Falcon Jun,

Thanks for the pictures of Japanese medical implements and supplies. It sure looks like a wounded Japanese soldier couldn't expect much in the way of medical care.

I have also read that many Japanese soldiers, especially those in forward areas where Japanese logistical systems were strained, suffered dietary deficiencies leading to beriberi, night blindness, and other maladies during WW II.

Great Disease Enemy, Kak'ke (Beriberi) and the Imperial Japanese Army, The | Military Medicine | Find Articles at BNET.com


John Dower's book, "War Without Mercy" attributes the low number of Japanese prisoners to racial animosity on the part of US military men and claims that many more Japanese tried to surrender but were killed by their captors. I have no doubt that it happened many times during the war. But I also believe it was much more complicated that that. I think it is indisputable that many Japanese soldiers simply were determined to fight to the death. It's also pretty clear from reading numerous sources and talking to Pacific veterans that surrendering Japanese soldiers represented a serious risk of injury or death to Allied personnel because so many Japanese feigned surrender in order to try to kill at least one more of the enemy. Dower's own data indicates that it was the Japanese who initiated the ferocity and "no-quarter" tone for the fighting. There were atrocities involving soldiers, airmen, and sailors on both sides, yet there were also acts of kindness and humanity on both sides; unfortunately, it was the atrocities that were remembered.