Chapter Review: Who is Tokyo Rose

Taken from Miracles and Massacres: True and Untold Stories of the Making of America, by Glenn Beck with Kevin Balfe and Hannah Beck, Theshold Editions, New York, 2013.

The interesting thing I learned from this chapter is that Tokyo Rose was not just one person, but five or six women who announced on Radio Tokyo.  The Japanese goal was to discourage the U.S. soldiers; and in some respects this was accomplished.  However there were those on the radio, who hoped their program on the radio would have the opposite effect.  They would tell inside jokes, and talk quickly so the news could not be understood.  A team of POW's was n the radio and recruited Iva Toguri to join them on the radio.  She too wanted to use the radio to promote the Allied was effort rather than discourage.  Iva was Japanese American, born in Los Angeles.  She would not renounce her U.S. citizenship when she became trapped in Japan when the war started.
When the war was over, two reporters searched out Iva as they were looking for Tokyo Rose.  Iva had never heard of Tokyo Rose, but when is was explained to her that it was the name given to all the Japanese women radio broadcaster by the U.S. soldiers, she took credit for being Tokyo Rose.
As a result she was arrested and imprisoned.  However she was eventually released for lack of evidence.  She returned to the United States.
Thomas DeWolfe was a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's office.  He had reviewed the case, and new there was no case.  However public outcry was persistent.  This included political pressure.  He was ordered to prosecute, and so Iva found herself in court.  Charles Cousens, one of the two radio broadcaster testified and verified Iva's story.  She had no intent to harm the war effort but just the opposite.  However she was found guilty.
She served six years in prison, and was almost deported.  She did lose her citizenship.  Her husband was deported, and their marriage was ruined.  She had been pardoned by President Gerald Ford in 1977, and her citizenship restored.  Some members of the jury later regretted that they had been persuaded to go with the majority.  Thomas DeWolfe took his own life three years after the verdict.

Iva Toguri

World War II in Colour 5: Red Sun Rampant

This documentary episode starts with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor.  The surprise attack damaged the American fleet in the Pacific, but it wasn't the knock out blow as the U.S. carriers were not in port.  Japan was defeating everyone in the region in the air, on land and at sea.  This movie follows the conflict until in each of these areas, the Japanese had been bested.  The Battle of the Coral Sea was basically a draw, with two carriers damaged on both sides.  The Yorktown was damaged on the American side, but quick repairs prepared her for the next battle.  However it was a moral victory for the Americans.  having cracked the Japanese code, The U.S. were laying in wait at Midway, where the Japanese planned to establish a forward base.
While the Japanese were bombing Midway Island, The U.S. were able to catch them unaware, and pound them from the air.  The initial torpedo planes were unsuccessful, but the dive bombers coming from the clouds were able to inflict serious damage to three carriers.  The Japanese had four carriers in the area.  They were able to inflict a counter blow to the Yorktown, but again the Americans finally caught the fourth carrier and inflicted heavy damage.  This day would mark a great difference at sea, while four Japanese carriers were gone, one American carrier was sunk and another damaged.
ON Land and air, the battle to Guadalcanal was important.  The Japanese were establishing an air base, but the American marines attacked and took control of the base.  however the Japanese fleet was able to cut them off by chasing the American boats away, sinking a couple.  Even so the completed the airway, and were resupplied by air.  In addition the planes were able to harass the Japanese.  It was some months before they were refortified with troops, but eventually the Americans were able to get through, and slowly Guadalcanal was taken.

Movie Review: Apacalypse: WWII: World Ablaze

This movie starts with the entry of the United States into the war.  This happened with Pearl Harbor.  The Japanese, although making peace gestures to the United States, had for some time planned to take the offensive in attacking Hawaii, in an effort to extend their power and control throughout the Pacific.  The needed space, and resources to extend their war machine.  They hoped a quick strike would give them the upper hand in the Pacific.  However, their efforts missed the aircraft carriers, while inflicting most of its damage against the battle ships. 
Japan's first strike was completely successful.  However they did not follow up with a second attack, which would have crippled the U.S. fleet.  As it was it was only bloodied. 
Before the next major battle, the U.S. had cracked the Japanese secret code, and new what the Japanese were planning.  The hoped to take Midway to be able to control from the air much of the area.  As they approached, the U.S. carriers were waiting.  Although the first wave of U.S. torpedo boats failed to make any strikes, they paved the way for the dive bombers, who proved more successful.  So with a fallen American, watching from the water, the Japanese carriers were decimated.  Following the battle, the Japanese still had naval superiority, but the odds were evened.  The Japanese also attempted to construct to construct an air base on Guadalcanal.  This lead to an allied response and invasion of the island, with subsequent Japanese reinforcements.  This lead to a long battle both at sea, in terms of controlling the ability to reinforce; and on land.  Eventually the Allies gained superiority and the Japanese were forced to evacuate.
This movie also presented the war in Europe, particularly in Russia.  After being driven back the previous winter, the German forces made another advance towards Stalingrad and Moscow.  This was known as Black Summer.  Again Russia employed a scorched earth policy.  But overall the Germans were able to pursue their march towards the Russian populated areas.  However the Germans split their force, trying to conquer Stalingrad for it industrial importance, and the Caucasus for oil.  This proved to be a bit too much to accomplish, and lead to stalemate.