Marine Takes Flag From Fallen Enemy During WWII, 73 Yrs Later Comes Face To Face With Soldier’s Family

In 1944, a 20-year-old Marine from Montana was deployed to Saipan throughout WWII. While there, the Marine, named Marvin Strombo, grew to become separated from his squad and stumbled throughout the lifeless physique of a Japanese soldier.

It could be 73 years earlier than Marvin realized the identify of the soldier– Sadao Yasue– however he’d always remember his face or the flag Yasue carried close to his coronary heart.

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The flag Yasue saved underneath his jacket was a “good luck flag”– a Japanese flag adorned with notes from 180 family-members and buddies. Across the highest of the flag have been the phrases “long-lasting fortune in battle.” Strombo took the flag, and it has been on show in his dwelling in Missoula, Montana ever since.

But final week, on the 72nd anniversary of Japan’s WWII give up, Strombo traveled to a distant village to return the flag to Yasue’s household.

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“I had such a moment with your brother 73 years ago,” said Strombo. “I promised him one day I would return the flag to his family,” he mentioned. “It took a long time, but I was able to bring the flag back to you, where it belongs.”

Yasue’s brother and sister—now age 89 and 95— buried their faces within the flag and wept.

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“Marvin, thank you very much for bringing us this flag,” mentioned Yasue’s sister. “Looking at this flag, the signatures are very clear, and I can almost smell my brother’s skin from the flag,” she mentioned. “We know that you have kept it well for so long.”

The household had by no means came upon what occurred to Yasue, so listening to Strombo’s story gave them much-needed closure. Yasue’s siblings plan to take the flag to their dad and mom’ grave and intend to go the flag down by way of their household.

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“I’m so glad we finally got it back to you, and I’m sorry it took so long,” mentioned Strombo.

The heartwarming interplay was prompted by the Obon Society, an Oregon nonprofit that works to reconcile wartime enemies. This isn’t the primary time the Obon Society has returned souveniers like this to households, however it’s the first time they’ve facilitated a gathering in particular person.

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“We cannot change the past,” mentioned the Obon Society’s co-founder, Rex Ziak, “but from this day forward, we want this historic meeting of the families to be known as the final chapter of the war.”

Watch the video beneath for extra of this heartwarming story.

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