Submarines, Balloons, and the Battle of Los Angeles

Ending an already fantastic video with Nobuo Fujita's visits to Brookings, Oregon and a reading from Fujita-san's journal was absolutely inspired, sir. I had come across his visits before, and read that the Samuri sword he donated had been in his family for generations and would have passed to his son had he not donated it to the town of Brookings. I wonder what his son thought of this, as it was certainly a gesture of goodwill on a very personal scale. My paternal grandfather flew in the Pacific theater during the war and went to visit Japan in the 1960s. He said that the Japanese were the kindest and most polite people he had ever met. During the visit he asked how he could pay his respects to the Japanese killed in the War, particularly those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki; his host smiled and said to him , "You just did, Jerry-san. You just did."

I can not honestly think of one channel, among all the diverse ideas presented, more deserving of my support. You are a treasure sir. I wish I could do more than praise your efforts.

Excellent video! I live in Oregon north of Brookings on the pacific coast and the concrete remnants of hardened military defense sites are still scattered as a reminder of this point in history all along the shoreline from California to Washington state. A friend of mine worked for the Forestry Department during that time manning a fire lookout in the Siskiyou National Forest, and claims to have witnessed and reported one of the bombings. I met Mr. Fujita at a local function at which he spoke in the early 90's and was moved by his sincerity, wisdom and depth of character. A truly remarkable person. Thank you History Guy for sharing this story, its nice to see a bit of local history shared with the world.

Your wonderful videos have my children getting enthusiastic about history, they are fantastic. The diary quote from Japanese pilot was a very moving way to conclude. Thank you so much for showing how fascinating history really is.

"The IJN had ambitious plans at the start of WWII...". Truer words have never been spoken.

SS Montebello was an oil tanker sunk by the Japanese submarine, I-21, off the coast of California on December 23, 1941 Montebello was torpedoed after leaving for Vancouver, British Columbia, from the small Central Coast seaport of Port San Luis .... At approximately 5:45 am, off the coast of the small town of Cambria, California, just north of Morro Bay, two torpedoes hit the ship. History that deserves to be remembered.

Thank you so much for your videos! I am an ex-Army officer who was stationed in Germany when the Berlin wall was up and when it came down.

13:29 " If we knew each other, If we understood each other as friends. This foolish war would have never happened ".....Very powerful words. If we don't learn from history. Then we are domed to repeat it...

I knew of the balloon bombs, but never realized there were that many launched 9000, wow.

“I sincerely hope there will come a time when everyone can overcome their differences with talking....” ♥️♥️♥️

I had an uncle who lived in the Los Angeles area during the War years. I was so young and naive back then, so I never asked him why he wasn't in the military. But in thinking back, he was working in Defense contracting, was a engineer in the Howard Hughes organization. Apparently he knew Mr. Hughes well. He mentioned to me that after that offshore shelling attack, all the aircraft contractors (who had long flat factory buildings in the area) disguised the roofs of these buildings with fake landscaping, (trees, bushes) and roadways. Maybe it worked, they never got bombed. Great content History Guy!

As a Seattle to Portland, Oregon resident, I’ve heard many of these stories from my native born friends and family. I had not heard the Brookings tale until just now. It is indeed, History That Deserves to be Remembered. Thanks to THG for educating me once again.

He donated his samurai sword?!? WOW! What an absolutely incredible gesture. Thank you sir, may you rest in eternal peace...

Great to hear a story of reunion and reconciliation at the end.

Discovery channels...why are you not hiring this gentleman? I'd watch every single episode. A wonderful story, perfectly described.

When I lived in west Marin County in the '90s, a neighboring rancher named Ed Pozzi who had lived in the area since the 1920s told me a story that one morning in 1943 he discovered the bodies of about a dozen Japanese sailors washed up at the mouth of the Estero de San Antonio. The Army sent troops from the Presidio in San Francisco to collect the bodies and told him that a Japanese submarine had been sunk by a PBY north of the Farallon Islands. I had almost forgotten this story until your excellent history lesson reminded me. Thank you!

"...to be interned in brookings Oregon" great phrasing when talking about Fujitu's ashes.

Another fascinating history lesson... The old John Belushi movie, 1941 was somewhat loosely based on this incident.. I cannot thank you enough.

As a citizen of Oregon and history buff myself, I am glad you covered this topic! Part of Fort Stevens is still present and available for tour. Also you were spot on regarding Brookings, Oregon. THANKS!

Dear Sir, I am thoroughly enjoying, remembering and learning from your videos. I look forward to one or more videos on the 100th Battalion and the 442nd RCT. Perhaps 2-3 covering their formation, and the battles of Monte Casino and the battle for the lost battalion. Mahalo