I met one of the last WWII vets today who witnessed....

Originally posted by reaxi0n
reply to post by aorAki

Too bad history has been forgotten and ignorance has taken its place. If the truth is a 'pissing contest,' then I will definitely be continuing so our veterans get the respect they deserve for their sacrifices for protecting an ally who chooses to do nothing but # talk us.

edit on 3-1-12 by reaxi0n because: (no reason given)

Wow, you're full of ego and ignorance aren't you?

I'm a Kiwi, for the record (that's what 'Aotearoa' is. The Maori name for New Zealand).

sure, the Japanese could have got to the mainland in the Northern Territory, but the main centres of population were too remote for them, crossing inhospitable lands.

The Americans were ultimately involved for their own best interests. They used Pearl Harbour to enter the war, willfully sacrificing some capital equipment and personnel. While it is noted that they did help[ out, the gung-ho flag waving patriotism is old hat and I, personally will respect the conscientious objectors (you see, WWII vets did have a choice, but most were too indoctrinated to see it) above the veterans.

Shinjirarenai.
Arigatou!

reply to post by CorteZZ


VETS are amazing people, I have volunteered numerous times in the past in visiting them at legions, hospitals, etc. And the stories they tell, are jaw dropping in relation to what we now do in wars.

Some of the best ones though also come from females when they first started serving as medics, nurses and the things they saw (injury wise, and stories told my soldiers) just leaves you sitting there listening to them almost in awe!

Originally posted by aorAki

Wow, you're full of ego and ignorance aren't you?

Ego? Yes. Problem?
Ignorance? I spoke the truth, sorry you do not know history.

I'm a Kiwi, for the record (that's what 'Aotearoa' is. The Maori name for New Zealand).

I did not ask.

sure, the Japanese could have got to the mainland in the Northern Territory, but the main centres of population were too remote for them, crossing inhospitable lands.

Umm...did you not read the part about bombers? Australian cities would have been wrecked.
Come again.

The Americans were ultimately involved for their own best interests.

Opinion

They used Pearl Harbour to enter the war, willfully sacrificing some capital equipment and personnel. While it is noted that they did help[ out, the gung-ho flag waving patriotism is old hat and I, personally will respect the conscientious objectors (you see, WWII vets did have a choice, but most were too indoctrinated to see it) above the veterans.

Shinjirarenai.
Arigatou!

Yeah, everything's a conspiracy.
You are aware there was a thing called a 'draft' correct? Ignorance.

einfach unglaublich.

Yes, I'm aware of the draft.
The cowards were drafted while the brave stood up against it.

Originally posted by aorAki
Yes, I'm aware of the draft.
The cowards were drafted while the brave stood up against it.

LMAO
that is a signature worthy quote my friend. thank you for that.

Originally posted by usmc0311
reply to post by Jace26

 

All you have to do is look through your threads and posts to see that you will take every opportunity to spew your hatred for America. We get it, you hate us, you think that we are all evil and the cause of every problem in the world. Why are you so angry? And why must you go out of your way to argue with the americans on here? Is it just fun to you?

Oh and by the way. Where do you think the Japaneese were headed after they seized the phillipines? and the Solomans?, American and Australia, so yeah they were a threat to the U.S and your country of Australia.

edit on 1/3/12 by usmc0311 because: added content.

Well you can't blame people for hating America?
How many people has your country killed in just the last few years, what I've heard is its in the millions.

Yes they were a threat to Australia, but they were NOT a threat to America. Even then as an Australian I would feel ashamed if we had dropped those bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
What I don't understand though is why do you only commemorate your American soldiers why not remember the millions beyond millions of people Americans have killed in the last century?

Originally posted by CorteZZ
reply to post by Jace26

 

some lil punk coming on this thread, disrespecting an American, an old timer who fought for my freedom to allow me to enjoy my life and allies lives Australians, Brits, etc. etc. trying to make us feel bad, for the way it ended can go screw themselves, lemme tell you the vet I met today had blisters all over his arms, and it had to do with the a bombs being dropped on the stubborn Japanese who refused to surrender... He was explaining to me today how the fallout was effecting him...

His illness has to do with the the way the mighty Japanese empire refused to surrender even after their mighty ally Germany got the crap beat outta them..

this thread is just to pay some respect to an old timer ww2 vet thats all, in 2012, all Japenese I meet are respectful and I can say the same for Germans...

