God's Samurai: Lead Pilot at Pearl Harbor (The Warriors)

A detailed look at the life of Capt Fuchida warts and all. About half of the book relates to his life as an evangelist and spreading Christ throughout the world. Even a story of his work in Helsinki with communist students. This is a heartwarming story and well worth reading. I highly recommend it.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. Very thoroughly documented based on interviews with Mitsuo Fuchida, the lead pilot who lead the attack on Pearl Harbor starting WWII. They double checked his statements with official documents from both sides of the war, and were impressed with how accurate his memory was and how truthful he was.You can see how the hand of God was not only on his life to bring him to the destiny, calling and purpose God had for him, even years before he knew God and Christ as his savior, but also see clearly how God really was also overseeing the events of the entire war and brought it to the conclusion that we have the fruits of today (which most of today's leaders are ignorant of and squandering).There is no commentary that this is what is happening in the text, it just becomes clear to the reader after you follow all the events before, during, and after the war.My favorite part was how that Captain Fuchida became incensed when he was summoned to testify about Japanese atrocities at the war crimes trials in Tokyo after the war ended. He thought that all people committed atrocities during wartime, including the US.When he read in the newspaper that a ship was returning from the US with Japanese POW's, he got a notebook and ran to the dock to interview the returning POW's and record all the atrocities the Americans had done to them.Instead, all he heard was how they were not only NOT mistreated, but that the US took care of them, and when they tried to commit suicide (because of the shame of "failing" and being captured), the Americans would stop them save their life, give them medical care, and prevent them from doing it again. Then, some would try starvation to kill themselves, but the Americans would put IV's in them and keep them alive.Then, the POW's kept telling him of a young volunteer girl who would bring them food and blankets at her own expense. When asked why was she doing this, well... I won't ruin the best part for you.Read it to find out.And awesome book, more about the power, sovereignty, and grace of God than anything else. And it does this by being very strictly a historical documentary and biography, without even trying to convince you.

…..how the paths of both this man and Louis Zamperini (of “Unbroken” fame) both seem to find redemption and purpose when they meet BILLY.

God's Samurai: Lead Pilot at Pearl Harbor by Gordon W. Prange is an outstanding piece of historical work documenting the mindset of the Japanese military during the major naval battles in the Pacific w/American forces. The author's employment of a biographical style regarding the main character serves to make that man more sympathetic to the Western reader than would otherwise have been possible. As a former U.S. History teacher and a Vietnam vet (USMC), I readily ascribe to the theory that one must know the enemy.Karl Reger

