Background information and commentary by Andrew Carroll: This past April, GQ magazine ran an incredible profile of several soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard (C Company, 2nd Battalion, 103 rd Armor Regiment) who guarded Saddam Hussein after he was captured. The young soldiers detailed what it was like spending time with the former dictator of Iraq and recorded his observations and opinions on everything from his favorite snackfood (Doritos, a revelation the makers of Doritos were probably less than thrilled to hear) to the U.S. presidents he most despised (the Bushes) and liked (Reagan). Their experience immediately reminded me of a letter sent to the Legacy Project in 1999. A little background first: At approximately 4:17 p.m. on September 11, 1945, the ex-premier of Japan, Hideki Tojo, attempted suicide to spare himself the dishonor of arrest and certain punishment by the Allies. Tojo picked up a .32 colt automatic and fired a single bullet into his chest. Although no one expected him to survive, Tojo was taken to the 98th Evacuation Hospital in Yokohama -- the closest hospital still standing after Allied bombings months earlier. The bullet, doctors learned, had just missed Tojo's heart, and they were able to stabilize him. Corporal Richard S. Easterbrook, a graduate of the Northern Illinois College of Optometry, was an assistant to the Army physician instructed to monitor Tojo and keep him alive. Writing to his parents in Davenport, Iowa, Easterbrook reported what it was like to tend to a man directly responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor and, ultimately, a war that killed millions of men, women, and children throughout the Pacific. (Easrbrook's letter is published in WAR LETTERS in its entirety.)

Dear Mom & Dad:

12 Sept. '45
(12:00 Noon)
I don't imagine you could ever guess where I am as a write this letter. At present, I'm sitting in a chair about 3 ft. from the bedside of the ex-Premier of Japan -- Hideki Tojo.

We were in duty last night, in surgery -- when he arrived at approximately 9:40 P.M. -- & I've never seen so much "brass", correspondents, & photographers in my life….

As there was no whole blood available at the moment, we gave him 600 c.c of blood plasma after which he perked up enough to make a statement. He told Gen. Eichelberger (thru the interpreter) that he was sorry to cause so much trouble. He had planned on shooting himself in the head, but had been afraid it would muss up his face too much -- so had decided on the heart. He used a 38 Cal. automatic, & the bullet entered just below & medial to the left breast & emerged from the back about two inches higher. I'm damned if I know how it missed his heart…..

(1:15 P. M)
Blood transfusion started. It will take about an hour. So far he has shown very little improvement over last night & they hope this fresh blood will help. The photographers have just left. They were allowed in for a few minutes just after the transfusion began.

something's wrong

(4:25 P.M.)
Phew, that was nice! He developed a severe chill & pain in the heart & wound from the blood given him. It was a little questionable there for awhile, but he came out of it O.K. (damit). You know it's funny to be taking care of some one, & not knowing whether you want him to live or not.

Well folks, it's almost time for my relief; so I'll close off for now, take another check on him & call it a day.

Love,
Bob

P. S. In my next letter I'll send a piece of his shirt. It has blood on it -- but don't wash it. Just put it away in my room.

The American doctors were successful and Tojo recovered from his wound. But, as Tojo feared, he was tried before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and sentenced to death. He was hanged on December 23, 1948. Easterbrook's letter was later found at a yard sale and purchased for less than a dollar. It was later contributed to the Legacy Project, and the original letter will be displayed at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum as part of an exhibit titled “War Letters: Lost & Found,” which features letters from the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnnam that were lost or discarded by their recipients and then later found years or even decades later by total strangers. For more information, check the Legacy Project's website ( www.WarLetters.com ) or the website for the National Postal Museum (www.smithsonian/npm.com).

----------

NEXT WEEK: Two letters from the Battle of Shiloh—one written by a Union soldier, the other by a Confederate soldier.