This is a poignant fictionalized story of a true event that occurred during World War II. The true story goes like this: on a bombing mission just before the end of the war on June 20, 1945 over the Japanese town of Shizuoka, 2 B-29s collided and crashed. Thousands were killed in the bombing raid, including the 23 Americans in the 2 B-29s. A brave Japanese humanitarian, at great risk to himself, buried the remains of the Americans and erected a memorial to those killed in the bombing raid, both American and Japanese. Many years later, in the 1970s, another citizen of the town discovered the long forgotten memorial and learned of the events of June 20, 1945. He began to hold his own memorial at the site honoring those killed in the war and praying for everlasting peace. The annual memorial service is now a tradition in the town of Shizuoka and includes participation of US armed forces serving in Japan.
Jerry Yellin, an 85 year old decorated P-51 fighter pilot who fought in the battle for Iwo Jima and flew combat missions over Japan, fictionalized the lives of the bomber crew and Japanese civilians attacked on that June day, in a well written, interesting, moving and historically accurate story. Yellin moves the story seamlessly between the young American bomber crew as they leave their families and go to war and the Japanese father and son who toil the fields of their soybean farm until the father, a retired high-ranking officer in World War I, is called away to service by the Japanese High Command and the small town they live in is bombed. We are taken from the streets of New York City in the 1930s and 1940s to a ryokan on the Izu Peninsula, to the attack of Pearl Harbor and to Admiral Yamamoto’s war room, from the desk of Secretary of State Cordell Hull to flight school, and to Pearl Harbor and the battle for Iwo Jima. The account is riveting and authentic, written by someone who has lived the story of the times and has an insider’s view of Japanese culture. We see the human tragedy of war and the human spirit longing for peace. The story ends in present day, at the memorial erected to unite two peoples who once were at war.
Yoko Ono wrote of this story “having campaigned for peace for many years, this beautiful story strikes a deep cord with me. I hope it will become more widely known around the world and inspire other people too.” A video of the memorial service is available on Yellin's website (google "jerry yellin") and the book is available on Amazon.
Jerry Yellin, an 85 year old decorated P-51 fighter pilot who fought in the battle for Iwo Jima and flew combat missions over Japan, fictionalized the lives of the bomber crew and Japanese civilians attacked on that June day, in a well written, interesting, moving and historically accurate story. Yellin moves the story seamlessly between the young American bomber crew as they leave their families and go to war and the Japanese father and son who toil the fields of their soybean farm until the father, a retired high-ranking officer in World War I, is called away to service by the Japanese High Command and the small town they live in is bombed. We are taken from the streets of New York City in the 1930s and 1940s to a ryokan on the Izu Peninsula, to the attack of Pearl Harbor and to Admiral Yamamoto’s war room, from the desk of Secretary of State Cordell Hull to flight school, and to Pearl Harbor and the battle for Iwo Jima. The account is riveting and authentic, written by someone who has lived the story of the times and has an insider’s view of Japanese culture. We see the human tragedy of war and the human spirit longing for peace. The story ends in present day, at the memorial erected to unite two peoples who once were at war.
Yoko Ono wrote of this story “having campaigned for peace for many years, this beautiful story strikes a deep cord with me. I hope it will become more widely known around the world and inspire other people too.” A video of the memorial service is available on Yellin's website (google "jerry yellin") and the book is available on Amazon.