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joseph wiggs
Brigadier General
Status: offline |
 Posted - October 23 2007 : 5:21:27 PM
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I believe that Brent has settled this difficult issue comfortably as possible. Scalped makes a valid point when he stated that every side committed atrocities. However, the Japanese soldier's perception of his racial superiority and commitment to death before surrender rendered them killers par excellence!
While the rogue's galley of man's inhumanity to man is abundant with prime candidates, the Japanese war machine and the Nazi Gestapo run neck to neck. |
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Brent
Lt. Colonel
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - December 23 2007 : 12:37:30 PM
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On the subject of massacres, just read a pretty good book on the Dade "massacre" which took place on December 28, 1835 and precipitated the Second Seminole War. Actually it wasn't a massacre at all, but a well planned ambush of Major Dade and 108 men who were on a poorly planned and ill advised relief expedition to Ft King. It's a classic example of ignorance of the terrain, overconfidence, and underestimation of the enemy (sound familiar??)
The book is called 'Dade's Last Command" and written by Frank Laumer. Published 1995 by the University Press of Florida. 285 pages.
It has a lot of detail about military uniforms, food, the Seminoles, etc so it can be a bit "slow" reading at times. But all that research makes the actual battle narrative fascinating. A good read!! |
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chasber
Private
Status: offline |
Posted - December 29 2007 : 3:44:23 PM
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| The majority of wounds suffered in battle do not result in immediate death. While the the battle does not fit the definition set forth for a massacre, what happened to the scores of wounded most certainly does. They were no longer a threat, they could not defend themselves and still they were put to a gruesome death. One cannot fault the Indians for this. When you go into someones country and pick a fight with them, you fight on their terms. But cultural differences aside, Custer's wounded, probably the majority of the men who rode with him, were massacred. |
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AZ Ranger
Brigadier General
USA
Status: offline |
Posted - December 30 2007 : 09:44:08 AM
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| What it does effect is how you deal with the people during the time frame of the occurances. Hindsight treats a people kinder than when you just find out one of your relatives was tortured etc. |
“ An officer's first duty is to his horses.”
SEMPER FI |
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Massacre or Battle
