Having served in the U.S. military for nearly 30 years and been stationed in Japan for almost 20 of those years, I am deeply insulted by Yoshio Shimoji's Aug. 17 letter, "Victor's privileges to present day," in which he suggests that American military personnel would not put their lives on the line to defend Japan.
To back up his opinion, Shimoji cites the U.S. Code of Military Conduct. For those who don't know, the code is an ethical guide addressing how U.S. combat personnel should (try to) "evade capture . . . resist as a prisoner . . . or escape from the enemy" (http://www.vetshome.com/military--code--of--conduct.htm). It has nothing to do with Shimoji's suggestion that the United States is only in Japan to defend its own security and interests.
I can assure Shimoji that I and everyone whom I have ever served with were more than willing to put our lives on the line to defend America's allies as well, including Japan. That's why we -- and other service members -- volunteered.
Shimoji states opinions as if they were facts -- for example, that "The U.S. left the Philippines because they couldn't afford to pay rent and maintenance costs." In fact, the exit had nothing to do with rent or money and a lot to do with the U.S. refusal to confirm or deny the existence of nuclear weapons on the base.
I have now retired from the U.S. military and have chosen to make Japan my permanent home. Why? Because, just as in the U.S., there are things I both love and hate about this country; still, I would put my life on the line to protect them. Please don't try to tell me that I wouldn't.
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