"Through their deeds, the dead of battle have spoken more eloquently for themselves than any of the living ever could. "
The above photo was unusual: it was the first time an image of dead American troops appeared in media during World War II without their bodies being draped, in coffins, or otherwise covered up. ...
Taken by George Strock in February 1943 ( at Buna-Gona), it was not published until [Life's] September 20th 1943 issue. In that September, this photo and other equally gruesome and graphic pictures of WWII were finally OK’d by the Office of War Information’s censors, in part because President Roosevelt feared that the American public might be growing complacent about the war and its horrific toll. Even than, in the picture, the Americans’ faces were not shown–a practice continued until Korean War to preserve soldiers’ privacy in death.
At the time of the publication, these pictures shocked many readers. The Washington Post argued that the pictures “can help us to understand something of what has been sacrificed for the victories we have won.” Images of dead soldiers appeared regularly after that. Efforts were made to crop the photos or obscure the victims’ faces, name tags and unit insignia. The caption to Strock’s photo, “Three dead Americans lie on the beach at Buna,” told Life’s readers that they did not need to know the names of the dead in order to appreciate what they had done.
http://senseofevents.blogspot.com/2009/09/raw-images-of-war.html
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The dead of Antietam , Md. Sept. 1862
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1936 - France Honors America's WWI war dead
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Coffins of Americans killed in Spanish-American War ready for internment at Arlington National Cemetery
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Al Chang's image of grief and comfort after the death of an American infantryman, taken in the Haktong-ni area of South Korea, became one of the enduring images of the Korean War.
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The Gulf Wars
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U.S. Cemetery , Normandy, France
The Buna campaign was the second offensive operation my Father participated in. (the first being Port Moresby and the defense of Milne Bay) 32nd Infantry Division troopers those are. Buna was primarily an Aussie operation driving the Japanese back from Port Moresby and clearing Southern New Guinea of operationally capable Japanese forces.
My father was attached to the 126th Regiment of that 32nd infantry division right out of basic training. (the cadre system was something to behold) He got to march 300+ kilometers over the Owen Stanley Range, (steep mountains covered from bottom to top in the thickest jungle you ever saw) The reached the coast five days later and joined up with the 128th for the assault on Buna (the 127th was delayed and didn't arrive in time) Took three days to drive the Japanese out of their positions and seize the airfields.
November 1942, My fathers introduction to the war.
A forgotten part of the war....
Powerful photos showing the real face of war.
Heartbreaking photos!
But very necessary, to feel even more grateful for those who gave their all... WWI cemetery in Verdun, France.
Let's also not forget.
YES!!! the greatest light cavalry the world ever saw!
(their foot soldiers were pretty damned good also)
There will never be an end to war, but we can hope and maybe expect that robots will be doing most of the fighting and "dying" in future generations.
That is a very powerful story Bobby. I hope you realize that most of the men who served were not like the man who abused your mother. At least you got a wonderful life here with your mom. I'm glad age taught you not to hold on to your anger.