Pearl Harbor and Reconciliation

December 7 marks the 73rd anniversary of the brutal Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a day which would “live in infamy” as President Franklin Roosevelt called it while urging Congress for a declaration of war. American casualties were unequaled until the savage attacks of 9/11. Sadly, many will spend the day without any thought of the significance of the day.

Lost in the obscurity of the years are two key figures whose lives would later intersect miraculously in the will of God. We share their story as we have in previous years because it serves as an amazing illustration of God's wonderful saving grace.

Captain Mitsuo Fuchida led the attack on Pearl Harbor, exulting in the deadly carnage done for his emperor-god. He was the only Japanese officer to survive World War II despite breaking both legs in a sea accident and exposure to the radiation-contaminated ashes of Hiroshima. His post-war days were spent farming, but his soul was empty.

Staff Sgt. Jacob DeShazer dropped bombs on Osaka in the surprise U.S. retaliation attack on Japanese cities led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle in April 1942. As one of "Doolittle's Raiders", Jake was the bombardier on plane #16, the last one off the carrier USS Hornet. He was captured after parachuting into Japanese-held territory in China and was imprisoned by Japan for 40 months. Hatred for his torturing captors turned to love when he read in the Bible of Christ’s forgiveness through the Cross, and he pledged that if he survived the war he would return to Japan as a missionary. Jake kept his vow, and returned to Japan, where he spent 30 years preaching the Christ he once ignored.

After reading a tract telling DeShazer’s story given to him by other American missionaries, Mitsuo Fuchida bought a Bible, read of Christ’s death for him, and accepted Christ as his Savior. He went to meet Jake DeShazer to publicly profess Christ. The two former bitter enemies in war became brothers in Christ and lifelong friends. As a team, they evangelized Japan and saw thousands come to Christ.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:15-17

David Virkler has written an article entitled "The Amazing Grace of World War II" that recounts the full story of Mitsuo Fuchida, Jacob DeShazer and Jimmy Doolittle. Read this stirring account on our website.