Remembering forgotten heroes on VJ Day
VJ Day (15 August 1945) ended the Second World War but has been relegated to becoming the forgotten anniversary of a forgotten aspect of the war.
On the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we need to learn lessons about how we treat people who Serve.
The Service-leaver and Veteran community is made up of many different ranks and regiments, though today, few civilians would know much about the detail. Back in August 1945 the UK was a different place, where everyone had personal connections with a conflict that had engulfed the world and were conscious of the part they had to play as individuals in seeking victory.
Though VE Day, in May 1945, marked the end of war in Europe, fighting continued in the Far East against Japanese forces. Undoubtedly, there were several factors that have since meant that VJ Day has become overlooked, starting with a general fatigue towards war and a longing for peace. Perhaps it was enough that the Nazis, who for many, were regarded as the greater danger and the real enemy, had been defeated, after having been so close to mounting an invasion just a few years earlier. Perhaps it was that the Asia-Pacific Theatre was just so far away – ‘Out of sight and out of mind.’
It’s also worth noting that people tend to remember what they are proud of, and good at forgetting what they are ashamed of. As time has moved on, the focus of VJ Day has shifted from celebrating the victory of the Allies in the Pacific, to tackling deeper questions about the ethics of detonating two atomic bombs; one over Hiroshima and the other over Nagasaki, that ultimately led to the Japanese surrender.
Controversy
While ordinary Soldiers cannot be held responsible for the decisions of governments, it’s clear that because of the controversy of such dramatic action, many would rather forget that such dreadful events took place at all. With estimates suggesting that 200,000 people died as a result of the bombs, and their aftermath of radiation sickness during the following few months, it’s clear that many people choose to look away, rather than face the shame of what happened.
Having been through so much, it must have been galling for Veterans to return home to so little fanfare. While many will have wanted to leave the brutal years of war behind them, they must still have felt a bitterness regarding the seemingly ungrateful attitudes of people who had simply forgotten about them and their sacrifices in a tough theatre and against an often merciless enemy.
While VJ Day reminds us of the value of peace and diplomacy, one of the lessons of VJ Day that applies specifically to Veterans is surely that all parts of the community deserve to be honoured and that they should continue to pull together, ensuring that nobody is left behind as they take on the challenges that resettlement brings.
