U.S Navy Captain Ordered Sea Burial For Enemy Kamikaze Pilot During WWII, Here’s Why

A Japanese kamikaze pilot flew towards the battleship USS Missouri and ignited a fireball on April 11, 1845, in the Battle of Okinawa. He died though the crew members of the battleship were not severely injured.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Capt. William Callaghan of USS Missouri ordered a military burial at sea for the pilot with honour, as they would have done for one of their sailors.

Now, the USS Missouri has become a museum ship moored at Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. On Friday, three of the captain’s grandsons would mark the anniversary of the attack.

Kamikaze pilots were a part of a suicide attack campaign launched by Japan as a last resort to push U.S forces back when the latter was losing.

These pilots flew hastily made aircraft due to lack of equipment, often going on suicide missions with enough fuel to just reach their targets.

They sank their first vessel in 1944 and killed 7000 Allied Navy personnel, but their 30% success rate fell to 8% by 1945 due to diminishing aircraft capacity and improved defences of U.S. ships.

Around 4000 pilots, often young adults aged around 20, died in these suicide missions. Most set off from Chiran, a town engaged in tea farming that is a part of today’s Minamikyushu, a city in southwestern Japan.

Japan linked these missions with patriotism and duty towards one’s nation, and those who could not take off or survive the missions were called a disgrace. Despite all this, the pilots who died had futures and were victims of war.

Their letters to their family members and loved ones are truly heartbreaking. They were just 20 but had no choice but to join the war.

The Battle of Okinawa involved fighting at land and sea. On April 11, the USS Missouri defended against aerial attacks from several directions and had already shot one Kamikaze plane before another arrived.

The ship’s gunners went for the second one but it plunged and went to the ship’s starboard side, ripping its ring wing which caught fire and landed on the deck. The fire was extinguished but the attack left a dent on Missouri’s hull.

Crew members got a red and white cloth and sewed a rising sun flag so the pilot could be buried with his colours. His body was cleaned and wrapped in canvas. Marine rifle guards gave him a gun salute and tipped the tray and the body went into the sea.

This was the only known incident of U.S. forces holding a burial for a kamikaze pilot. Not much is known about why the captain ordered this; however, the burial was done during routine activity and preparations made during the free time or meal time.

Some crew members did not like the idea however, later they agreed it was the right thing to do.

Carrey Callaghan mentioned that his grandfather never talked about this incident and his family came to know of it, only in 2001. He also stated that his father had dignity and empathy, reflected by his decision to conduct the burial of an enemy at that time.

According to experts, the Kamikaze pilot was Setsuo Ishino, a petty officer 2nd class in a flight training program. He took off from Kanoya air base in southern Japan with 15 others.

He wrote a letter to his mother which read; “Dear Mother, The time has come for me to blossom at last. I am fulfilling my final duty with a smile. Please don’t say anything, this is for our country.”

“The next time we see each other, we will be under the beautiful cherry blossom trees at Yasukuni Shrine. Please don’t cry, only smile and tell me ‘well done.’”

The anniversary is being remembered as then President Obama talked about the burial in 2016 when he visited Pearl Harbour with the then P.M of Japan, Shinzo Abe. Obama said that we should resist the urge to demonise those who are simply different from us.

He said that it was due to Callahan’s act that the Missouri Museum and the Chiran Peace Museum are partners today and help each other with artefacts.

The Mayor of Minamikyushu said that it is important to remember this event and the tragedy of Kamikaze pilots.

He said we should not forget the story and think about peace.

References: Dayton Daily News, ABC4 Utah

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