war is hell
May 1, 2009 3:35 AM Subscribe
WWII history buffs -- Pacific war - okinawa - spring 1945 - Who is this child pictured in this documentary?
Scene: Okinawa, the aftermath. Japanese civilians committing suicide. A lone shivering child is rescued by American troops.
Child receiving drink of water from American soldier:
http://www.gesticulations.com/public/gallery/Images/fun/child1.png
Closeup of child:
http://www.gesticulations.com/public/gallery/Images/fun/child2.png
These are two frames from a 2-part BBC documentary on Imperial Japanese attitudes and atrocities during WWII. Its available on netflix (on the streaming movie feature as well as rental). Its called "horror in the east", you can see it here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Horror_in_the_East/70034534?trkid=931747
My shot-in-the-dark question for any WWII history buffs: Is this scene famous at all? What happened to this child?
This is a shot in the dark, I know -- but I think its not an unreasonable question, since after all, the extremely famous picture of the child in vietnam, the girl whose village was napalmed, her clothes burned off, she's running down the street, nude and crying - very very famous picture - everyone knows who she is, she has a name, her later life was documented, she was interviewed by the new york times a few years back (and periodically over the course of her life). I dont know if this okinawan scene is as well known, but wondering, if that is the case, what happened to this kid? Does he have a name? etc.
Thanks.
Scene: Okinawa, the aftermath. Japanese civilians committing suicide. A lone shivering child is rescued by American troops.
Child receiving drink of water from American soldier:
http://www.gesticulations.com/public/gallery/Images/fun/child1.png
Closeup of child:
http://www.gesticulations.com/public/gallery/Images/fun/child2.png
These are two frames from a 2-part BBC documentary on Imperial Japanese attitudes and atrocities during WWII. Its available on netflix (on the streaming movie feature as well as rental). Its called "horror in the east", you can see it here:
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Horror_in_the_East/70034534?trkid=931747
My shot-in-the-dark question for any WWII history buffs: Is this scene famous at all? What happened to this child?
This is a shot in the dark, I know -- but I think its not an unreasonable question, since after all, the extremely famous picture of the child in vietnam, the girl whose village was napalmed, her clothes burned off, she's running down the street, nude and crying - very very famous picture - everyone knows who she is, she has a name, her later life was documented, she was interviewed by the new york times a few years back (and periodically over the course of her life). I dont know if this okinawan scene is as well known, but wondering, if that is the case, what happened to this kid? Does he have a name? etc.
Thanks.
Response by poster: linkified first pic
linkified second pic
posted by jak68 at 3:37 AM on May 1, 2009
linkified second pic
posted by jak68 at 3:37 AM on May 1, 2009
I've never seen that scene AFAIK in any Japanese TV program in 15 years in Japan. Just one data point for you there.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:26 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by planetkyoto at 7:26 AM on May 1, 2009
Another data point: have heard the stories but never saw this photo.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:39 AM on May 1, 2009
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 9:39 AM on May 1, 2009
Another data point. Regarding WWII allied combat photography and children in Okinawa ... this is the image that's most often referenced.
posted by joe vrrr at 1:32 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by joe vrrr at 1:32 PM on May 1, 2009
I don't know, but my dad was a US Marine on Okinawa in 1945. Maybe I can ask him if he's ever seen it before.
posted by GaelFC at 5:05 PM on May 1, 2009
posted by GaelFC at 5:05 PM on May 1, 2009
Response by poster: joe-vrrr -- thats a powerful pic as well.
gaelfc -- anything that might help, I'd appreciate. And my hat's off to your dad.
posted by jak68 at 6:27 PM on May 1, 2009
gaelfc -- anything that might help, I'd appreciate. And my hat's off to your dad.
posted by jak68 at 6:27 PM on May 1, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jak68 at 3:36 AM on May 1, 2009