The Imperial Japanese Navy thought Ni'ihau was an uninhabited island, and before the Pearl Harbor attack had designated it as the location for damaged aircraft to land. Pilots were told to land and rendezvous with a rescue submarine.
Well, isn't that just something? I seriously doubt the U.S. military or the President....on December the 8th, 1941, would have known, or cared to know, that was a designated crash down area for the pilots, and not a planned area to find local Japanese resident support. (sigh) ..and no one was even joking about benefits of doubts to consider such a thing at that moment in time.
I do seriously wonder how much that incident, in the shadow of Pearl itself, actually DID play a direct role in the thinking of the internment orders?
This is from a U.S. Government site that catalogs the simple history of some things, such as executive orders like ...9066.
During Congressional committee hearings, Department of Justice representatives raised constitutional and ethical objections to the proposal, so the U.S. Army carried out the task instead. The West Coast was divided into military zones, and on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 authorizing exclusion. Congress then implemented the order on March 21, 1942, by passing Public Law 503.
After encouraging voluntary evacuation of the areas, the Western Defense Command began involuntary removal and detention of West Coast residents of Japanese ancestry. In the next 6 months, approximately 122,000 men, women, and children were moved to assembly centers. They were then evacuated to and confined in isolated, fenced, and guarded relocation centers, known as internment camps. The 10 relocation sites were in remote areas in 6 western states and Arkansas: Heart Mountain in Wyoming, Tule Lake and Manzanar in California, Topaz in Utah, Poston and Gila River in Arizona, Granada in Colorado, Minidoka in Idaho, and Jerome and Rowher in Arkansas.
Nearly 70,000 of the evacuees were American citizens. The government made no charges against them, nor could they appeal their incarceration. All lost personal liberties; most lost homes and property as well. Although several Japanese Americans challenged the government’s actions in court cases, the Supreme Court upheld their legality. Nisei were nevertheless encouraged to serve in the armed forces, and some were also drafted. Altogether, more than 30,000 Japanese Americans served with distinction during World War II in segregated units.
After encouraging voluntary evacuation of the areas, the Western Defense Command began involuntary removal and detention of West Coast residents of Japanese ancestry. In the next 6 months, approximately 122,000 men, women, and children were moved to assembly centers. They were then evacuated to and confined in isolated, fenced, and guarded relocation centers, known as internment camps. The 10 relocation sites were in remote areas in 6 western states and Arkansas: Heart Mountain in Wyoming, Tule Lake and Manzanar in California, Topaz in Utah, Poston and Gila River in Arizona, Granada in Colorado, Minidoka in Idaho, and Jerome and Rowher in Arkansas.
Nearly 70,000 of the evacuees were American citizens. The government made no charges against them, nor could they appeal their incarceration. All lost personal liberties; most lost homes and property as well. Although several Japanese Americans challenged the government’s actions in court cases, the Supreme Court upheld their legality. Nisei were nevertheless encouraged to serve in the armed forces, and some were also drafted. Altogether, more than 30,000 Japanese Americans served with distinction during World War II in segregated units.
When and If the fights abroad become fights at home this time, I wonder? Will we prove to have learned from our history? Will we repeat our history? Perhaps, will we even compound the errors of the past into greater errors, yet to come?
Which is which for action, and which will be followed in this crazy nation we have today will be interesting to watch.