94 YR OLD (Part 3) WW2 VETERAN

[BANZITOMMY]

Wonderful, thanks for sharing! God bless the veterans of WW2!

[mkwinnie08]

"10 times worse than Pearl Harbor?" Ever hear of the Bataan Death March? How about the Nanking Massacare? If you had you would understand why Truman dropped the bombs. FYI it is estimated that the Japanese Army murdered, raped and tortured over 1 million civilians as well as murdered close to a hundred thousand captured allied soldiers. This man is a true hero something I am sure he is not comfortable with, he'll tell you the only hero's are those who did not come back.

[PathofReason]

I really wish more people would pay attention and research the war before they make comments like "10 times worse than Pearl Harbor" It doesn't take much research to realize the Japanese didn't just surrender. The entire country might just have fought to the death had the Emperor not decided to wise up for the sake of his country.

[RIVERINE]

Funny how things turn out. Former enemies turn into close friends.Too bad something so terrible as a war highlights how alike people really are; decent,average, and normal in all respects.

[Ac3Killer11]

this man is wonderful to listen to

[JesusPeaceable]

@Ac3Killer11  true

[dustin432321]

If you can read this,thank a teatcher...

If you can read this in english,thank a veteran...

thank you WWII veterans.

[Testingpointer1]

i feel so hard inside me I dont know why,....

these people, live in hard way(war way) and we are just sitting in the front of our pc?

at the very end

GOD IS IN CONTROL...

[adadanks]

Hi you-tubers , Im gonna tell the story of how my country dropped a nuke on civilians in Japan with no warning.

Thousands of men women and children were wiped out, but thats ok because I did ok..l..Im stilll here to tell a story.

[1fasd56]

they diserved it

[erwintommy]

Them or us period. Why are Americans always the "guilty" ones anyways? Who the fuck bombed pearl Harbor anyways?

[MRimTroy]

@erwintommy

yea they bombed pearl harbor but we also droped fat man and litttle boy on them which were at least 10 times worse than pearl harbor

[arodomus]

pearl harbor. ??????

[arodomus]

you can't blame him. he was a human just like you and me who wanted to help the country when it was attacked in such a cowardly way. pearl harbor. at the time, the nukes were a necessary evil..

[reyubix]

and u dont know what they did to the innocents of the countries they invaded.

[erwintommy]

Far worse than anyplace else!

[bofoima100]

OH would it have of been a better idea to invade? heavy american and japanesee casualties would of certanly been much better.....SORRY FOR HORRIBLE SPELLIG

[adadanks]

Why no mention of the bomb in Japan?

Remember the bomb ?.

The USA is the only country in the world ever to use a nuclear bomb on civilians.

Many thousands of people just like you and me died and are still dying because of those bombs in Japan.

[arodomus]

you been to pearl harbor? i have. i love japan, but at the time it was a necessary evil.

[Captain1soapy1dick]

Sadly I never asked my grandfather about WW2, But my father told me he would say nothing if I were to ask him anyway. It was mainly because I didn't have the courage to do so

[SkullDemon44]

What an amazing story!

very interesting.

[Reyrocksall]

i bow down to any ww1 or ww2 vet. they've earned respect.

[kittehtat]

really any vet whos gone off to war, even to the Iraq war, they've fought. they've died, and now they sometimes do not gain respect because of people hating said vets.

[dominicrusho]

Fantastic insight into the war. This guy understood how to tell todays generation his story through YouTube!

RIP and God bless

[ShnuckFuckle]

@dominicrusho ''rip and god bless'' you make it sound like this guy is going to heaven, he's not, he's going somewhere far greater...

[DavidMed58]

R.I.P my friend :(

[hillspoop]

Does anyone know if this great man is still alive? alive or not I salute you sir, thank you for what you did for your country

[isayeverything]

sadly he died about a year ago. the valentine's day vid was his last one. in fact it was taken several hours before his death :(

[pearlsandjade7]

WAR IS TERRORISIM

[onibakuonizuka]

My Japanese grandfather was a translator for Japan and therefore he did not have to fight in the army. Before he passed away a few years ago he told me many stories about his experience.

[redfan45x]

my grampa was in the US navy in the pacific and was best friends with a Japanes-american officer who was like a father to him, and that man took fire from a plane so my grampa wouldint and died.

[mitsubishi109]

What a great man,this is what a hero looks and speaks like.