This is about Fuchida Mitsu- his life, his times, his works and his death. Those who seek an essay on the attack on Pearl Harbor, or perhaps a narrated commentary of the Japanese side of the Pacific War should most certainly look elsewhere. You WILL NOT find what you seek here. Those who seek to know a man who lead a most astounding life, and who found a peace that few others are fortunate enough to know... THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.THE WAR:While the War is covered in a way that other fighting men will appreciate, many without military experience will find it hard to stomach. People on the homefront don't realize that warriors generally only fight 'on alternate Tuesdays, weather permitting' so to speak. This book does a grand job of showing that- in spite of being one of Japan's foremost strategic thinkers, Fuchida experiences huge amounts of downtime, even before his injury. Like most sailors, he spends his time mostly sailing from one battle to another, and his recollections are colored by this. They also make evident that even important planners can only see the war through one set of eyes- their own. The book touches solidly on Fuchida's personal experiences during the war: the planning and execution of the Pearl Harbor raid, the planning and combat at Midway and the resultant loss of his beloved Akagi, and his injury and recuperation in Japan- to include his acting as a 'freelance adviser' to many of Japan's late-war strategies as he convalesces. It also covers several accidents of Coincidence that ensures that a man determined to die for his Emperor and his Nation lives to see the end of the war. It additionally branches out to include stories and second-hand information gathered from close friends and associates... but it is not nor does it pretend to be an exhaustive coverage of the War. It is simply the reminiscences of a simple fighting man.THE AFTERMATH:This is where the story really begins to take shape. We- for as the reader, we have been trained that 'the action is the good part- give up on our assumptions about the book and begin to see the true subject at hand. We watch Fuchida spiral down, like the damaged aircraft piloted by so many of his friends (and enemies) earlier in the book. However, we also see a man who enjoys the favor of Coincidence so often- both in war and in 'peace'- that he begins to feel something guiding his life that cannot be accounted for by mere chance.We see his strengths...He builds up a home for his family- but does so starting with absolutely nothing, as he is forbidden by occupation law from holding any job for which he is qualified. He creates a prosperous farm from empty land without prior experience. He builds a home for his family without any knowledge of carpentry. He is dynamic, successful, and unstoppable in the face of all obstacles.We see his weakness and indiscretion...We watch a man, deprived of all the touchstones of a life he once lived, slowly drift into depression that borders on near madness. We watch him take a mistress and father an illegitimate child. We see him plan to and even discuss leaving his wife and children to be with them. We see someone once proud and upright reduced to little more than a hermit and beggar.THE FAITH:Inspiration from another pilot saved Fuchida- as it is the primary subject of the book I will not belabor it here. Suffice to say that one of the Doolittle Raiders taken prisoner by Japan (the bravery at arms of whom Fuchida admired) hands him a small Christian pamphlet one day. This leads to a life-long journey that never really ends, but only winds on and on as he finds new purpose. We see a new-found strength and purpose... one which, to Fuchida, isn't so far removed from his old mission: the salvation of Japan. This time, though, he preaches not the salvation of supremacy, but the Salvation of Jesus.This isn't to say we see a man perfected. He is still very much human. He still has his failings- but unlike the time he spent as a near-hermit postwar, he faces those failings with conviction and valor. He meets old friends taking on new roles in a new Japan, and not all are accepting. He learns to forgive old enemies, and finds that they forgive him, too.It is this man that the book is about: warrior, killer, husband, father, adulterer, missionary, publicist, security adviser, farmer, and friend. How do you fit all that into one moment in time?

Very good story

I found it easy to read and engaging the whole way through - and I am not a WWII enthusiast. No dull, slogging sections. The author gave good details of Fushida's early years and life before and during the war that I felt were important in painting the background picture for his post-war life. Even if you didn't know what happened to him post-war, you start to really see the hand of God in his life throughout his story where he seems miraculously spared time after time. I found it to be a very encouraging and exciting read!I think this book could be powerful and appreciated for both Christians and non-christians. The last 1/4 or so of the book focuses on Fushida's life as an evangelist.There are also many useful insights for what Fushida believed were keys to success or stumbling blocks for sharing the gospel. I think the book could be used as a case study to dig more into some of those lessons learned in sharing the gospel with Japanese.I highly recommend this book!

This is an excellent book which not only gives useful background information on the events leading up to Pearl Harbour but also relates the wonderful grace of God at work in Mitsuo Fuchida - the lead pilot during that attack.Five years after the war ended he was given a tract that outlined the testimony of an American who became a Christian during his time as a POW in Japanese hands. Fuchida was gripped by this and obtained a New Testament for himself. Upon reading this he repented of his sins and accepted Jesus as His Lord and Saviour.During the next 25 years he travelled extensively preaching the Gospel both in Japan and overseas. His travels included a further visit to Pearl Harbour - this time on a mission of peace not destruction!This is a stirring account of God's grace to one who was not only lost but, deeply arrogant before his conversion, and a book that I highly recommend.

A very interesting and unbiased story illustrating both sides of the story. A must for WW2 history buffs. Also an interesting religious twist. G

This is a superb book, with a rare view of the Japanese attitude to the Pacific war.It is honest and well written and is more amazing then many a film plot, mind you that is not hard from Hollywood! I really couldn't put this down and the author's conversion to Christanity and the religious side is well placed and inspiring whatever your belief, quite a man, not perfect by any means, but!