I asked my Mom more about it. She said she doesn't remember how he got it. I think he took it from a soldier that was already dead. He was a Higgins Boat operator and was involved in the landing in D Day some kind of way. I wish I could go back and listen to his stories because as a kid you don't appreciate it or understand the significance of it. I am going over to my parents this weekend and will take a picture for yall. I know it has a bullet hole and blood on it.
Japanese ww ii flag - need advice
- Thread starter rdm227
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Just so you know the difference D Day was in Normany France . If you G.P. took it off a Japanese soldier it had to be in the Pacific. Lots of Islands were invaded there by the allies including the Philippines ,Iwo Jima, Guam .
Actually the term "D-day" was a generic term used for planning any large scale operation whose actual date was to be set at some time further on - D-day, H-hour.
The one everyone unfamiliar with its precise use associates the phrase with is the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord
I donated my grandfathers captured flag and dagger to the d day museum. They put a plaque with his name on it next to it and with the cost of the dagger they gave him a brick with his name on it outside also. Needless to say I was more than satisfied with the respect my grandfather got and the professionalism they showed me. It was hard to give thaty stuff up but at least i know his memory will live on thru the ages. Also people will learn from the flag and dagger.
TomTerrific
Well-Known Member
On my one visit to the museum in NO, there was a docent at the Higgens boat in what I call the lobby. He was a boat operator like your grandfather, from Chicago and married a NO gal.
He did his spiel and we talked one on one for at least thirty minutes. He had his scrap book and some mementos.
It was something I will never forget and I learned a lot I couldn't have learned any other way.
These flags are more akin to diaries or family photos so it's not really the same.
I have a complete matching Arisaka with the Mum , bayonet etc. It's not a family heirloom but I'll be damned if it will ever go back to Japan .
Return it to the Japanese embassy. When I was stationed in Okinawa I was given a similar flag my grandfather got when he was stationed in China during WWII. the way I look at it, wouldn't you like to have a piece of your grandfather's history if he was killed in the war? If it was taken off a dead soldier usually there is alot of writing on them from friends and family before they were shipped off to fight.
This^ post has made me change my mind. Your grandfather gets an American Flag for his service. This Japanese soldier's family doesn't. That is THEIR Grandfather's flag! You should return it to them.
However; if you cannot positively identify the exact family of that particular soldier, and can't be exactly sure they can personally receive it, don't leave it with anyone else! Then, you should keep it!
Keep it! That same japenese soldier would've killed your grandpa in a second if he would've had a chance and you wouldn't be alive now. Your grandpa brought that back as a trophy to show how he had a part of personally defeating evil and communisim. Read about The Rape of Nanking to see how twisted the japs were then. That flag is your birth right! Hang it and pass it down to your kids when you die! ( reminds me of the Christopher Walken scene in Pulp Fiction)
TomTerrific
Well-Known Member
I think you have it upside down. Seriously.
If you keep it...you should get it professionally framed. That is a true piece of history there and it should be preserved. A good frame would probably preserve it. Also...make sure you do not hang it on a wall where the sun hits it.
It is awesome IMO.
I'd keep it. Like Daxjosh said. Rape of Nanking was brutal. And the Death march....Brutal. Gramps survived and left it to you.
It is awesome IMO.
I'd keep it. Like Daxjosh said. Rape of Nanking was brutal. And the Death march....Brutal. Gramps survived and left it to you.
UPDATE: I sent the flag off to OBON 2015. It is an organization dedicated to getting the flags returned to the families. After they had the flag analyzed they discovered that there is not a individual Soldiers name on it. As it turns out, this flag came from a region that is famous for high quality porcelain pottery.
And this flag contains the names of some of the greatest regional masters. The makers of this pottery must have made many of them and passed them out.
They were able to locate a son of one of the signers. They said he is very excited to know about this. Presently he is contacting the local leaders and they
are deciding where this heirloom can be kept so that all the family members can visit it and see their relatives names.
I feel better knowing they were able to get it in the right hands.
And this flag contains the names of some of the greatest regional masters. The makers of this pottery must have made many of them and passed them out.
They were able to locate a son of one of the signers. They said he is very excited to know about this. Presently he is contacting the local leaders and they
are deciding where this heirloom can be kept so that all the family members can visit it and see their relatives names.
I feel better knowing they were able to get it in the right hands.
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As the Britts would say, "Jolly good show, old boy!"
As far as museum donations go, I used to volunteer with the 8th Air Force Museum on Barksdale AFB. Museums can only display a small portion of their collection. Most donated items end up in storage. Sadly a lot of these items end up being traded off, given away, or even thrown out!
As far as museum donations go, I used to volunteer with the 8th Air Force Museum on Barksdale AFB. Museums can only display a small portion of their collection. Most donated items end up in storage. Sadly a lot of these items end up being traded off, given away, or even thrown out!
returningliberty
Well-Known Member
edited for bad timing
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