Its still history...

The old man never fought for America, he fought for other countries freedoms, not yours. So why do you continually say he did?
In fact WW2 was fought on every continent except North America and Antarctica.

reply to post by Jace26


We were next on Hitler's Hit list. The USA looked like it might fall to the new world order the Nazis had. This is what they told me, it might not be true.

Originally posted by reaxi0n
reply to post by usmc0311

 

LOL this dude's from Australia and he's bitching about how we justly raped Japan after their preemptive strike?

If it wasn't for our 1st Marines on Guadalcanal (most namely, among other key battles) Australia would have been occupied and annihilated.

Is history not taught in Australia?

p.s. our Marines screwed all their women when they docked in Melbourne afterwards while their troops had their hands full in Europe. u mad jace?

edit on 3-1-12 by reaxi0n because: (no reason given)

WOW UR AN ARROGANT ONE AREN"T YOU?

No I guess world history is not taught in America. Actually Australians had already pushed the Japanese back by the time the Americans began arriving. Which should come to you as no surprise seeing as America arrived late in both world wars yet they claimed to do all the fighting, even though all the fighting was pretty much over.
The Battle for Milne Bay was the first time in WW2 that the Japanese were defeated and all done by Aussies.
The Kokoda Campaign was the final push that destroyed any invasion plans of Australia.
The Japanese were not planning on invading by Guadalcanal, that place was strategically unimportant to them. It was all about capturing Port Moresby where they would push south to take Australia, to which Aussies outnumbered by a margin of 25 to 1 managed to fight them off.

Even if the Japanese did land in Australias northern reaches, the Aussies demolished the ports, poisoned the local waters, set up sea mine defences and land mines, burnt off all the crops, etc. Even if they did land they would never get very far, the land in the north is far too inhospitable.

Actually I agree with your men screwing our women, I guess raping and murdering was an important American value even then?

reply to post by Jace26


Every vet I met spoke very highly of Australian troops. I was told they were the toughest in the world and they made out troops look like babies. One vet showed me his Australial Owen gun and told me all about it. Nothing but respect is what I heard about our allie's. It made me want to be Australian.

How sad is it that this OP was totally high-jacked from it's original intent. The OP was gracious and humbled enough by this man to post about his interactions with him and the majority of responses turning into anti/pro arguments about America instead of paying homage to the WWII veteran and the OP who was so emotional and generous in his posting.

CorteZZ, thank you for sharing this with us. We should all be so lucky as to have the privilege of meeting others who incite such a feeling of reverence and humility in us.

reply to post by earthdude


The Aussies back then were very tough people, and its no surprise considering that Australia is a very tough rugged country. During WW2 they were very under prepared with no armour and limited old weapons which sometimes would not work in the conditions they fought in. Some even had to share a gun.

Unfortunately those types of Aussies are almost gone now, you will only find those types of Aussies in the far north now.

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the telling of his stories. My grandfather was a WWII vet but he fought the Nazi's in the European campaign, and the stories he would tell me were unbelieveable, there were some he would not talk about. We should all be thankful to the vet's that have served our country proudly

Originally posted by timidgal


CorteZZ, thank you for sharing this with us. We should all be so lucky as to have the privilege of meeting others who incite such a feeling of reverence and humility in us.

It does sound as though the old-timer spun him a line or two though.

I still have questions about those burns/blisters.

reply to post by CorteZZ


I lost a close friend a few years ago who was one of only two who survived from his barracks at Pearl Harbor.

He never talked about it and I found out one morning when I found him passed out at his dining room table. He was still out cold from a fifth of Vodka. Laying in front of him on the table was a letter from President Reagan he got the day before, lying beside his medals.

I finally got him to tell me the story after that. I was a bad boy and read the letter.

He and one other guy had just got in from standing watch all night and while they were sleeping, everyone else was out practicing in the field. He woke up to see them being mowed down out the window and he and the other guy ran. By the time they got outside they were the only ones still alive.

He never got over the guilt for surviving.

I miss him greatly. I've never met a more kind decent human being.

Man oh man. After reading through this thread, what the hell is wrong with some of you?

Originally posted by Jace26


WOW UR AN ARROGANT ONE AREN"T YOU?

Yes, thank you for noticing

No I guess world history is not taught in America.

lol

Actually Australians had already pushed the Japanese back by the time the Americans began arriving. Which should come to you as no surprise seeing as America arrived late in both world wars yet they claimed to do all the fighting, even though all the fighting was pretty much over.

