Just heard the news that Mr Strombo passed away. God bless him, Rest In Peace, and thank you for your service sir. 🙏🏻

You may disagree with a war, but never disrespect the men that fought in them

Old soldiers never die
They just fade away.
                                 - General MacArthur

He made a promise to a man he never even spoke to. That is honor, that is humanity.

The flag's white background is filled with signatures of 180 friends and neighbours in the tea-growing mountain village of Higashishirakawa, wishing Yasue's (the flag's owner who died in WWII) safe return.

As my great grandfather said before he passed in 2009, He served in the Australian Army during WW2.
"War is a foolish game where old men argue at each other behind desks while they send their young to die for them." Will never forget that.

He could've just turned a blind eye on that soldier. But didn't. And traveled half way across the world. He fulfilled his promise. Bless him. RIP to this good man. This made me tear up.

When i was stationed in Japan i made friends with a monk. In his home they had a family shrine.  In this shrine was a model of WWII submarine with a picture of his father who was the captain.  He never came back. The son didn't know what happened to his father. I. being a WWII Pacific buff, had many books of the Japanese navy.  I found the sub wuth a picture of his father.  I copied the pages and made a beautiful book. When i gave it to him he cried.  He now has a connection to his father.😢

one guy said "there are no survivors, everybody comes back as ghosts"   including the ones who lived... so sad

Damn the level of honor of those Marines...it a real Marine to keep a promise made to an enemy.

I'd like to think this was his last mission in life. Mission complete, Marine. Stand at ease.

I am Japanese.
I can't stop crying while watching the video.
I'm grateful that he didn't hate the Japanese and that he respected the US Marines.
The Prime Minister of Japan once said this.
Japan and the US are an alliance of hope.
Japan and the United States engaged in the largest naval battle in human history, resulting in many deaths. But now we are working together as democracies.
Also, I was raised by my grandfather and grandmother, but I was never kind to them.
As at least atonement, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to grandfathers and grandmothers around the world.
thank you.

He honoured a fallen enemy soldier with this promise...in his early twenties? What a truly great man.

14:52 translation: "This man here, brought it home to us..."
Then you could tell that she gave all her might just to say "thank you" out loud

Nothing chokes me up more than an old man crying...

As someone else said in another forum, we will be the last generation (Gen X, GenY, Gen Z) to talk face-to-face with WW2 vets. Thank you to ALL veterans for your service.

The fact the old man smelled the flag to try to gain the memories of the long dead soldier and their past is so moving.

While I was stationed in Germany I once talked to a local man, around 76 years old I think. He told us a few stories of his experiences while in the Luftwaffe. He ended up getting shot down and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp run by the Americans. By the end of the war the vast majority of POWs new the war was over for Germany, they were uncertain what their fate would be and just wanted to go home and forget about the war.  

Over time he became friendly with the Guards there, they were allowed to trade and barter things like tobacco or chocolate as the Troops had more than they needed they often just gave the prisoners stuff. When it ended, the guy kept in contact with one of the guards and they regularly wrote letters and sent gifts to each other and families.

Very touching. My son, Jeffrey Scott Durham was in the Air Force & his grandfather, George D. Racke, a Marine was severely wounded on Iwo Jima.  He also picked up Japanese flag. While grandson, Jeffrey was stationed in Japan, his grandfather ask him to return the flag to the family in Japan. Jeffrey was able to do that. The family gave Jeffrey the silk kimono that was meant for their son that did not return.  A world apart, a culture apart & a step toward healing was  made.

That “Arigato gozaimasu” from the fallen soldier’s sister upon receiving the flag sent me into a crying, crumpled heap 😭