I thought this chapter was highly interesting in that it seemed to be the first that gave us what we expected from this book. I found the account of Doolittle's Raiders to be inspiring, as they faced nearly insurmountable odds, and not a single one backed down from the challenge. Also, Doolittle sounds like the kind of commander soldiers like. He went first off the deck of the carrier, and he was honest with his men. Furthermore, he was merciful. He didn't mandate that all the men go in regardless. He saw that their situation was far beyond what they'd signed up for, and offered them a larger chance at survival. None took it, but it shows that Doolittle cared about his men. I also think that the Japanese response to the Flyboys was superfluous. They decided that somehow, retaliation for Pearl Harbor should be taken out on the Chinese. Their use of biological weapons shows that the Japanese government was really just a group of powerful mass murderers.
I also agree that there was no reason to mindlessly punish the Chinese. The amount of killing that happened in China is revolting. It makes me wonder why China, being the superpower it is today, has not exacted any revenge on Japan. Surely such atrocities have harbored some resentment.
What struck me so powerfully about this chapter was the incredible amount of courage the flyboys possessed. Not a single one of them shied away from the challenge. They flew into their mission knowing that there was a large possibility of their demise, and yet they went ahead with it anyway. Even when the storm threatened to destroy all hope, the flyboys continued. To me, that's an amazing feat on it's own. However, the ones who were captured by the Japanese and tortured in unimaginable ways are even more extraordinary. They were put through an inconceivable amount of physical and psychological pain, but they still managed to have hope and be passionate about their country. The fact that the Japanese went so far in their retaliation for the Doolittle mission terrified me, though. The idea of complete destruction and murdering of Chinese towns, villages, and citizens was horrendous. I was honestly taken aback by just how far they went with the retaliation when only 50 Japanese citizens were killed in the mission. Also, not every Chinese citizen helped the American soldiers- women, children, the elderly, and even the men didn't deserve to be punished for what only a few members of Chinese society had done.
I agree that the chapter showed the soldiers loyalty. However they were able to overcome the odds,and continue the mission. The chapter really showed me the importance of the Flyboys, and how they were definitely some of the most courageous fighters in the Pacific.
I felt the same way, and I couldn't imagine feeling as helpless as the Chinese. Everyone was punished for their actions in the end. However, the Flyboys truly did posses an incredible amount of courage. I was fascinated by how passionate they were for America.
I agree. The ruthlesness of the Japanese was incredible to read about. It's interesting that history classes mainly focus on the holocaust during this time when there were other killings going on at the same time. However the holocaust was a much bigger killing.
This chapter really put in perspective the radical nature of the Japanese. Their brutal killing of the Chinese was horrendous. They were willing to murder hundreds of people due to one mission that was orchestrated by the Americans. It really showed their ruthless nature. It was further shown by how they relentlessly tortured the Flyboys that were captured. Due to this the Flyboys were also very courageous in how they must've delt with the torture. The Flyboys all had to accept the fact that their missions would be deadly and they may not be able to return home. Doolittles mission also portrayed the Flyboys loyalty to their country, and how they were willing to undertake the unfavorable conditions to serve. It was really humbling to see how they valued their country in order to fight and die for it, even though it might cost them their lives. It also showed that a good general could impact the soldiers, which in Doolittles case was true.
The courage displayed in the Doolittle mission was truly astounding. There is something to be said for soldiers, and people in general, performing at their peak level under stress. Yet, I find it hard to believe that all of the Flyboys acted as valiantly as Bradley described. Not everyone can be that brave all of the time.
I also found it interesting that the American soldiers possessed so much courage when entering into a mission that they were almost positive they wouldn't return from. I can't even imagine facing the circumstances that they did; I would've been absolutely terrified. The passion these young men had for America is inspiring and really shows the patriotic side of our country, which is so wonderful. It is so great to live in a society that, unlike Japan, knows it isn't invincible and yet, is still able to fight with so much conviction and courage. I thought it was also interesting that the mission destroyed so much of the faith Japanese citizens had in their nation. They had been lied to for so long that this attack led to the questioning of aspects of their society that they had been sure of for their whole lives. It is no wonder that the Japanese government felt the need to retaliate, but the level of extremity with which they did so is truly frightening. It shows just how violently someone or something may act when they are afraid.
