On 11 April 1945, just 10 days into the battle of Okinawa, a Japanese kamikaze pilot reportedly named Setsuo Ishino began his final mission at the young age of 19. Ishino flew with 15 other pilots on their mission to directly nose dive into the USS Missouri â known as the Mighty Mo â and kill as many Americans as possible.
Around noon, the Mighty Mo spotted the inbound aircraft on their radar and fired their massive anti-aircraft weapons in defense. The well-equipped battleship nailed Ishinoâs plane, but somehow the motivated pilot regained control of his fighter and managed to crash into the USS Missouri, causing hot debris to rain all over the deck.
The surviving crew cleared the wreckage and discovered Ishinoâs dead body inside the plane. The deckhands planned on tossing the Japanese pilot overboard until Capt. William M. Callaghan, Missouriâs commanding officer ordered his men to render the enemy a proper burial. While not unheard of, there really wasnât a precedent for rendering military funeral honors for an enemy. Nonetheless, the shipâs medical staff prepared Ishinoâs body, respectfully wrapping him up in his flag. As the lifeless body slid overboard, the crew members saluted and the Marines fired their weapons toward the sky, giving the Japanese kamikaze pilot full military honors.
Humanity can still be found in war.
MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER
ROCHESTERMILITARY.COM
