In the spring of 2001, I read a book called Hagakure as an assignment in a Japanese History class I was taking in high school. My teacher had also been my karate teacher since I was 10 years old, and his teacher was a man named Fusaki Hatori who lived in Tokyo. Sensei Hatori would come to the United States once every summer to visit my teacher and to be a guest instructor at our karate lessons. He and I became pen pals and he would send me post cards from Japan throughout the years. He was born in the mid 1930’s so he was a young boy during World War II. When he heard I was reading Hagakure he cautioned against it because he said Japan had used the book to indoctrinate a generation of soldiers during the war and through the teachings of Hagakure they were able to produce kamikaze pilots and some of the other policies and procedures that made Japan such a brutal nation at war. As a headstrong 16-year-old kid in peace time America, I felt there was no need to worry about becoming an overzealous war fighter.
This is an excellent piece, Travis. It’s not just one of introspection but moves the reader to admire what you have done with your life. Hopefully it will inspire others to build a more meaningful life for themselves. You came home because God has a plan for your life. When we serve others in love, we are serving Him.
I pray that your words and experiences lead others, Travis. Thank you for sharing, and as always, thank you for serving our country.
This is an excellent piece, Travis. It’s not just one of introspection but moves the reader to admire what you have done with your life. Hopefully it will inspire others to build a more meaningful life for themselves. You came home because God has a plan for your life. When we serve others in love, we are serving Him.
Absolutely love this, thanks for sharing your journey. Keep it up man!
At least you got wise. Too many humans just keep doubling down on the lies.