For Reinout: Saburo Sakai

Hi Reinout: I see from the response to the thread re various "Memorial Day" commemorations that you are from the Netherlands. I have something of a research issue of which you could possibly be of great assistance. The fabled WWII Japanese naval aviator Sakai, recently was interested in knowing if any Dutch refugees who evacuated from the East Indies in '42 recall an incident when he, flying a "0", flew alongside a KLM airliner. He could, through a passenger window, see a young blonde woman holding an infant and peering at him in terror. He was moved to escort the plane from the area of conflict and then sent the pilot along with a wave. He stated recently that it would mean much to him if any of those survivors were known and could recall the incident. I know he was quite ill in recent years but believe him still alive. I know this is off-topic- but it is, I'm sure all will agree, for a good cause and for a decent man who apparently is as proud of his behaviour in that incident of human kindness as he is of any of his notable military attainments. Does KLM have an alumni association of veteran employees which might have a periodic newsletter wherein an inquiry could be placed on behalf of SS? Again, is there perhaps extant, in Holland, an organization of former Javanese colonial residents where an inquiry could be initiated?.VBR. LEB.

Again off Forum topics but related to this thread; The Australian War Memorial has one of the aircraft the Saburo Sakai flew in its collection.
It was found in New Guinea and refurbished by the RAAF. It is soon to go on display in the newly redesigned Aircraft Hall.

Is there any info on this aircraft on the web?

[Barrett]

I've not talked to Sakai since '91 but his daughter is married to a former US Army type and last I heard was living in Texas. Sakai gets to the states about once a year to visit his grandchild so it's possible that a "reunion" from the DEI days could be arranged.

[Reinout]

Hi Lee,

Yes I am from the Netherlands. There are several organisations that deal with the Dutch East Indies timeframe, the more famous ones being the Police Actions veterans association and the WWII association for veterans, casualties and POW's that heavily objected the recent visit of the Japanese emperor. In my hometown, there's a former marine who has been in the resistance and at D-Day but who has also served in the pacific (where he lost a few friends, notably in the Karel Doorman failure). When I last searched for his address I couldn't find it any more, but I'll do my best to find it again this weekend. I want to interview him on a few wartime matters as well as some current day affairs and I'll be sure to ask him about Sakai if I can track the man down. He's been consulted by many historians before so undoubtedly he will know his way around the various institutes. Whether KLM has any association I do not know, but the story is interesting enough. I'll keep you updated as new info arises (or doesn't).

Thanks for the tip and kind regards,

Reinout

[leo]

Early in WWII Colin P. Kelly was posthumously awarded thr CMH for allegedly sinking the Japanese battleship Haruna with a kamikaze like attack with his B-17. That never happened. Sakai saw Kelly die and said he should have gotten the medal for what he did do and that was to stay with his burning plane until all members of his crew were able to bail out. Kelly did not survive.

[Billy_Bishop]

Actually, the story of Kelly getting the MOH was a fable too. I believe he was awarded the DSC, or something to that effect, supposedly for staying with his bomber while the rest of his crew bailed out.

It was the press that elevated it to the MOH, which he was not awarded.

VBR,

Al Lowe

[Shooter]

Acording to Saburo Sakai's autobiography, it was Sakai who shot down Colin Kelly's B-17.

Shooter sends

[Barrett]

Speaking of CMHs, did anybody hear something about 20 or so being retroactively awarded last month? I had a garbled e-gram to that effect amid a bunch of 'em that accumulated during my african trip. The Medal has been so mishandled and so politicized over the years/decades, with waivers upon waivers for award criteria that even some recipients are disappointed. Of the 150+ remaining awardees, apparently fewer than half particpate in the CMH Society.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) (Friday May 12, 2000 - President Clinton has
approved nominations to award the Medal of Honor to Sen. Daniel Inouye and
20 other Asia-Pacific Americans for valor in World War II, the U.S. Army said
on Friday.

The 21 awards of the nation's highest combat medal is the latest step in a push
by the government and military in recent years to make sure that members of
minority groups receive proper recognition for past military service.

Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat who was seriously wounded by machine gun fire
and a grenade and lost an arm at San Terenzo, Italy, in 1945, got a standing
ovation in the Senate on Friday.


The senator, who single-handedly destroyed three German machine gun nests
after being shot in the stomach, and all but one of the 21 honorees served in the
European theater during the war.

``These American heroes sacrificed much for our nation and we are privileged to
honor them properly,'' said Army Secretary Louis Caldera, who told Reuters he
had personally gone over the records of each of the new winners of the medal.

He said many went far above and beyond the call of duty, exposing themselves
repeatedly to enemy fire while ignoring personal safety for the good of fellow
troops.

Most of those Army veterans on Friday's list were Japanese-Americans. All 21
had won the Distinguished Service Cross and the move followed an order by
Congress in 1996 to investigate records of 104 Asia-Pacific Americans who won
that cross in the war.

Only two of the 104 got the Medal of Honor, and Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka
of Hawaii said on Friday it was obviously because of prejudice toward
Asian-Pacific Americans triggered by the war in the Pacific against Japan.

``Unfortunately, Asian-Pacific Americans were not accorded full consideration
for the Medal of Honor at the time of their service,'' Akaka said in a statement.

Hope this answers your question Barrett.

Regards,
Andrew

Taken from message forum on www.anzacs.net