By Tom Poland, A Southern Writer
TomPoland.net
Each August I think of my father’s service in Japan, specifically Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Recently I came across one of his base passes that had been hiding from me all these years. Dad was stationed in Yokohama.
The date on his pass is August 9, 1946. That was a year and three days after Little Boy devastated Hiroshima. A year to the day after Fat Man destroyed Nagasaki.
A bit of mystery attends his pass. That date. According to AI searches, no U.S. Army troops were in Japan at that time. Well, they were. I ran his card through AI and it verified that all information was correct. If you use AI, be advised that it has a ways to go. It’s more than a bit contradictory.
In the margin of Dad’s photo of a leveled Hiroshima he wrote, “Hiroshima, Atomic Bomb, 1-22-45.” Another mystery. The bomb hadn’t even fallen then. That has to be a typo.
As for his Class A pass, it was the standard “authorized absence” document that allowed enlisted men limited free time off post when not required for duty.
The back of the card impresses me. It’s about discipline and values. “While on pass I understand that I will be observed by many different types of people who will judge the United States Army by my appearance and conduct as an individual and that failure on my part to conform to regulations with respect to wearing the uniform or failure to conduct myself in a manner to reflect the highest traditions of the service will result in unfavorable criticism of the United States Army, my organization, and myself.”
We have people in this country who would scoff at that. We have people in this country who would call my father a war criminal. We have people in this country who believe anything goes. It’s too bad we don’t have universal military service. That would educate them to the realities of life. Life ain’t Disneyland.
My dad’s pass continues . . .
“This pass is issued to enlisted men of Yokohama Base Units as a reward for excellent behavior. This pass will be issued to the soldier upon signing the organization pass book when leaving the area and will be surrendered when the soldier signs the pass book on his return. At all other times the pass will be retained by the unit commander or his representative.”
Dad served in the Eighth Army under Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger. Yokohama was a major U.S. Army hub under Eighth Army headquarters during the occupation from 1945 to 1952.
Dad came back from Japan with photos, documents, memorabilia, and memories of Japan and World War II. On leaving Seattle for Yokohama Dad said waves 30-feet high broke over his transport ship’s bow and that many soldiers got seasick. It took close to two weeks to make the trip to Yokohama from Seattle. Along the way the bombs fell and Japan surrendered.
I know that Yokohama has a modern waterfront today with a greenspace. Dad would like that. Hiroshima is an ultra-modern city and Nagasaki is a vibrant port city. He’d like that too, but some 80 years ago things sure were different. He was in enemy territory.
Dad left military service at Fort Sam Houston on October 17, 1946. I have his pass, canteen, standard-issue Army knife, and photographs of Japan. Nothing remains of his uniform. He served his country for the cause of freedom. He died in 2003. Were he alive to see how things have changed here he’d shake his head and change parties. He would not give the malcontents, dividers, and haters a pass. Their privileges would be revoked.
