National Geographic: The Battle for Midway Page #4

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from its losses.

For the Japanese pilots, the defeat

at Midway and the death

of their comrades is

just the first agony.

They will return home to find

themselves kept in isolation,

in silence.

They treated us like prisoners of war.

We were shut away from outside contact

since they were afraid

we might leak information.

You see the veterans who've come back,

whether they're Japanese and Americans

And we brought them here to this spot,

and it spoke to them.

Every one of them cried.

They didn't laugh.

They didn't celebrate. They all cried.

They're hurting.

And this is a half a century later.

So it's their story and what

they're telling us is, don't do this.

This is not fun. It's not wonderful.

Comrades in arms who sleep in darkness

at the bottom of the ocean

for 50 years after the end of the war,

thank you for your sacrifice.

I've brought a tribute, flowers

from Japan, chrysanthemums,

which I've placed on your grave.

My heart is full!

Thank you.

It's difficult,

you think how many people gave up

their lives that day

and they call George Gay and they call

eventually Bert and I,

you know, you're heroes,

but you know, I've said

and I'll always go to my grave

believing that the real heroes died

that day.

They earned a victory.

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