Lieutenant (junior grade) Kaname Harada ...

[Mark Allen M]

Kaname Harada
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaname_Harada

The memory of all veterans can never be forgotten, no matter the country, and one must remember that most (not all, but most) from many countries had no choice but to fight even when they wanted no part of it. I'd say this man earned the right to live the remainder of his life in peace. And even battling his demon's for years, it seemed he found a way to cope with the horrors of the war he was involved in.

Following World War II, Harada initially worked as a dairy farmer, but suffered from nightmares in which he saw the faces of the American airmen he had downed during the war. In 1965, he founded a nursery for children with his wife after she asked him "If you want to atone for the lives you have taken, what better way is there than to nurture new lives?" The couple opened a kindergarten in 1969. He continued as a principal of the kindergarten until his retirement. In a 2013 interview with The Australian Harada said that

"The first incarnation of my life was as a ruthless killer. I still live with a sense of sin over those I killed. I chased them and shot them down—such a horrible thing to do. Now, I go to the kindergarten every day and interact with the children. I want to nurture kind and considerate hearts in all of them."

Below Former Zero fighter pilot Mr. Kaname Harada giving a speech (first facebook link in English subtitles below) and cranking up the Sakae 21 engine of the A6M5 Model 52 from the Planes of Fame Air Museum when it was on display at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum in 2013.
He passed away on May 3rd 2013 at the age of 99.

https://www.facebook.com/zerofighterpil ... 788168757/

A few more videos well worth watching for those not attached to facebook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nPpLIXrPs0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9d9qWSXZ18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egrDYkiKRYc

[ffuries]

Wow what a cool post, just proves what I've said over and over, not every person drafted into military during wartime wanted to be there. A lot just wanted to go home and continue their simple lives. Politicians start wars, the common man must pay for it with his life!

[O.P.]

My Grandfather fought in Manila. My father in law lived in Japanese occupation in Manchuria as a kid. When I was a kid I knew a guy named Orville, who survived the Bataan death march. My then parents thought it would be cool to introduce me to Orville because my name is close to his and I liked to read about WW2.

I learned about my Grampa after the fact. Joined right after Pearl Harbor. The only thing my mom said about him was "Thank god he died, so my mom didn't have to get divorced". I looked up where he was and what his unit did. Jesus effin christ, and I'm not even jesusy. Looks like some 1949 ptsd. (Yeah, my mom and grandma on that side leaves a lot to be desired)

My Father in law was a kid in Manchuria. After everyone was sent to the mines, everyone left got the sugar kicked out of them every day. Yep, that dude is a hard core commie now. Little kids and old women survived that one. Barely.

Orville survived the march. Orville got tortured, bad. He said " I told them everything, they didn't care, they just liked doing it". Orville, 40 years ago, I am his age now. That dude was in a wheelchair at 50.

This rubs me the wrong way. He did it, just nut up and say you did it and thats what you did then. No problem, I and everyone else gets it. You do what you gotta do.

This "I got Jesus" crap like the Pearl Harbor Pilot, or this losers story, don't do it for me. Sounds like a jailhouse confession.

Not being religious in any way shape or form, I really hope this kittie is rotting in his gods hell.

[Jim MacDonald]

I am sooo having to bite my tongue right now.



Mac

[DH82EH]

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only Love can do that"

Martin Luther King Junior

[goshikisen]

Nice redemption story. Salute to Lt. Harada.

[Mark Allen M]

My Grandfather fought in Manila. My father in law lived in Japanese occupation in Manchuria as a kid. When I was a kid I knew a guy named Orville, who survived the Bataan death march. My then parents thought it would be cool to introduce me to Orville because my name is close to his and I liked to read about WW2.

I learned about my Grampa after the fact. Joined right after Pearl Harbor. The only thing my mom said about him was "Thank god he died, so my mom didn't have to get divorced". I looked up where he was and what his unit did. Jesus effin christ, and I'm not even jesusy. Looks like some 1949 ptsd. (Yeah, my mom and grandma on that side leaves a lot to be desired)

My Father in law was a kid in Manchuria. After everyone was sent to the mines, everyone left got the sugar kicked out of them every day. Yep, that dude is a hard core commie now. Little kids and old women survived that one. Barely.

Orville survived the march. Orville got tortured, bad. He said " I told them everything, they didn't care, they just liked doing it". Orville, 40 years ago, I am his age now. That dude was in a wheelchair at 50.

This rubs me the wrong way. He did it, just nut up and say you did it and thats what you did then. No problem, I and everyone else gets it. You do what you gotta do.

This "I got Jesus" crap like the Pearl Harbor Pilot, or this losers story, don't do it for me. Sounds like a jailhouse confession.

Not being religious in any way shape or form, I really hope this kittie is rotting in his gods heck.

I lost a couple of relatives in that horrible war as well. Almost lost my dad. Many, many folks have had personal and tragic losses, so I feel for ya and I can understand your views.

I can't give you an answer on how you should feel about your relatives who endured and sacrificed back then, so all I can suggest to you is to live your own life in peace and to encourage forgiveness and peace always. If we all do this in our own lives then this is the only way to properly honor those who sacrificed everything so we could have the opportunity to live in peace.

The world can be a horrible place at times and people can do horrible things when pushed too far. We all as humans still have a lot to learn about how to treat one another with compassion and understanding. The will to forgive is all we can hope for if we ever want to live in peace. I hope you find that peace yourself someday.

[O.P.]

I'm sorry Mark. I apologize.

To Everyone else here, I apologize.

My Insta Anger had no business crapping on Marks thread commemorating this Man.

I'm here to enjoy Warbirds and the comraderie this place has. I'm not here to get tight about the past.

I will redouble my efforts to remember that before I post again.

Thanks for your efforts to enlighten me and us Mark.

Orvis

[DH82EH]

Thanks for the reply Orvis.

We all have to reach deep within ourselves to be the best person we can be.

No one can tell you how to feel.

Your reply shows a great deal of strength and depth of character. I salute you sir and those whom you honour.

Andy Scott

[Invader26]

Nice post Mark....

Chaps, please remember its a quirk of fate where you were born and raised...