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No. And I know for a fact that a buddy of mine's father - who was in the 2nd on that island with your grandfather - appreciated it when his son found the family of a deceased soldier whose gear he took on that island. It's why I asked if your grandfather was in the 4th or the 2nd. Probably knew my buddy's dad pretty well.
They're now yours to do with as you wish. To me, returning these items to the original owner, donating to a museum, displaying in your own home, all seem preferable to just storing them until your heirs find them among your belongings after you're gone.
STEADYMOBBIN 22 said:
This.
Those things just aren't valuable enough to be targeted by unscrupulous collectors. I wouldn't worry about it.
![[scooter]](/data/avatars/m/22/22287.jpg?1659477690){kind=avatar}
Some types of people are just looking for a reason to feel outrage. But I bet if that guy's dad died in a war, he sure would have appreciated it if he was given some of his father's possessions many years later.
I'm a military guy and you should definitely see about getting that stuff to any potential Japanese family, maybe get the story and bring some good karma to your life
Come on man - do we really need to bring this crap into this kind of thread? Share your thoughts about what the OP should do for sure, but lets not argue about it. Lets just be thankful he shared this great find with us and leave it at that.
This on both counts.
My gramps was a POW in the Philippenes. Was part of the Bataan Death March. He wouldn't really talk about his experiences and I was too young for him to ever share that kind of stuff with me. But he seemed like a kind man with love in his heart. I think if he had war trophies hidden in the attic he would be fine with me returning them
Interesting, missed that question. I'm not sure which unit, I'll have to go back and look at the paperwork.
Agreed, especially with the part about the handprints from the Obon society. Whether you go through them, or on your own, having the flag returned might be the highlight of someone's life who was too young to remember when their father left for war.I think a display case with the medals Worm's Grumpa earned is a great idea. But I think attempting to return the flag and pictures to the descendants of the the soldier is an honorable thing to do. I don't think it diminishes what Worm's Grumpa went through, in fact I think it shows what he fought for. My
Agreed, especially with the part about the handprints from the Obon society. Whether you go through them, or on your own, having the flag returned might be the highlight of someone's life who was too young to remember when their father left for war.I think a display case with the medals Worm's Grumpa earned is a great idea. But I think attempting to return the flag and pictures to the descendants of the the soldier is an honorable thing to do. I don't think it diminishes what Worm's Grumpa went through, in fact I think it shows what he fought for. My
Your grandfather and the person he took the flag from were likely two guys, not far removed from being children themselves who were told to go fight with no anger or enmity besides what their respective governments could conjure up.
Gawain and Foos...agree 1000% the honorable thing to do would be to return the flag.
Would be an awesome story to pass down for generations as well.
I think he's saying that every soldier in WW2 received additional ribbons/medals for various combat campaigns, and you are entitled to get new ones if the originals were lost.
Thanks. I'm leaning towards trying to return the flag if possible. If the OBON Society guarantees returning it to me if the family is not found then I will probably go that route. They do give you updates as they progress through the process, unlike some of the other agencies/consulates.
Yes.Joe Summer said:
a quick note to your congressperson will get you all he is deserved. Did the same for my cousin who went MIA in Holland in WW2.
I served and even saw some.combat both official and not so. I would be fine even pleased with my family searching for the family that rightfully belongs to. Might even be a little mad at me because I didn't do it myself.
Since the majority of the time, the "enemies" are just family men, like you or I, doing what their government told them they had to do. I'd be perfectly fine, and encourage having it returned. I guarantee it means a lot more to that family's and subsequent generations to come.
This is exactly how I feel. I am imagining how incredible it would feel for the now elderly children of this soldier who have no memories of their father to receive this flag. It would mean way more to them than it would to you hanging as a trophy in your house.
This. I did this for my Uncle's half brother and gave it to my Uncle, was very cool and unexpected.
Yeah, this is pretty cool. I know my grandfather served in WWII and drove landing boats in the South Pacific. But he basically never talked about it with anyone. I have no idea if anyone in the family has any of this type of stuff.
Grove, it's daunting at first but there are a number of ways to start finding data. It's kinda like trying to Google but for military records using the governments database. It ain't nearly as fast as Google though
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