Saturday 13 October 2012

Poignant photos taken from dead Japanese Sailor

Following on from my last post about World War Two veteran, Arthur Schutter who served with the US Marine Corps on Guam, here are two photographs he brought back with him. They are likely to have been recovered from a dead Japanese sailor. Aside from a portrait of himself, the unidentified seaman carried a photograph of his children, the older twins dressed in navy costume. There are some words written on the reverse. It would be intriguing to find out what was said. Is there someone out there who could translate their meaning?

Thanks to Nicola Carpenter of the excellent Beneath Thy Feet blog, I now know what was written.

December 1943, first‐born daughter Reiko, second daughter Kazuko, first born son Tsutomu




5 comments:

  1. It's fascinating to think that Arthur kept these. He perhaps was the one who killed the Japanese soldier. To have kept them for so long certainly makes one wonder.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Perhaps, feeling a little guilt later in life?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have managed to track down someone through Facebook who was able to translate the writing.

    "December 1943, first‐born daughter Reiko, second daughter Kazuko, first born son Tsutomu."

    Beneath Thy Feet

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you so much, Nicola. It somehow makes it even sadder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is terribly sad. However during war the world was a different place. At least now with the translation these people and their sacrifice can be remembered.

      Delete