Blog nr. 6

Today, 29 June is a Day of Remembrance in our house hold.

On this date, 29 June 1945 our nation was still at war with the Empire of Japan. It was heading toward the end. Germany had surrendered and Japan was reeling from the many battle losses that we had inflicted upon them. Their nation was reeling, both from the battle losses and from the incessant fire-bombing of their cities. Their economy was non-existent; food was scarce.

Although I don't have the historic facts, here is a synopsis of what happened that day that makes it a day WE remember.

Squadrons of bomber aircraft flew over the city of Sasebo, Japan. Why Sasebo? This city on the southern island of Kyushu was a hub of the Imperial Navy with hugh shipyards that were a vital link to the Japanese seapower.

On this day, the B-29's, B-25's and other aircraft dropped thousands of pounds of explosives on the shipyards and the city. Being constructed of mostly wood, it did not take much to turn the structures of this city aflame. I cannot imagine the fear and terror that was felt by the civilian population. Approximately 25,000 civilians died during this fire-bombing.

One 10 year old girl was trying to find an air-raid shelter with her mother, brother and four sisters. As they were running terrified toward the shelter, the fire and explosions engulfed them. This girl's brother pushed this little girl down and tried to protect her from the devastation. Her mother and sisters became seperated from them.

After everything was over, rescuers found the Mother and four sisters dead. The brother was also killed, but his sacrifice saved this little girl. She had been slightly wounded. Rescuers took this little girl to relatives that had survived, to stay with them until her Father and 2 older brothers who had survived could find her and care for her. Her Father was distraught over the loss of his wife, son and 4 daughters-------within a year he had died from alcohol poisoning and an untreated abdominal hernia. The little girl was cared for by her two older brothers and a slew of aunts/uncles who had also survived.

So why is this a day of rememberance for this family???? Because that little girl has been my wife for the past 45 1/2 years. She doesn't talk much of this day, but I think of it often.

One of these days, I will share my thoughts about war. Not today. But I thank GOD she survived and entered my life 20 years after that tragedy and became the mother of our three children and is now "Gramma" to two beautiful little girls. And I thank her 12 year old brother who saved her this day, 29 June.

Tom McLuckie