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The war in our minds never ends even after victory
Last week I had the privilege of taking care of an elderly patient is his 90’s. Working in health care I have the honor of meeting and assisting our beloved older generation.
The stories they tell, the hardships they lived through and the loving memories they share.
This one day my patient Tom we’ll call him to protect his privacy had a different story to share. We were in his room watching the election coverage and war headlines when he started telling me about his time spent in Panama during World War II.

With fear in his eyes as he stared out the 3 rd story window, he mentioned the war was over but unfinished business was still being conduct.
General Hykashimi charged and found guilty of ordering the American death march. The enemy soldiers capture by Japan were order to march none stop 100 miles if they stopped or denied to go any further there were executed on the spot.

Tom was the low ranking man so he was always ordered to stretch and get the ropes ready for the hangings.
 General Hykashimi emerged from his cell he came out smiling and apologizing saying “I am very sorry for what I did but I had to order the death march. “  He was then asked if he had any last request General Hykashimi replied “To die with honor face me towards Japan” He then yelled “For JAPAN!!!!” Down he went. The other two officer that followed General Hykashimi a Captain and a Sergeant both went quietly without any request except the Sergeant refused to walk to the platform and was carried by American Soldiers he was so scared to die that he even voided before the floor was pulled from under him.
” I never felt sorry for those guys or any of the Japanese soldiers who were found guilty of war crimes by a Panama court.” He just sat quietly for a minute with a blank stare and said ” I only felt bad about one fellow and I never saw him hang but I did stretch his rope.”
A young lady had charged that a black American Soldier had raped her and she pointed out exactly who it was.
Lt Rex an honorable guy was in charge of all the hanging that were to be carried out during his tour in Panama, the day came when he had to hang one of his own men. Tom never did mention the accused rappers name. Lt Rex carried out his duties hung this 18-19 year old fellow and gave him a dishonorable burial in a shallow graved wrapped in nothing but a blanket.

The men turned to face away from the grave when a scared young woman came running ” Wait that’s the wrong man I saw the man who did it to me but I am pregnant and we decided to runaway and get married ” Lt Rex dropped to his knees as many of the soldiers did that instant. ” We need to dig him up and send him home to his family” Lt Rex ordered. The young soldier was shipped back to America with a letter Died in Action.
“That happened all the time in that war.” Tom said with tears rolling down his face. We never forget the war even if they say it’s over and we won.” Seventy years later and most of us, if not all of us are still fighting the war that’s haunting us to until the days we pass . “

Stevie J Stevenson 2008

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