Mitsuo Fuchida: The Enemy Whose Attack Provoked America
This is an electronic version of our Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin inserts.
These are designed to present Christian biographies for Children's church, educational or worship ministries. The Mighty Samurai
"I will be the samurai!" I told my playmates. My toy sword glinted in
the morning light in this land of the rising sun.
"You always get to be the samurai!" they complained. "Give us a chance."
 Mitsuo
Fuchida and a zero fighter plane similar to the one he flew when he led
the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Though Japan no longer had professional soldiers known as samurai, all
the boys in my village loved to pretend.
I needed to make them understand that for me this was more than just
play.
"I am meant to be a mighty warrior," I said. "You'll see! Some day, Mitsuo
Fuchida will be a hero who brings glory to Japan!"
As I grew, I worked hard to make my dream a reality, graduating from
the military academy by age 21. Eventually I became Japan's top pilot.
My dreams were coming true, and my country was on its way to ruling a
vast Asian empire. There was just one problem. A giant, an enemy named
America, stood in the way of our glory. If we could destroy the giant,
no one could stop us. In 1941, I was chosen to lead the charge to wound
the giant.
The Sleeping Giant
Early in the morning of December 7, 1941, the roar of engines echoed in
my ears. I climbed aboard the fighter plane, prepared to realize those
boyhood dreams of greatness. Moments later I was leading more than 180
planes loaded with deadly power toward Hawaii. Our mission was to destroy
the United States' Pacific Fleet. As we approached the sleeping island
paradise, the first light of dawn streaked across the sky, followed by
the rising of a brilliant red sun. Chills swept up my spine, for the Japanese
symbol is the rising sun. Through binoculars I saw the magnificent American
ships docked at Pearl Harbor. The enemy was peacefully going about its
business-- we would take the giant by surprise!
At 7:49 AM I cried "Tora, Tora, Tora!" into my microphone. As my battle
cry reached the Japanese warriors, my adrenaline surged. Like mechanical
wasps we dive-bombed with merciless precision, watching as the mighty
American ships went up in flames, then sank like toy boats. In less than
two hours we shattered 150 planes and killed over 2,000 American servicemen.
My heart swelled with pride and joy as I celebrated our victory. It was,
however, only a matter of time before the giant would awaken and take
his revenge.
Two Narrow Escapes
Following emergency surgery for appendicitis, the doctor ordered me to
stay in the hospital and rest, but this mighty warrior wasn't about to
listen to him! I headed up to the ship's deck where I could see the Battle
of Midway unfolding. Just when we seemed destined to win, a new round
of enemy planes closed in. Within seconds, a devastating blast knocked
a hole in our ship and the battle was lost. I later learned that all the
patients in the ship's hospital died from the blast.
 On
August 5, 1945, I left the Japanese city Hiroshima for another military
base. Several hours later the Americans dropped the atomic bomb, obliterating
that city. Why was my life spared a second time? When the war ended several
days later, my country was defeated and I was devastated. Bitterness and
hatred filled my heart. Once a proud warrior, I now had to turn to farming
to make a living.
How did Mitsuo's life change after the war? Find
out in part 2 of this "Glimpses for Kids" children's worship
bulletin insert.
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