The Chichijima Incident

This morning at Folsom, five HIM’s braved the rain and come out for a work out themed upon the war crimes and tragedy that is the Chichijima incident.

Chichijima is an island about 500 miles off the coast of Japan.  This was a critical island in WWII because it was a site of long-range radio communications.   The US continually bombed via aerial attacks to shut down those communication links.

The warm up was a few stretching exercises and quick mosey to the parking lot entrance.

We stretched out are arms like an airplanes and ran to the shelter at the bottom of the lower lot. It was the furthest point we could reach.  This symbolized what a 20 year old pilot who was shot down by the heavily fortified island.  He kept his plane in the air as long possible and ejected himself out of his airplane at the very last second. He unfortunately witnessed his brothers also get shot down.

At the shelter, we did AMRAP of dips and merkins. We exhausted ourselves, but it nothing like the young man paddling away from the island as a Japanese boat got closer and closer.

Next we left the shelter and moved to the lower lot. We did 4 corners of burpees, merkins, LBC’s, and squats. We did 8 rounds to honor the men that died in this mission. They were beaten, tortured, and some the victim of cannibalism.

These men along with all our war hero’s should never be forgotten/

Their names are:

• Jimmy Dye – Mount Ephraim, New Jersey
• Floyd Hall – Sedalia, Missouri
• Marve Mershon – Los Angeles, California
• Earl Vauhn – Childress, Texas
• Dick Woellhof – Clay Center, Kansas
• Grady York – Jacksonville, Florida
• Glenn Frazier – Athol, Kansas
• Warren Hindenland – Foxboro, Massachusetts

Next we lined up at the end of the parking. We lunged walked 10 steps then did a jump squat.  We did this continuously until reach the other side of the long lot.  Lastly we did the short mosey back to the flag. We were tired, wet, but happy to be with our brother.  I am sure not near as happy as that 20 year old young man paddling for his life and was rescued. He paddle for 3 hours until he was saved by a US submarine. For those 3 hours, the Japanese boats kept getting closer but were slowed down by fellow airman providing cover from the sky.

That 20 year old man and survivor was the 41st president George H.W. Bush.

Announcements

• F3 Dads at the Gashouse – Looking for more Q’s
• Service opportunity with Freight downtown tomorrow.
• Visit with Turtleman tomorrow, see Whoopie for details

Prayer Request

• Ball Joint Family Member
• Stogie’s Friend
• Sister Act and Family
• Westside and Family
• Traveling Pax
• The cotters

Big Pappy