The “EBook” and / or Paperback version are now available and can be purchased through Amazon. You can also get the audio format.
Kurofune: The Black Ships is a war story, a love story, a story of redemption and rebirth.
The Battle of Saipan saw the Pacific War’s largest Japanese Banzai attack. Over 4,000 Japanese soldiers died while about 1,000 Marines lost their lives during this harrowing nightmare of a suicide thrust by the Japanese to push the Americans back into the sea.
“Kurofune” tells the story of that tragedy against a backdrop of nationalism, military fanaticism, heroism and self sacrifice. Yet Kurofune is also a love story, a war story, a story of redemption and a story of rebirth.
An excerpt:
“The entire western seascape off of Saipan’s horizon resembled a solid black mass of hellfire, with shell after shell expunged from the depths of their magazines only to be fired in quick succession. It remained a massive display of firepower—so massive that the ground shook and the entire island seemed as if it was trapped in a never ending battle between Numazu and the Japanese god Kashima. The air was extremely heavy. It was difficult to breath. It was as if a ridge of high pressure toxicity had descended on the island, covering everything and everyone in a suffocating blanket of that gray combat dust of fear.
Where was the Combined Imperial Japanese Navy?
Saito and Nagumo finally realized that an amphibious assault was imminent. Saito radioed his superiors in Tokyo, as well as all theater commanders across Micronesia, to the threat that he faced. With limited resources on the island, especially food, water, fuel, and ammunition, and with reinforcements highly doubtful due to American submarine and air patrols, Saipan was cut off.
Saito and his General Staff accepted their reality that an assault was forthcoming. But from where? There were no amphibious assault or transport ships visible anywhere off of Saipan. His ability to send reconnaissance aircraft out to find the amphibious fleet was undermined by the American’s control of the airspace. Furthermore, additional American battleships and cruisers were beginning to bombard the east coast of Saipan: Magicienne Bay, the Kagman Peninsula, the south coast off Naftan and Agingan Points, and to the north and west sectors of the island north and east of Tanapag Harbor. Even Mount Tapochau received the odd shell. Saito felt that the beaches around Chalan Kanoa would in all probability be the primary point of ingress by the US Marines. This is where the Saipan Garrison had focused its defensive perimeter of bunkers, pillboxes, and enfilading fire points. This area was considered a strategic focal point by the Japanese General Staff in that it provided direct access overland to Aslito, a distance of about two to three miles from the beach. They could also take out the temporary airstrip at Kanoa as well. With Aslito in American hands, it would only be a matter of time before a wave of military might would roll up and over the rest of the island, including Tanapag Harbor, another strategic point on Saipan. With Aslito, the Americans would control the entire airspace over the Saipan battlefront.
Saito understood the importance of the Chalan Kanoa beaches, and he knew that the attack would invariably take place in this area. Nevertheless, the bombardment in other parts of the island, especially the northwest beaches, concerned him. When an amphibious force of some strength appeared off the beaches around Makunsha village, he was forced to send some of his troops to that area in response. Indeed, General Saito radioed Tokyo with a report that an invasion force was curtailed by Japanese forces in this area. Yet not a shot was fired by either force, although the US Navy did support this assault with gunfire. Was this a ruse on the part of the Americans? Perhaps. Saito was not fooled even though he left some troops in this area, just in case!
Where was the Combined Imperial Japanese Navy?
General Saito could only hope.”
“We can pray differently. We can gather in different places of worship, but all of us must come together around the values of Eid,” he said. “The values of community, of generosity and yes, of sacrifice. These are Muslim values. These are Canadian values.”
I will not tell you who said that, but you can guess!
Sacrifice, Muslim values are Canadian values? Pretty soon, sharia law will be here in Canada. Mark my words…in my flesh!
Overheard at a Muslim / Canadian Christian poker game.
“I see your one child infidel and I’ll raise you ten. My Call.”
What they couldn’t do by the sword they will accomplish demographically. Divershity is our strength. Don’t ya just love that word. Like existential. Sounds good but means nothing.
Canada’s Prime Minister or Canada’s Chief Mortician
I know the Canadian economy is dead but don’t you worry cause I’ll take care if it. The country is in good hands.
Carney, AKA…Snidely Whiplash
Violence erupted in Downtown Los Angeles Friday as angry leftists surrounded and eventually began to vandalize an ice facility and attack officers following a step up in raids and detention of illegal aliens by the federal agency.
The Los Angeles Kings were not amused.
Quote of the week:
Militancy is great…for pacifists!
Interesting song. #2 song of 1967 – the Summer of Love. It is only two minutes long and its lead singer in only 16 years old. Huge hit back then.
Shakeyjay is out of sight, out of his mind and out of here.
The “EBook” and / or Paperback version are now available and can be purchased through Amazon. You can also get the audio format.
Kurofune: The Black Ships is a war story, a love story, a story of redemption and rebirth.
The Battle of Saipan saw the Pacific War’s largest Japanese Banzai attack. Over 4,000 Japanese soldiers died while about 1,000 Marines lost their lives during this harrowing nightmare of a suicide thrust by the Japanese to push the Americans back into the sea.
“Kurofune” tells the story of that tragedy against a backdrop of nationalism, military fanaticism, heroism and self sacrifice. Yet Kurofune is also a love story, a war story, a story of redemption and a story of rebirth.
Springtime in Paris – the city of lights! Literally and figuratively.
This past weekend.
Have a great time. Fireworks are awesome. So is the gas. It will bring tears to your eyes – guaranteed.
Hey, Elbows Up, as our seniors in Toronto will need strong arms and massive can openers to open the front doors of their new living shipping containers that are slated as their new living quarters, erm homes.
“Can’t wait,” one senior was heard to say. “Wooo Hooo. Tomato soup for evah!”
“Awesome,” Mike Meyers commented when he heard this breaking news. “Elbows Up man, Elbows Up. Seven Up!”
“Nana, you’re going to love this. Just think, you can share your container with drug smugglers, human trafficker’s, illegal aliens, and so much more. Being old and retired doesn’t have to be boring Nana.”
“Sign me up Son. And dear Lord, please thank the Chow, Chow mayor for this.”
Quote of the week:
A Canadian consultant is:
Someone who is adept at making the simple, complex.
Latest Canadian obfuscation heard in passing.
“Your barrels of oil will be approved for transit so long as those barrels have been de-carbonized.”
Duh. What does that mean? That is like saying we will allow you to drink that beer, or soda, as long as it has been de-carbonated! Yuck, flat! No fizz. No bite. Sucks bigly.
Kinda relevant in today’s world.
Shakeyjay is out of sight, out of mind and out of here.
“Well, it is a really, really, like, really big crisis.”
“Crikey, we should get on with it then.”
“Yes, it is after all existential, and you know what that means?”
“No? What does it mean?”
“It means it is existential, out of this world of ours. Out of our very existence. Like an alien nation that we are. Like existential as in the word like, like, like wow man. Cool, pass the weed. Man this is good stuff. It is existential, out of this world man.”
“It is E.B Bud – existential to the core.”
“So, if we are in an existential crisis and our very survival as a sovereign country, nation is at stake, what are you….hmm…erm…man this stuff is existentially wicked man…so what are you going to do about it, dude in charge?”
“Existentially??”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“I am, we are, going to DISNEYLAND.”
“Existential…………………….man!”
My book of the month? Kurofune: The Black Ships. See link above for more information. It is available on Amazon. In audio format as well.