[redfan45x]

yea

[takakazushin]

Sir, this simple video of yours destroys all the propaganda films and staged stories made by evil crooks among us about what really happend in the past, just lie a candle of light illuminates all the darkess. Gentlemen like you are the people who make everyone truly respect America. Congratulation, sir. I salute from bottom of my heart as a Japanese.

[uklandman]

Thank you for sharing these memories and others. My father was called up in 1939, taken POW in 1940 and liberated by 9th Spearhead Armoured A Div in April 1945. Please ignore idiots like Janne358, I see he is from Finland who were allied to Nazi Germany in 1940. Figures.

[Tessietots]

Wow, the story about the old lady and the beautiful young woman was so heartwarming. Thats how it should be. A lesson to be learnt.

[Janne358]

BORING...!

[Tessietots]

Then go away!

[dadit2]

why the hell are you watching...?

idiot..

[EZdick1234]

Great video. Thanks for your service to our country. I will try my best to make a great place to live so that your fighting won't be in vain. My grandfather faught in World War II and I never got to hear his stories. I feel like I can hear them through you. I appreciate that. Thank you.

[gieldez]

we commend you Les,it is because of you and your former comrades that we have this freedom today...WE SALUTE YOU!!!

[icemaneu]

In years to come, these videos will become treasures as it's about WW2 stories told by those who fought it during the war.

[roomseeker]

wow , you are realli interresting so far i cant stop watching your videos, thank you

[shaykiviaho]

Semper Fi Les

[comurph]

He was more of a man that i could ever be

[KurtGnu]

There's a lesson to be learnt for all of us, in this video.. that enemies can set aside their differences and become friends.. for life.. Thank you Ginger for keeping the videos on YouTube, even though sadly Les no longer are with us.. He is greatly missed!

[umichu]

Thank u MR.Les Loken You are my idol

and i'm japanese too my mom maiden name is Ginoza

[greenbusok999]

MUCH RESPECT LES

[j4p4n353guy]

hi, im a 15 yr old japanese kid dat came across ur videos. i rely enjoyed it, thank u very much. and my last name is hayashi too =)

[sasukeluvssakura]

i am awestruck... *.* although i am only 13 years of age, i have had thoughts of some day joining the military... these videos are greatly motivating my thoughts. =D

[belgrano2L]

Thanks again Les.

[gatito4good]

thank you Mr. Loken for sharing your experiences and for being such a good person.

[mrdjjames]

I just discovered this video set. What a Jem! Thanks for the posting and the gift. Its amazing how you can remember details like you do.

[ForeverDissevered]

Uhmm.. I am an 8th grader and listening because my dad told me that u can learn a lot from old people. Well... gj.

[mousy67]

I applaude you Les for telling your stories for all of us to hear. I so wish I could have had videos of my grandpa before he passed on, your family will treasure these always!! As do we, thank you for sharing!!

[PoisonPeachPit]

Congrats, Les Loken. You have done your part in preserving that special part of history on the infinite internet. Future generations will see this, or be shown, and learn of the experiences from a firsthander. :D

[wetus2000]

I love your vids, Les. I lost my grandpa many years ago; you are now my honorary grandpop. Hope you don't mind.

[neilmccauley]

Thank you for recording great memories to us!

[Roflinternet]

you're amazing, dont stop bloggin, man

[Timytid]

It's wonderful that former enemies were able to become lifelong friends. This is an awesome story.

[wolfpack1980]

Geez these videos are great. It's the little tidbits like learning to use chopsticks, and the now antiquated language he uses that really make it great for me. Thanks again Les!

[RoninDave]

Very interesting and informative. My grandfather didn't serve in the Pacific in WWII (he was in Europe) but he served in japan during the occupation. He was a military manager of several hotels in the Fuji Lake area and Nikko. We found an old photo of him at the Kanaya Hotel in Nikko. It was a touching moment! And now I live in Japan myself.

[vidular]

Thank you Colonel. Your stories remind me of the ones my father told of WW2. Glad to see you sharing them on the internet.

[razaxagha]

Sir, thank you for taking the time to share your stories. I hope you are well, and looking after yourself well.

With Best Regards.

[Leevamark]

Sir - It is awesome to be able to sit and benefit from your experience. I lost both sets of Grandparents when I was very young, so it's cool to be able to "adopt" you. May you receive the respect you deserve today - Veterans Day.

