Thursday, February 28, 2008
Death Tolls
Just realizing how many thousands of casualties there were in virtually every battle puts current warfare in a different perspective. The death toll in the WW2 in general was horrific, but the number of soldiers that were killed while island hopping is mind-blowing. What if these numbers were taking place in the current military operations, we cant fathom it. So many people were dying in attempt to seize control of islands that are a mere dot on the map, that we have never heard of, it just illustrates what a horrible period the world was in, and shows the sacrifices that were made.
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7 comments:
I agree that the death tolls were stagering. I guess that I didn't realize that so many died at each battle. Just immagine how many died of disease and later of wounds.
I didn't realize that we had so many casualities in the Pacific theater either. I know that many soliders lost their lives but the numbers from the lectures this week are high. It is interesting that so many were lost while island hoping.
It's going to sound like a broken record, but I too had no idea of the number of casualties during WWII. It is ridiculous to me to think about losing thousands of soldiers in one battle, where as in the Iraq War there have been less than 4,000 total so far. As for the original post asking what it would be like if current warfare were at those numbers, well there would certainly have to be a draft, which means we would not be sitting in a classroom discussing history.
I, too, did not realize that the death toll was so high. Looking back at the readings, the numbers were staggering not only for the U.S., but the allies as well. The numbers that are stated are almost beyond comprehension, such as in New Guinea where 3,000 allied soldiers died in battle while 18,000 died of disease; Guadalcanal where 5,000 U.S. sailors were killed; U.S. submarine forces lost 3,500 sailors; and the list goes on and on.
Yes,if the Iraq War was like this there would certainly be a draft. It is just crazy to think of this current war with WW2 numbers, not even gonna mention the Civil War, which makes other wars seem like a skirmish...
I have to agree that the death toll in the Pacific was extremely high and today the general public could not take these numbers no matter what the war was being fought for. However, just because the numbers are not as high as they were in WWII the pain and suffering is no different for the family members that lost loved ones in the current war.
the lectures this week were eye opening not only for the US casualties but also for the japanese. bushido is something that as an american in our self indulgent society that we live in the USA for now and at that time of WWII does not seem in the least bit feasible. to run in wave after wave as bodies pile up in front of a machine gun does not seem human. I understand it is in the name of something inhumane and to strive for something of perfection of the warrior, but would not one want to try to plan something and use not only the spiritual, the physical, but also the mental side of the body.
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