Have you read this 'Nothing to forgive:' US vet on crashed plane back in Japan?

2015-12-11T09:08:42-05:00

Have you read this 'Nothing to forgive:' US vet on crashed plane back in Japan?

Scott Downing, 96, of Amarillo, Texas, sits in a wheelchair during his visit Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, to Inzai, a town 25 miles northeast of Tokyo, where he was taken prisoner of war 70 years ago.

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/nothing-to-forgive-us-vet-on-crashed-plane-back-in-japan-1.383313

Scott Downing, 96, was back in the Japanese farmland where he was taken prisoner of war 70 years ago, shaking hands with the people of the tiny town where his plane crashed near the end of World War II.

"It's great," he said Friday about being back. "There is nothing to forgive."

Three of the 11-member crew were killed that night of May 25, 1945, when their B-29 was shot down, crashing into bamboo groves as they were flying back from a bombing raid on Tokyo.

Downing, of Amarillo, Texas, was among eight who parachuted to safety, only to be taken prisoner, beaten, half-starved and interrogated by Japan's Imperialist military during the closing months of the war.

In an emotional moment, Downing was given a hero's welcome by Inzai, a town 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Tokyo, which had given the U.S. airmen proper burials at a temple and mourned their deaths, defying the stereotypes about wartime animosity.

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'Nothing to forgive:' US vet on crashed plane back in Japan

Scott Downing, 96, was back in the Japanese farmland where he was taken prisoner of war 70 years ago, shaking hands with the people of the tiny town where his plane crashed near the end of World War II.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 9:18 AM

2015-12-11T09:18:24-05:00

I met him growing up in Amarillo and knew he was a vet, but never knew the whole story. Thanks for sharing, COL Mikel J. Burroughs!

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Dec 11 at 2015 9:20 AM

2015-12-11T09:20:16-05:00

Awesome....

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 11 at 2015 9:31 AM

2015-12-11T09:31:41-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs thanks for sharing the humbling story of Scott Downing who has obviously made peace with the descendants of the people of Inzai who took him prisoner when he landed in their tiny town.
The fact that the people of this town took the amazing step of honoring the men who died while bombing their nation is extraordinary.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Dec 11 at 2015 9:50 AM

2015-12-11T09:50:07-05:00

A very humble man who learned the arduous task of forgiveness and praying/loving your enemies which sets you free from any internal demons you might have. We can all learn a lot from him and his generation. We forget in todays world what these brave airmen soldiers sailors and marines went through and what got them through it and how it influenced how we do our jobs today. Being a military man has always been tough in our United States. Each military generation has had its trials and challenges and through it all we soldier on! Thanks for sharing Col Burroughs.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Dec 11 at 2015 9:51 AM

2015-12-11T09:51:16-05:00

Great post - thank you for sharing.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Dec 11 at 2015 9:59 AM

2015-12-11T09:59:12-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs a hero of immense magnitude!

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 11 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-12-11T10:23:38-05:00

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Thanks for sharing this piece of history...

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Dec 11 at 2015 10:45 AM

2015-12-11T10:45:51-05:00

Just as in all wars, the governments are horrific to captured personnel, the people generally, but especially the the 'country folk' are kind and caring. A blessing for him to to have forgiven those who mistreated him, that I think is a huge part of healing yourself, I know that it was for me......not that I experienced a POW environment or anything like that.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 11 at 2015 11:08 AM

2015-12-11T11:08:33-05:00

What a health attitude...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 11 at 2015 11:47 AM

2015-12-11T11:47:49-05:00

Nothing to Forgive is a powerful title and phrase.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Dec 11 at 2015 2:12 PM

2015-12-11T14:12:21-05:00

Great story! Now this guy is truly a great American, with integrity and humility.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs Thanks for sharing!

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 11 at 2015 3:00 PM

2015-12-11T15:00:19-05:00

"It's great," he said Friday about being back. "There is nothing to forgive"...he could give some serious lessons on resilience to todays vets. As usual Sir, great post!

Response by PO3 John Wagner made May 31 at 2018 2:28 AM

2018-05-31T02:28:14-04:00

That’s truly beautiful. Once again showing us that the Japanese are indeed worthy of inclusion and are laudable as true warriors of heart, spirit, and mind.
Thank you for posting Sir.