Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Saintaw on September 24, 2000, 06:30:00 AM
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I got this on the usenet this morning :
This came in last night from Barrett Tillman on the Battle of Midway study
group:
>I've just learned from a colleague in touch with Sakai's daughter
>that Saburo died of a heart attack in Tokyo within the past day
>or so. I reckon he was 84.
> I had the pleasure of 3 conversations with Sakai over the
>years, including a marathon session while chauffering him and
>his interpreter around Phoenix 10 years ago. Frankly, I found
>him a much nicer person than many of his American counterparts--he
>was awesomely patient and tolerant of well wishers, autograph
>seekers, photographers, and the like. He would remain in place
>until the last buff or fan was finished, and said at least a
>couple of times that he was better known and better treated in
>the US than in Japan. He also regarded Joe Foss as his best
>friend--not best American friend--but best friend.
> Those who know the story of his epic 550-mile flight from
>Guadalcanal to Rabaul in August 1942 in a shot-up Zero, wounded
>and blind in one eye will understand the way he always signed
>his signature: "Never give up."
>
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(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif) One of my most admired pilots, and persons.
He let a refugees-laden DC-3 go untouched over the dutch Indies in 1942, while he had orders to kill anything he saw.
Great pilot, grean human being.
<S!> Saburo Sakai...
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This man gives proof that there are points to admire and respect about warriors of both sides of that horrendous conflict. Saburo Sakai was a warrior that no one would have ever thought to die at home in bed. May his flight "west" be gentle and tail winds all the way.
Mav
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<S>!! to a legend
So many of that generation pass away (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)
Bee