Isoroku Yamamoto

Isoroku Yamamoto

04-Apr-1884


Japan


Soldier

Isoroku Yamamoto was born on April 4, 1884, in Nagoka, Japan, the last of seven children. His first name "Esoroku" translates to "56", which was his father's age at birth. At age 16, Yamamoto entered the Imperial Japan Naval Academy in Etajima. He graduated in 1904 and placed seventh in his class, assigned to the port Nisshin. He lives near Nagaoka, entered Imperial Naval School at the age of 16 and was a sailor during the Tshushima War on May 27, 1905, during the Russo-Japanese war, when he lost two fingers on the left. He was adopted by the Yamamoto family and took their name. He was promoted to commander and was sent to the Tokyo military headquarters and shortly thereafter married. Throughout his career, Yamamoto was opposed to many Japanese military invasions, such as the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and the subsequent world war with China. In addition, he was enthusiastic in his opposition to any war with the United States and officially apologized for the 1937 sinking of the USS Panay. Throughout the fall of 1942, he fought battles with the cargo company (Eastern Solomons & Santa Cruz) and more land involvement to support Guadalcanal forces. After the fall of Guadalcanal in February 1943, Yamamoto decided to make a pilgrimage to the South Pacific to boost morale. Using radio communications, American forces were able to split the command line of his commander. On the morning of April 18, 1943, American P-38 Lightning aircraft flew from the 339 Fighter squadron and landed the Yamamoto aircraft and its locations near Bougainville. In the ensuing struggle, Jamamoto's plane crashed to the ground, killing all on board. These killings are usually attributed to 1st LieutenantRex T. Barber. Yamamoto succeeded to the Combined Fleet commander of Admiral mineichi Koga.

QUOTES BY Isoroku Yamamoto


In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success.

Should hostilities once break out between Japan and the United States, it is not enough that we take Guam and the Philippines, nor even Hawaii and San Francisco. To make victory certain, we would have to march into Washington and dictate the terms of peace in the White House. I wonder if our politicians, among whom armchair arguments about war are being glibly bandied about in the name of state politics, have confidence as to the final outcome and are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having smitten a sleeping enemy; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten.

The mindless rejoicing at home is really appalling; it makes me fear that the first blow against Tokyo will make them wilt at once...I only wish that [the Americans] had also had, say, three carriers at Hawaii...

A military man can scarcely pride himself on having 'smitten a sleeping enemy'; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.

I'm against war with the United States. But I am an officer of the Imperial Navy and a subject of His Majesty the Emperor.

If we are to have a war with America, we will have no hope of winning unless the U.S. fleet in Hawaiian waters can be destroyed.

I sincerely desire to be appointed Commander in Chief of the air fleet to attack Pearl Harbor so that I may personally command that attack force.

Even though there wasn't much damage, it's a disgrace that the skies over the imperial capital should have been defiled without a single enemy plane being shot down. It provides a regrettably graphic illustration of the saying that a bungling attack is better than the most skillful defense.

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