This chapter was one that I was truly fascinated by. I can not imagine the courage it took to go on a mission without knowing anything about where you were going or what you were doing. For no one to back out really speaks to the bravery of the flyboys. Their bravery was even more evident when they decided unanimously to continue their mission even in the midst of a storm and knowing that they would not have enough fuel to land safely. I don't know if I would have been able to make that call. I was surprised by the supremely commanding presence of Doolittle and how all of the flyboys followed him to the bitter end. I was also amused by the authors comment regarding the Japanese code of Bushido vs. American "balls." It was evident that Americans were just as die-hard as Japanese soldiers when it came to defending their honor. I was confused about what happened to the rest of the flyboys who were not captured. Perhaps their fates will become more clear as the story progresses. I am especially intrigued to learn about how the flyboys returned home, if at all. Surely, the rest of the book will bring this to light.
Do you think the American "balls" shook the Japanese to the breaking point? Or was it merely a setback? I too wonder what happened to the uncaptured Flyboys. Maybe they were returned by the Chinese? Or perhaps they waited out the war in China.
"Doing the Impossible" supported the courageous notion of the Flyboys that Chapter 7 instilled. These boys went into the mission with the prospect of death or capture ever-present. Even after catastrophe struck with the storm, they persevered. These actions by the Flyboys really speak to the dedication and honor that soldiers fought with in WWII. The most alarming part of the chapter was the retaliation by the Japanese military on mostly innocent Chinese citizens. There were two hundred and fifty thousand Chinese dead in three months. In prospective, this invisible backlash would take more lives than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. These actions by the Japanese went hand in hand with their treatment of POWs. It's alarming to find out that the Japanese didn't believe POWs should be granted any human rights. This chapter made me dispare for all the hardships that war causes and the effects on the human spirit.
The chapter seemed almost more cinematic than historic. It is a shift in the book. It does contain historical facts about the Doolittle Raids. However it actually explains how it happened and the feelings of the event. It made it seem like the reader is truly there for takeoff. The pilots bravery and courage seemed to be rewarded by nature, or to them, their god. I have heard about the result of the Doolittle Raids, but I never realized how huge it's impact was. It was a major morale boost to the United States. It was equally demoralizing for the Japanese. But even more, it enraged the Japanese. Their rage was taken out on the unfortunate Chinese.
This chapter truly convinced me of the bravery of the Flyboys. I can't imagine facing a mission without knowing the purpose or even where you were going. However, reading about those who were taken prisoner and tortured was awful. Through this the reader sees how passionate and patriotic the Flyboys were about their country. It's difficult to read about their fate this way. Also, the attack of the Japanese on the Chinese towns, after the Doolittle mission, seemed extremely unfair. Several towns and villages were demolished, and civilians left hopeless. The Japanese knew that the Chinese couldn't properly defend themselves, so they wiped out homes and murdered civilians. After this chapter, I hope Bradley will go into more detail on the Flyboys missions and their individual journeys. Their persistent acts of bravery seem fascinating, despite the horror surrounding them.
I liked how this chapter again focused mainly on the flyboys. I was amazed by their courage and their bravery throughout the mission. The flyboys knew that they could not come back from every mission, however they went into each mission with all their hard work. The subtitle of "Flyboys: A True Story of Courage" fits well to the flyboys themselves. The doolittle mission was very interesting to read about and sad. The wiping out of these Chinese towns was extremely inhumane and cruel. The Japanese were in a sense, unstoppable.
