Marvin Strombo was a young U.S. Marine during World War II. He fought behind Japanese enemy lines in the Pacific islands.
During the war, Strombo took a keepsake from a dead Japanese soldier. It was a flag, signed by the soldier's friends and family.
Strombo is now 93 years old. He flew to Japan last month to bring the flag back to the soldier's family. He hoped the visit would bring peace to the family and to himself.
Memories of War
In 1944, Strombo was fighting on the island of Saipan. He saw a dead Japanese soldier on the ground. The dead man looked peaceful. Something white was sticking out of his pocket.
Strombo pulled out a silk Japanese flag. It was covered in Japanese writing. Strombo kept the flag. He brought it home with him to Montana.
Finding Answers
Over the years, Strombo tried to learn more about the flag. But in the days before the internet, he had no luck. He didn't speak or read Japanese. He didn't know what the flag said. He put it in a glass case in his home.
In 2012, Strombo learned about the Obon Society. That group helps U.S. veterans return Japanese flags to the families of fallen soldiers. In Japan, Obon is the name of a time for honoring the dead.
Strombo learned that the flags were given for good luck. They were signed by classmates, neighbors, and family members of Japanese soldiers. Strombo was not the only soldier to take a flag from a dead Japanese soldier.
The flags have great meaning to Japanese families. Most families never learned what happened to their loved ones in the war.
Reaching Out
Researchers at the Obon Society read the flag for Strombo. It belonged to Yasue Sadao. He came from a small mountain village.
The flag was signed by 180 people, including 42 family members. Seven of those people were still alive, including Yasue's 89-year-old brother and two sisters.
Researchers reached Yasue's brother by phone. He asked if Strombo knew where and how Yasue died.
"That's when we realized that this person is very much alive in that family and [so is] this mystery of what happened to him," said Rex Ziak. He co-founded the Obon Society.
Bringing Peace
Strombo became the first World War II veteran to return a flag in person through the Obon Society. He traveled more than 10,000 miles. "I know it means so much to them," Strombo said.
The Obon Society has returned about 125 flags. Every day, about five veterans reach out hoping to return a flag before they die. The group believes there are thousands of signed flags packed away across the U.S. They could give answers to many other families.
During the war, Strombo took a keepsake from a dead Japanese soldier. It was a flag, signed by the soldier's friends and family.
Strombo is now 93 years old. He flew to Japan last month to bring the flag back to the soldier's family. He hoped the visit would bring peace to the family and to himself.
Memories of War
In 1944, Strombo was fighting on the island of Saipan. He saw a dead Japanese soldier on the ground. The dead man looked peaceful. Something white was sticking out of his pocket.
Strombo pulled out a silk Japanese flag. It was covered in Japanese writing. Strombo kept the flag. He brought it home with him to Montana.
Finding Answers
Over the years, Strombo tried to learn more about the flag. But in the days before the internet, he had no luck. He didn't speak or read Japanese. He didn't know what the flag said. He put it in a glass case in his home.
In 2012, Strombo learned about the Obon Society. That group helps U.S. veterans return Japanese flags to the families of fallen soldiers. In Japan, Obon is the name of a time for honoring the dead.
Strombo learned that the flags were given for good luck. They were signed by classmates, neighbors, and family members of Japanese soldiers. Strombo was not the only soldier to take a flag from a dead Japanese soldier.
The flags have great meaning to Japanese families. Most families never learned what happened to their loved ones in the war.
Reaching Out
Researchers at the Obon Society read the flag for Strombo. It belonged to Yasue Sadao. He came from a small mountain village.
The flag was signed by 180 people, including 42 family members. Seven of those people were still alive, including Yasue's 89-year-old brother and two sisters.
Researchers reached Yasue's brother by phone. He asked if Strombo knew where and how Yasue died.
"That's when we realized that this person is very much alive in that family and [so is] this mystery of what happened to him," said Rex Ziak. He co-founded the Obon Society.
Bringing Peace
Strombo became the first World War II veteran to return a flag in person through the Obon Society. He traveled more than 10,000 miles. "I know it means so much to them," Strombo said.
The Obon Society has returned about 125 flags. Every day, about five veterans reach out hoping to return a flag before they die. The group believes there are thousands of signed flags packed away across the U.S. They could give answers to many other families.
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Short film