ccheese
Member In Perpetuity
Just finished reading "Oba, The Last Samurai", by Don Jones, It starts in July 1944. The Americans had destroyed the Japanese navy at Saipan and taken the island. Captain Sakae Oba of the Japanese Army refused to acknowledge defeat. He was sure the IJN would return and re-take the island. Oba and his loyal followers found others hiding in the hills surrounding Mt. Tapotchau: stray soldiers and civilians. He pooled their food and weapons, stole food from the Americans and held out for eighteen months after Saipan was declared secured.
Altho he didn't know it, at the time, he prevented an American Colonel from getting a General's star, and outwitted more than 4,000 marines who walked across the island, shoulder to shoulder, looking for him and his band of renegades.
By order of the Emperor, Captain Oba and 47 soldiers and sailors surrendered on 1 December 1945.
A great read.....
Charles
Altho he didn't know it, at the time, he prevented an American Colonel from getting a General's star, and outwitted more than 4,000 marines who walked across the island, shoulder to shoulder, looking for him and his band of renegades.
By order of the Emperor, Captain Oba and 47 soldiers and sailors surrendered on 1 December 1945.
A great read.....
Charles
