1944 - JUNE - SAIPAN
A WEEK AFTER THE D-DAY LANING IN EUROPE THE USA FLEET BEGINS A BOMBARDMENT OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC.
SERGEANT KAKO-SAMAKUCHI IS DUG IN ON THE ISLAND SAIPAN.
"IT SOUNDS LIKE A MASSIVE DRUM VERB-ORATING FROM THE SEA. IT WAS LIKE THE SHOUTING OF THE DEVIL IN MY EARS."
IF THE MARIANAS ARE CAPTURED IT WOULD PUT JAPAN IN RANGE OF AMERICAN HEAVY BOMBERS.
THE HIGH COMMAND IN TOKYO ORDERS THEM TO DEFEND AT ALL COST.
KAKO: "THE AMERICANS WERE ADVANCING LIKE A SWARM OF GRASS-HOPPERS; THEY WERE SO TINY WADING ASHORE. I SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM AMERICAN TANKS. ALL THE MEN IN FRONT OF US WERE KILLED ON THE FIRST DAY."
WHEN NEWS OF THE FIGHTING REACHED TOKYO THE IMPERIAL NAVY PLANES WERE ORDERED TO ATTACK THE USA FLEET.
NAVAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF FOR JAPAN: "THE RISE AND FALL OF IMPERIAL JAPAN DEPENDS ON THIS ONE BATTLE. EVERY MAN SHALL DO HIS UTMOST."
OVER THE NEXT 48 HOURS OVER 400 JAPANESE AIR-CRAFT AND 3 AIR-CRAFT CARRIERS ARE DESTROYED.
FOR THE IMPERIAL NAVY IT IS ANOTHER DISASTER!
AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY MORE THAN 25,000 JAPANESE SOLDIERS ARE DEAD ON THE MARAIANAS.
TOWA-KOBAKOCHI: "AT LAST THE END HAS COME. I AM ONLY 26 YEARS OLD; I AM HAPPY TO HAVE FAUGHT THE ENEMY, TO DO MY DUTY. NOW I WILL BECOME A WAR GOD. IT IS REGRETTABLE THE AMERICANS ARE STOMPING ON IMPERIAL SOIL. I WILL BECOME A GHOST, AND WILL STAY ON THIS ISLAND, UNTIL FRIENDLY FORCES COME TO RECLAIM THE SOIL FOR THE EMPEROR."
12 DAYS LATER TOWA'S DIARY IS DISCOVERED ON HIS BODY.
THERE IS ONE MORE HORROR BEFORE THE BATTLE FOR THE MARIANAS IS OVER.
..........
TO BE CONTINUED
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