[332453231TAC]

Dear Mr. Loken: Thank you Sir. Most interesting. Please keep your videos coming.

[chacallachaise]

Thank you, Colonel. We really appreciate your service, and now your stories. Happy Veterans Day and please keep your videos coming.

[99999999988888888]

Words can't show my appreciation for your service sir, God bless!

[11Jamie11]

This is what history class used to be, and hopefully will be again: the old teaching the young.

[TPopes]

You'll never any of this stuff in history class. Better than the history channel!

[USAOwnz]

Wonderful videos!

[fireli108]

Thank you for all your services, and happy veterans day sir.

[CalOx27]

Les, you are a great fella! God Bless you and your family ever so...

[Lola2810]

Thank you so much for your service and for your knowledge which you are so gracious to share. God Bless you.

[cironni]

I know it is a cliche: we owe people like you a great deal.

It is wise to compare oral histories like this with the jingoistic videos that are getting put up on YouTube as well.

I'm so glad that you developed a good friendship with Mr. Namakawa. I can't imagine the horrors that both of you went through and to come through all that with a friendship speaks volumes of both your characters.

Thank you - and please keep them coming!

[jimifloydrix]

this man is in amazing good shape and his stories are great! historic and anecdotic at the same time.

[Beaver1]

Wonderful

[Kainonis]

This is absolutely beautiful. I've heard my fair share of stories about politics and wartime, but rarely stories about mending ties between two very different countries. It sends a wonderful message.

Thank you so much.

[kenshin80012]

in kyushu?? thats great! i am in kyushu now.. so i drop a hello to les from kyushu japan! and yeah, those japanese ladies are beautiful huh?

[kenshin80012]

50 year friendship. nice. also, im glad u hold no grude against us japanese.

[Coolness5521]

I really can't belive how sharp your mind is at 94 years. I mean no disrespect but i cant even imagine my own mind in 72 years...when i too would be 94. My grandma just turned 80 and i pick her brain about WWII...it is truly amazing what technology can do...i feel that we are still unsure of the historical context of Youtube and all it does for us...thanks Les

[oxyQbot]

you're making "youtube" a living history. Way to make your mark

[slhamlet]

Colonel Loken, thank you for your service. You're the best America has to offer, and I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life.

[2Chooks]

Once again, thank you so much for sharing your stories. You were a very handsome young man, and still are a very beautiful man.

[Eniisa]

Is Namakawa still alive too?

[hailrain]

I think so, because he said at one point during his videos that "we remained friends till this day".

[bcrich6666]

pui pa you old goub its in the past so just pui pa

[domicorb3000]

what is that supposed to mean?

[addisontx]

Thank you for taking the time to share your story. I wish more veterans would do this as many of their stories will be lost over time.

[hidden420]

Thanks les these stories are awesome. I apreciate it

[tank6603]

I'm a history major and I can't tell you how much of a treasure stories like these are to young people studying history like me.

[parrishwest]

les you rock. your well balanced take on life is refreshing.

[GeneticBlend]

Thank you Colonel. These videos are invaluable to younger generations.

I can't help but wonder what your feelings are regarding the current administration and today's war.

Thank you again.

Respectfully,

Joe

[quikieemart]

great story ! loved it

[Protean213]

"and the young one must have been her granddaughter" lol :) I had honor and privilege to live in Okinawa, Japan for 3 years during my fathers tour of duty at Camp Foster. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Thanks again!

[colindude]

I have a lot of respect for you Les. Thank you so much for sharing your life story with us. Especially from a wise 94 year young.

[Slamnbam88]

I think what your doing is excellent. I'm a young college student studying history and as a historian I can't tell you how much this will mean for future generations. Thank you for your contribution and keep up the good work. -Robert

[babycham2006]

tnx for doing a video its nice to hear peoples stories, my uncle fred was in the ww1 ww2 also unfortunatley he passed away 2yrs ago age 97, i miss him and his stories tnx for your heart warming stories

[threeheadedbaby]

Thank you. Another awesome vid. Deborah

[snapper442]

Les, it's Gregory Cox (Gaye Lynne's son and wearer of the Your Wildebeest Jacket) - I love the videos, please keep them coming!

Most sincerely, Gregory

[Gingeronymous]

Thank you, Gregory - I appreciate your encouragement! If my energy holds up, I'll try to make more videos. -Les

[Yamato199223]

yay new video ~~

[Gingeronymous]

Thanks for watching!  - Les