En route to Japan - as of 11:30 p.m. 3/2/09 (8:25 am New York time): we are located 21 degrees 37.41N and 139 degrees 46.79E.
Serious notes re Saipan: Bright skies and blue seas around here saw battles and death 65 years ago. Young boys, much like the writers whose letters to Dad I am documenting in Dear Coach, were put in jeopardy, sometimes died and sometimes were saved by luck along the way. Visiting Saipan affected me deeply. Being on the invasion beach, seeing the hills and then the cliffs. . . imagining as we pulled away from the island - instead of the Queen Victoria and a bunch of freighters, what it looked like in July 1944 with a flotilla of warships. .. Imagining the moments before men were sent onto the beaches. As Saipan and Tinian Island receded in the distance, I thought about the Enola Gay, which went from Tinian on this same route to Japan.
What an enormous tragedy (WWII).
During our sea day today I read John Ciardi’s diary of his time on Saipan; he wrote about the personal side of war - about the role of luck, the fear, the uncertainty, losing friends, the knowledge that one might die tomorrow. Ciardi noted the strangeness of going to sleep at night knowing you might die the next day. [He served on B-29s bombing Japan and Iwo Jima.]
And now in the world we have a world economic crisis. I have seen the closed stores and factories in Saipan. I heard the worries about jobs on Tonga, about the effect on business in New Zealand. On the ship I have heard concerns on the part of Canadians, Australians, Germans, English, and other world travelers when we get into our political discussion group or just in casual conversations. We have a world wide disaster that must be addressed with as much courage and unselfishness as WW II. Is it possible?
About Me
- Herrstory
- Moved to Mount Gretna - a Chautauqua town - Involved in enjoying life, writing, and hosting friends at Basecamp210 here in the civilized woods (see mtgretna.com.
4 comments:
The pictures on Saipan are moving especially the "PEACE" sign standing tall for all to see. Must have been quite moving to be on the beach and standing in the water looking upon the beach...especially moving for you as you have melded with the lives of soldiers who were there...their personal words in letters to your Dad...and their diaries filled with their raw feelings...For you, the writing of "Dear Coach" has made this part of the trip more than most could experience while there. Thanks for sharing these words and pictures.
I've been looking forward to your visit to Saipan, Lois.
You remember that I was jr aide to LtGen W.K.Jones when Deanna and I were first married. He had been a battalion commander (only about 27 yrs old!) on Saipan, and he received the Navy Cross for heroism there.
His son is Charles V. (Chip) whose books I believe I passed on to you at some point. And Jim Jones, now NSA, is his nephew. If you saw any feed on President Obama's Camp Lejeune address, Jim was at the President's right at the end of the speech.
When I was an aide, we made a trip to Iwakuni and a day visit to Hiroshima...
Lois -
Thank you for your pictures, narrative and insight. Also for your postcard received yesterday.
I have been into reading history books on the middle ages (wonder if we are still in that period??) Have also been watching every documentary we can get by the Historian Michael Wood. Your blog and musings fit in so perfectly with my readings and mind thoughts it is wonderful. I am glad to see that you are getting quite a few (never enough to satisfy one's curiosity) lectures about the local cultures -- both ancient and present. I What an amazing historical trip on so many different levels. Thank you.
Man and his wars are truly horrid events.
On a lighter note, have a great St. Pat's day if you celebrate that strange American Irish tradition on the ship!
Anna Beth
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