From: Jeanne S (My2cts@AOL.COM)
Date: Fri May 14 1999 - 00:37:02 PDT
This isn't my memory but my father's. Which was handed down to me.
Father's led a modest but charmed life. Seems like he's always been saved
from serious harm.
The one time he would have gone into life threatening battle, well to put it
lightly, the battle was over.
He landed in Japan about a month or so after their surrender. He and a
chinese companion went out on the town, like everyone else it seemed. US
service men were enjoying shore leave, Going to Kabuki shows, getting drunk,
and such.
My father and his friend arranged to visit a Japanese family, but not before
they went out and bought some meat for the household and their dinner
together. The wife took the gift and cooked the meal.
My fathers clearest memory was of the wife, she surprised him by her command
in the family. I think he expected her to be reserved and subdued. Everyone
was friendly even familar (the wife kept teasing her husband). But it looks
like the family did take the precaution of keeping their girls out of the way.
Although my father admits that some service men took advantage of the
defeated nation in ways that in all of history have been the same, The most
he saw was drunks acting obnoxious at the Kabuki show.
What surprises me is that this was not too long after their defeat and how
calmly things went from fighting the Jap's to being guests in their lovely
Japanese home.
Have a nice day,
Jeanne
( it's still raining between bits of sunshine in Oregon, USA. Mother in
California says it's sunny and time to turn the cooler on. Lilacs still in
bloom along with irises. Draft horse exhibition show this Saturday, will
take the kids so they can see some "Really Big" horses for a change ;o)