I thought this chapter was highly interesting in that it seemed to be the first that gave us what we expected from this book. I found the account of Doolittle's Raiders to be inspiring, as they faced nearly insurmountable odds, and not a single one backed down from the challenge. Also, Doolittle sounds like the kind of commander soldiers like. He went first off the deck of the carrier, and he was honest with his men. Furthermore, he was merciful. He didn't mandate that all the men go in regardless. He saw that their situation was far beyond what they'd signed up for, and offered them a larger chance at survival. None took it, but it shows that Doolittle cared about his men. I also think that the Japanese response to the Flyboys was superfluous. They decided that somehow, retaliation for Pearl Harbor should be taken out on the Chinese. Their use of biological weapons shows that the Japanese government was really just a group of powerful mass murderers.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that there was no reason to mindlessly punish the Chinese. The amount of killing that happened in China is revolting. It makes me wonder why China, being the superpower it is today, has not exacted any revenge on Japan. Surely such atrocities have harbored some resentment.
DeleteWhat struck me so powerfully about this chapter was the incredible amount of courage the flyboys possessed. Not a single one of them shied away from the challenge. They flew into their mission knowing that there was a large possibility of their demise, and yet they went ahead with it anyway. Even when the storm threatened to destroy all hope, the flyboys continued. To me, that's an amazing feat on it's own. However, the ones who were captured by the Japanese and tortured in unimaginable ways are even more extraordinary. They were put through an inconceivable amount of physical and psychological pain, but they still managed to have hope and be passionate about their country. The fact that the Japanese went so far in their retaliation for the Doolittle mission terrified me, though. The idea of complete destruction and murdering of Chinese towns, villages, and citizens was horrendous. I was honestly taken aback by just how far they went with the retaliation when only 50 Japanese citizens were killed in the mission. Also, not every Chinese citizen helped the American soldiers- women, children, the elderly, and even the men didn't deserve to be punished for what only a few members of Chinese society had done.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the chapter showed the soldiers loyalty. However they were able to overcome the odds,and continue the mission. The chapter really showed me the importance of the Flyboys, and how they were definitely some of the most courageous fighters in the Pacific.
DeleteI felt the same way, and I couldn't imagine feeling as helpless as the Chinese. Everyone was punished for their actions in the end. However, the Flyboys truly did posses an incredible amount of courage. I was fascinated by how passionate they were for America.
DeleteI agree. The ruthlesness of the Japanese was incredible to read about. It's interesting that history classes mainly focus on the holocaust during this time when there were other killings going on at the same time. However the holocaust was a much bigger killing.
DeleteThis chapter really put in perspective the radical nature of the Japanese. Their brutal killing of the Chinese was horrendous. They were willing to murder hundreds of people due to one mission that was orchestrated by the Americans. It really showed their ruthless nature. It was further shown by how they relentlessly tortured the Flyboys that were captured. Due to this the Flyboys were also very courageous in how they must've delt with the torture. The Flyboys all had to accept the fact that their missions would be deadly and they may not be able to return home. Doolittles mission also portrayed the Flyboys loyalty to their country, and how they were willing to undertake the unfavorable conditions to serve. It was really humbling to see how they valued their country in order to fight and die for it, even though it might cost them their lives. It also showed that a good general could impact the soldiers, which in Doolittles case was true.
ReplyDeleteThe courage displayed in the Doolittle mission was truly astounding. There is something to be said for soldiers, and people in general, performing at their peak level under stress. Yet, I find it hard to believe that all of the Flyboys acted as valiantly as Bradley described. Not everyone can be that brave all of the time.
DeleteI also found it interesting that the American soldiers possessed so much courage when entering into a mission that they were almost positive they wouldn't return from. I can't even imagine facing the circumstances that they did; I would've been absolutely terrified. The passion these young men had for America is inspiring and really shows the patriotic side of our country, which is so wonderful. It is so great to live in a society that, unlike Japan, knows it isn't invincible and yet, is still able to fight with so much conviction and courage. I thought it was also interesting that the mission destroyed so much of the faith Japanese citizens had in their nation. They had been lied to for so long that this attack led to the questioning of aspects of their society that they had been sure of for their whole lives. It is no wonder that the Japanese government felt the need to retaliate, but the level of extremity with which they did so is truly frightening. It shows just how violently someone or something may act when they are afraid.
