Flags Of Our Fathers, Chapters Three and Four.

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, America's attitude towards everything changed. Japan have been an important military power for decades. They took over Manchuria and China.

MANCHURIA:

CHINA:

 

Japan wanted to conquer all of the European colonial empires that were in Asia. General MacArthur's lack of movement after the bombing of Pear Harbor resulted in the bombing of his fleet, this caused him to have to leave and flee to Australia. The American military was stunned, they all jumped at the chance to make sacrifices for their country.

The Japanese were drafting people left and right, and they were fighting for the emperor. They didn't believe in surrendering at all. They thought it was foolish.

Mike Strank enlisted in the Marines before the war even started. Because the Pima tribe was a peaceful group, it surprised them that Ira joined the marines. Harlon Block enlisted with his entire Weslaso football team. Harlon and Ira both became paratroopers. Jack Bradley enlisted in the Navy with his friend Bob Connelly. Rene joined when he was seventeen.

Mike Strank was a member of the Raiders, they were out in the Pacific. Ira and Harlon eventually joined him there.

Ira, Mike and Harlon returned home because of economic reasons, for a brief time. Ira's tribe thought that he has transferred into a man. But he was still the quite guy inside. Mike was suffering from Malaria, and he told himself that his next battle would be his last. And that's what he told his family. Harlon thought the same. He told his girlfriend that he wouldn't be coming back. When Franklin was home he took his girlfriend out on a date, and told her he would return a hero.

(MORE INFO ON MALARIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaria)