Sinking of the USS Drexler and the Tragic Tale of the Kamikaze Pilot behind it

These, often young men, of course, had to be trained. One of their instructors was First Lieutenant Hajime Fujii. Throughout the war, Fujii requested the army high command for permission several times to join his students in kamikaze attacks. But he was refused time and time again because he was more useful as an instructor. Fujii could not help but feel that he was ‘betraying’ his students by sending them off to die while he remained on the mainland. Eventually, it led to Fujii’s family to take drastic action in order for him to be allowed to fulfil his perceived duty. The story of First Lieutenant Fujii’s is incredibly tragic and shows how rampant nationalism and total war leads to individuals taking radical action. SPC Margaret Higgins COL Mikel J. Burroughs CW5 Jack Cardwell Lt Col Charlie Brown SGT (Join to see) CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Michael Noll SGT Steve McFarland 1SG Steven Imerman CPL Douglas Chrysler SPC Douglas Bolton PO1 H Gene Lawrence Sgt (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Maj Marty Hogan