Why US Military Gave Full Honors to Fallen Kamikaze Attackers

On April 11 four years ago, the American aircraft carrier USS Missouri and its escorts were attacked by 16 kamikaze pilots flying Japanese airplanes. Among these conquering heroes were the young men like P. O. 2nd Class Setsuo Ishino whose profiles were imprinted on the faces of the American sailors for many years to follow. This could only be described as a rather small happening under the completely war-like days of the second world war that will, however, spark more than many decades of debate and discussion about sacrificing and honor in the United States of America and this is proof of how powerful and complicated they are.

Not knowing whether he understood the importance of that step or not, it is necessary to see the world of kamikaze pilots of the Japanese through these eyes. The Japanese word, "kamikaze" which is best translated as "divine wind" is a label encapsulated in a rich historical and spiritual heritage. Japanese propaganda style depicts the war as a divine contest where the Japanese people are said to be descendants of gods, and they are pitted against immoral and degenerate Western imperialists.

Such narrative became part of the Japanese soul, and were strengthened with the help of the educational system, as it persistently glorified self-sacrifice in the name of the Emperor and the country. Kamikaze pilots, most of whom were young people with passion, took enemies head-on carrying loads of explosives and never coming back alive. Their ultimate purpose was to not only sink American ships but also to instill fear and to give the world a clear image of their unconquerable spirit us.

However, it must be noted that the battle had already taken a toll on the Japanese military with considerable losses. Complete annihilation of cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe by American weapons had thousands of dead and homeless people as a result. While these horrific tragedies happened, the Japanese people continued to show their resolve. The Kamikaze tactics were a desperate retort option to change the course of the war, not surely to end it but to make the American army lose confidence.

The effect of the kamikaze strikes was deep. Marine and army officers of American army were tormented by the resolute and commit suicide attacks. The mental exhaustion was weighty, as young men out of the country-side could not fathom the grim fact that enemy soldiers aiming to kill them are ready to sacrifice their lives in return. The kamikaze attackers were seen by the Americans as exemplifying that an enemy that will not yield even in the face of absolute devastation.

On April 11, striking American targets, Japanese planes zeroed in on Ishino’s plane, which was carrying a 500 pound bomb. He targeted the Missouri which was an American battleship. The plane attempted to land on the ship, just to ensure that there is nothing that the crew could have done but to hang their heads low with fear. However, Ishino's plane which crash into the Missouri's armored side, there was only minor damage done. The bomb dropped into the waters, and no Americans died.

Taken aback, the captain made a tricky call. He dispatched a naval unit to submerge Ishino’s body in the ocean with full military honors. Such conduct of respect towards a downed enemy even astounded the majority of the Missouri crew who had heard about the destruction caused by kamikaze pilots, such as the much-talked-about kamikaze attack on the USS Kidd which killed 38 American sailors.

When Captain Callaghan ordered military burial for the dead soldiers, their relatives and friends, whether they had really wanted this or not, were divided in the opinion. Some crew members were utterly angry; they thought that through that gesture the person who had tried to kill them was being honored, thus betrayal was clearly intensive. Although she disagreed, the Home Secretary pinpointed the key qualities of true heroism that will prevail despite the barriers of war.

The burial ritual was conducted, with the sounds of gunfire being heard, as well as the body and handcrafted Japanese flag that carried Ishino getting placed deeply into the sea. During this time of war, these acts of humanity from both sides would be distinctive memory of this moment, standing not only for respect and dignity in a brutal conflict but also as a symbol of a better world we strive for.

Owing to his supposed narcissism and the manner in which he was buried, Ishino's burial continues to influence people greatly after many years. In 2001, Captain Callaghan, a hero of the war and veteran from both the American and Japanese Army, had a special ceremony to honor his actions that took place at the battlefield, attended by both these veterans. Although there had been some residual animosity, many people saw this action of Callaghan as a deepest expression of tribute.

Not only the relatives of Setsuo Ishino but his brothers especially Takafumi acknowledged the honor they got for his brother. They knew what it really implied and they had the cultural historic background of that time. For the mass Japanese, the movements of Callaghan were a proof that the mercy of personkind could withstand the harshness of war.

Both the kamikaze attacks, with the USS Missouri being an example, and the Great Patriotic War emphasize the uncompromising sacrifices that people made in World War II. Through these letters, they illustrated how various cultural issues and the extensive propaganda campaigns pushed young men into the grave.

Displaying the initial sentence Nevertheless, in spite of the hopelessness of the disastrous act, Captain Callaghan’s display of dignity and responsibility goes a long way to restoring a ray of hope and humanity in the society.

When you have spent some time thinking back to these events you inevitably see that war is not determined only by the victory and defeat side but also by the stories of the individuals who get involved and by their choices. The burial of Setsuo Ishino at the end of the war on US ships on the USS Missouri remains a sad various meaning remembering of the war and the extremely important strength of honor.