DeleteThis chapter was one that I was truly fascinated by. I can not imagine the courage it took to go on a mission without knowing anything about where you were going or what you were doing. For no one to back out really speaks to the bravery of the flyboys. Their bravery was even more evident when they decided unanimously to continue their mission even in the midst of a storm and knowing that they would not have enough fuel to land safely. I don't know if I would have been able to make that call. I was surprised by the supremely commanding presence of Doolittle and how all of the flyboys followed him to the bitter end. I was also amused by the authors comment regarding the Japanese code of Bushido vs. American "balls." It was evident that Americans were just as die-hard as Japanese soldiers when it came to defending their honor. I was confused about what happened to the rest of the flyboys who were not captured. Perhaps their fates will become more clear as the story progresses. I am especially intrigued to learn about how the flyboys returned home, if at all. Surely, the rest of the book will bring this to light.
ReplyDeleteDo you think the American "balls" shook the Japanese to the breaking point? Or was it merely a setback? I too wonder what happened to the uncaptured Flyboys. Maybe they were returned by the Chinese? Or perhaps they waited out the war in China.
Delete"Doing the Impossible" supported the courageous notion of the Flyboys that Chapter 7 instilled. These boys went into the mission with the prospect of death or capture ever-present. Even after catastrophe struck with the storm, they persevered. These actions by the Flyboys really speak to the dedication and honor that soldiers fought with in WWII. The most alarming part of the chapter was the retaliation by the Japanese military on mostly innocent Chinese citizens. There were two hundred and fifty thousand Chinese dead in three months. In prospective, this invisible backlash would take more lives than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. These actions by the Japanese went hand in hand with their treatment of POWs. It's alarming to find out that the Japanese didn't believe POWs should be granted any human rights. This chapter made me dispare for all the hardships that war causes and the effects on the human spirit.
ReplyDeleteThe chapter seemed almost more cinematic than historic. It is a shift in the book. It does contain historical facts about the Doolittle Raids. However it actually explains how it happened and the feelings of the event. It made it seem like the reader is truly there for takeoff. The pilots bravery and courage seemed to be rewarded by nature, or to them, their god. I have heard about the result of the Doolittle Raids, but I never realized how huge it's impact was. It was a major morale boost to the United States. It was equally demoralizing for the Japanese. But even more, it enraged the Japanese. Their rage was taken out on the unfortunate Chinese.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter truly convinced me of the bravery of the Flyboys. I can't imagine facing a mission without knowing the purpose or even where you were going. However, reading about those who were taken prisoner and tortured was awful. Through this the reader sees how passionate and patriotic the Flyboys were about their country. It's difficult to read about their fate this way. Also, the attack of the Japanese on the Chinese towns, after the Doolittle mission, seemed extremely unfair. Several towns and villages were demolished, and civilians left hopeless. The Japanese knew that the Chinese couldn't properly defend themselves, so they wiped out homes and murdered civilians. After this chapter, I hope Bradley will go into more detail on the Flyboys missions and their individual journeys. Their persistent acts of bravery seem fascinating, despite the horror surrounding them.
ReplyDeleteI liked how this chapter again focused mainly on the flyboys. I was amazed by their courage and their bravery throughout the mission. The flyboys knew that they could not come back from every mission, however they went into each mission with all their hard work. The subtitle of "Flyboys: A True Story of Courage" fits well to the flyboys themselves. The doolittle mission was very interesting to read about and sad. The wiping out of these Chinese towns was extremely inhumane and cruel. The Japanese were in a sense, unstoppable.
ReplyDelete