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The Doolittle Raiders: A Story of War and Forgiveness

Orson Scott Card

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Published in Return Of The Raider: A Doolittle Raider S Story Of War Forgiveness

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The Doolittle Raiders were a group of American airmen who launched a daring bombing raid on Japan during World War II. The raid was a success, but the Raiders were captured and tortured by the Japanese. Their story is one of courage, resilience, and ultimately, forgiveness.

Return of the Raider: A Doolittle Raider's Story of War & Forgiveness

by Donald M. Goldstein

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1900 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	196 pages

The Raid

In April 1942, the United States was reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese had quickly conquered much of the Pacific, and it seemed like they were unstoppable. In response, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered a daring bombing raid on Japan. The raid was led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, and it was carried out by 16 B-25 bombers.

The Raiders took off from the USS Hornet, which was sailing in the Pacific Ocean. They flew over 2,000 miles to Japan, and they bombed targets in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. The raid was a success, but it came at a cost. Of the 16 bombers, 15 were lost. Eight of the Raiders were killed, and three were captured.

The POWs

The three captured Raiders were taken to a POW camp in Japan. They were tortured and interrogated, but they refused to give up any information. The Japanese were determined to break their spirits, but the Raiders remained defiant.

The Raiders were eventually released from the POW camp, but they were still not free. They were haunted by the memories of their torture, and they struggled to adjust to life back home. Some of them turned to alcohol or drugs, and others withdrew from society. But even though they were broken, the Raiders never gave up hope.

Forgiveness

In the years after the war, the Raiders began to forgive their captors. They realized that the Japanese soldiers were not evil, but they were simply following orders. The Raiders also realized that forgiveness was not a sign of weakness, but of strength.

In 1993, the Raiders returned to Japan to visit the site of their bombing raid. They met with some of their former captors, and they exchanged stories. The Raiders found that they had more in common with their captors than they had thought. They both had suffered through the war, and they both wanted to move on.

Legacy

The Doolittle Raiders are a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. They showed that forgiveness is possible, and that even the most bitter enemies can find peace.

The Raiders' story is a testament to the power of the human spirit. It is a story of courage, resilience, and forgiveness. It is a story that should never be forgotten.

The Doolittle Raiders were a group of ordinary men who did extraordinary things. They risked their lives to bomb Japan, and they endured torture and imprisonment. But even through all of that, they never gave up hope. They forgave their captors, and they moved on with their lives. The Raiders' story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. It is a story that should never be forgotten.

Return of the Raider: A Doolittle Raider's Story of War & Forgiveness

by Donald M. Goldstein

4.7 out of 5