Closing Out An Annual Day Of Reflection . . . .

Each year on and around Memorial Day, in addition to all the promotional sales that hit my email in box and text messaging apps, I read many grateful testimonials to those whose lives were lost in national military service.  The personal reflections are touching and inspire in me both sorrow for the loss and pride in the United States of America.  As many before me have said, there is no greater sacrifice for one's country.

Although family members alive during my lifetime have served in the armed services, none of those family members died in the line of service.  I have been lucky to not suffer that kind of loss.  It would be heartbreaking.

Today, my brother (who researches our family history) asked his Facebook friends--me included--to honor "all of those who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom."  That request followed a brief recitation of the story of one of our family members who lost his life as a civilian working in what became enemy territory in World War II.  Here is what my brother wrote:

1st cousin 1 generation removed Donald MacLeod Williams (14 May 1921, San Francisco, California - 9 Mar 1943, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan) was a civilian POW who died while imprisoned during WWII at Sasebo POW Camp # 18. He was my grandfather’s sister’s son.

He was working for the Morrison-Knudsen Company on Wake Island when it was overtaken. Along with 250 other men, he was captured and transported by an oil tanker to Yokohoma. The men were marched through the streets and then put on a train to Sasebo Camp #18. While in the camp he became ill, developed pneumonia and died of both the pneumonia and malnutrition.

He was originally buried in Unoki near Sasebo in a mass grave. The American military recovered the bodies after the war and the family was given the ability to bury him properly. He had spent some of his childhood with his family in Hawaii and the decision was made to bury him there. He is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.

I had never heard this story.  It made me think.  Specifically, it forced me to consider the risks of working abroad--something diplomats, journalists, and multinational businessmen must be keenly aware of when they are stationed or accept a position located overseas.  I offer the story to you so that you may be similarly enlightened.

To all of those who honored the lives of family, friends, or others today, "a day of prayer for permanent peace," I send sympathy and hopes for peace.