<Begin Segment 23>

TI: So I want to take a, kind of a step back and just talk about the mission that you guys were on. I mean, so was it clear at this point what your mission was?

GH: Actually, to me, it wasn't. We did hear a lot of rumors. One rumor was that we would have one strike, and then we would be withdrawn and return to the States on a furlough. But the more plausible rumor was that one mission that would be for a duration of three months. And of course, later on, we realized it was to open the old Burma Road. The Ledo Road was under construction, and the plan was to connect the Ledo Road with the old Burma Road to supply the Chinese. It was important to keep the Chinese in the war, because they not only held down several (Japanese) divisions in China, at the same time, it was considered as the jumping ground for the invasion of Japan. And it was essential that we get the supply to the Chinese. We were supplying the Chinese via the, over the hump by flight (cargo planes).

TI: The Himalayas?

GH: Yes, but that (cargo shipment) was very limited.

TI: So you were trying to open up a land route, so that...

GH: Right. And in order to open the land line again, it was the Japanese 18th Division that held the northern Burma, where the Ledo Road was scheduled to go through.

TI: Now, tell me about the 18th Division. They were a pretty well-known outfit.

GH: Yes. Eighteenth Division was the very well-known division, very... they were the ones that were responsible for the fall of Singapore, and also the occupation of Burma. Well-seasoned soldiers, they were from Kyushu.

TI: Yeah, so they were known as a, as a really strong or, strong fighting unit, that you were going up against. Did you know that that's who you were going up against when you guys were...

GH: That, I did learn later, yes, uh-huh. But in order to connect this Ledo Road with the old Burma Road, we had to remove the 18th Division, and that's where our mission came in.

TI: So how large would the 18th Division be?

GH: I don't know the exact number, but it's a division.

TI: So it would be much larger that what you had...

GH: Oh yes, uh-huh.

TI: So how were you guys expected to remove a much larger...

GH: Well, our mission was long-range penetration behind the enemy line, to cut the enemy supply line and communication, and make surprise attacks, and to confuse the enemy while the American-trained Chinese troops made the frontal attack.

TI: Oh, I see. So you were sort of the, the behind the lines disruption force in some ways.

GH: Right, yes.

TI: So, so let me... so I'm thinking, so if you were behind lines, when you came across, ultimately you would come across Japanese soldiers. What would happen if you captured a Japanese soldier if you were behind lines?

GH: No. No quarters would be (given), there was nothing you could do.

TI: So no, no prisoners taken?

GH: No, no POWs.

TI: And conversely, when the Japanese took American soldiers, again, it was no, no prisoners taken?

GH: No.

TI: So it was really a, a fight to the death when you were in the jungle.

GH: Right, uh-huh.

<End Segment 23> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.