The President who avoided being eaten by cannibals in WWII

TL;DR

George HW Bush, the last US president who served in combat, narrowly avoided being eaten by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Transcript

George HW Bush the president who avoided being eaten by cannibals in World War two George Herbert Walker Bush was the last US president that served in combat there were a number of his predecessors who also paid their debt to the country but George Bush's experience was completely unique he managed to evade the gruesome death of being eaten by Japa... Read More

Key Insights

• 😅 George HW Bush's experience of almost being eaten by Japanese soldiers during World War II was unique among US presidents.
• 🥺 His determination to serve led him to join the US Navy as an aviator after turning 18.
• 🪽 Bush flew numerous combat missions and was eventually awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did George HW Bush manage to join the US Navy at such a young age?

Despite being underage, Bush was determined to serve and initially considered enlisting in Canada. However, his strong desire to become an aviator in the US Navy led him to wait until he turned 18 and then sign up for the US Naval Reserves.

Q: What role did George HW Bush play in World War II?

Bush served as a pilot and participated in the campaign of island hopping, fighting over various Japanese-held islands in the Pacific. He also took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, one of the largest air combats of the war.

Q: How did George HW Bush survive after his plane was shot down?

After his plane was hit, Bush continued his dive to fulfill the mission's objective before turning his blazing plane towards safety. He bailed out and landed in the water, struggling to stay afloat and away from Japanese-held territory until he was finally rescued by the USS Finback submarine.

Q: When did George HW Bush learn about the fate of his captured fellow aviators?

It was not until 2003, with the publication of the book "Flyboys: A True Story of Courage," that Bush and the public learned about the horrifying fate of the eight aviators who were captured, tortured, and even cannibalized by the Japanese on Chichi Jima.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• At the age of 17, George HW Bush wanted to serve his country after the attack on Pearl Harbor and eventually joined the US Navy as an aviator.

• Bush became an experienced pilot, participating in battles and campaigns against Japanese-held islands in the Pacific.

• In September 1944, Bush's plane was hit during a mission over Chichi Jima, leading to a crash landing and a harrowing struggle for survival in the water.