Pretty much over, eh? War didn't end for 4 years after we entered bud. It had only been going on for 2. In fact, you declared war on Japan on December 8, 1941, following our lead. You had been fighting in Europe, this is true. And that's where a majority of you remained for the duration of the war. Again, a grade school history book would have taught you this. This is why America was needed because your military was not big enough to be spread that thin.

We don't take credit for winning single handedly. We just take pride in the fact that without us the war would not have been won, and find it hilarious that yet we still get # talked. It's a fact. Especially in the Pacific. We fought some of the toughest battles in the entire theatre. Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Tarawa, etc. And that was our Marines. Our Army was busy kicking ass in Europe.

Can't forget huge naval battles won by us as well such as Midway which was a complete turning point in the Pacific theatre.

As much as you hate America you can not deny facts.

The Battle for Milne Bay was the first time in WW2 that the Japanese were defeated and all done by Aussies.

Hey good job bro. Don't forget to thank us for the Arty support.

The Kokoda Campaign was the final push that destroyed any invasion plans of Australia.
The Japanese were not planning on invading by Guadalcanal, that place was strategically unimportant to them. It was all about capturing Port Moresby where they would push south to take Australia, to which Aussies outnumbered by a margin of 25 to 1 managed to fight them off.

Not strategic? Are you kidding me? Is that why 15,000 Japanese troops were killed there and 1,000 prisoners were taken? Is that why it was the bloodiest fighting our Marine Corps has still seen to this day? It was damn strategic and it's insane to think otherwise. They were constructing a huge airfield at Lunga Point. Bombers from there could have hit our West coast, Australia's East coast, and fighters could have wreaked havoc on any ships for miles in between. Of course it was strategic, it was a stepping stone to an eventual invasion of Australia. Port Moresby was part of this plan aswell which is why the Battle of Coral Sea took place which turned out to be a huge strategic win for the allies. Guadalcanal took place afterwards.

Even if the Japanese did land in Australias northern reaches, the Aussies demolished the ports, poisoned the local waters, set up sea mine defences and land mines, burnt off all the crops, etc. Even if they did land they would never get very far, the land in the north is far too inhospitable.

Their bombers had far more range than just the northern part of Australia, and that is the point. Your cities would have been owned. Ours as well. That's why our Marines annihilated them at Guadalcanal.

Actually I agree with your men screwing our women, I guess raping and murdering was an important American value even then?

edit on 1-3-2012 by Jace26 because: (no reason given)

edit on 1-3-2012 by Jace26 because: (no reason given)

Are you implying that our troops raped and murdered your women? What an accusation.
They loved our Marines and welcomed us with open arms, and your men hated it.

Still bitter til this day I see.

Keep in mind, I am not dissing Australia at all. You have no respect for our vets or our country, and that is what I'm trying to point out, yet you seem to demand respect in return.

reply to post by Jace26


While I agree with your sentiments, I can't help but to remind you of the atrocities the Japanese committed against other "Asians" such as the Philippine people. Like the rape of children, forcing their mothers to become prostitutes. So Japan isn't "squeaky clean" either.

But I will agree the nuclear attacks on Japan and it's CIVILIAN people were uncalled for. And as you said, they were already defeated and wouldn't have lasted for much longer. But let's not turn a blind eye to the evils committed in the name of the Emperor. As you said, "Deny Ignorance".

More on topic - I have respect towards all veterans. Not because they "fought for our country", but because they were willing to put their lives on the line for something they believed in. Doesn't matter if our countries fought for their own interest, our soldiers believed they fought for their families, their way of life and protecting what they loved. Be they Japanese, American, German +++.

Originally posted by Jace26


The old man never fought for America, he fought for other countries freedoms, not yours. So why do you continually say he did?
In fact WW2 was fought on every continent except North America and Antarctica.

So would you take offense if I said the same thing could be said about Australia?

Australia only entered WW2 because they were close with Britain. Britain only entered because they had a pact with Poland. So Britain was fighting for Poland's freedom, and by proxy your country was also.

Can you see the hypocrisy here?

Also, can you point out the battles fought on Australian soil?
I don't seem to recall anything besides you being bombed....just like us.

I don't believe I have ever read so much anti-american propoganda and hatred in one thread... but then, I am new here on ATS... lol ...