World Battlefronts: Look Out, Chicago

On the body of a soldier of Japan's veteran, ill-famed 18th Division, soldiers found a bit of Nipponese poesy. Translation:

With bloodstained flag of Rising Sun I'd like to conquer the world;

As I spit on Great Wall of China a multi-hued rainbow rises above Gobi Desert;

On Ganges River at foot of majestic Himalaya Mountains, sons of Nippon look for some crocodiles;

Today we're in Berlin, tomorrow in Moscow, home of snowbound Siberia;

As fog lifts, we see city of London rising high, as ceremonial fish of boys' days does;

Now we're in Chicago, once terrorized by gangsters, where our grandchildren pay homage to our memorial...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!