"The political situation in the world has now reached a stage where they very foundations of civilization are seriously threatened." President Franklin Roosevelt said.
A crowd was heard shouting indistinctly.
"War is a contagion." Roosevelt continued. "The peace of the world, the welfare and security of every nation, including our own, is being threatened by that very no one imagine that America will escape. Yes, we are determined to keep out of war. Yet, we cannot insure ourselves against the disastrous effects of war, and the dangers of involvement." His voice echoes.
This is a true account of the events that led to the most important naval battle in American history.
One single day that turned the tide of the War in the Pacific.
Reeds stood at the shore of a pond as snowflakes gently flew by and ducks quacking softly sitting in the water. Then a net was carefully lowered towards them as holding the net was British Royal Navy Captain Rawlings as he was trying to catch one as standing by was American Naval Attaché, Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton as he watched.
Rawlings then flips the net around to catch a duck, but they flew off quacking as he watches them fly off.
And to Layton's humor, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"This is bloody ridiculous." Rawlings complained.
"Wasn't your empire built on ridiculous traditions?" Layton asked as Rawlings walked away from the pond.
"Don't defend them Layton." Rawlings countered. "You might speak their language, but they still think you're a barbarian." He drops his net next to Layton.
"Be honest." Layton said as he stood next to him. "You won't miss this place when you're gone?"
DECEMBER 4, 1937
KIYOSUMI GARDEN, TOKYO
On the other side of the pond, two Japanese officers were by the shore as one was carefully holding his net by some ducks. And it looks their method is paying off.
"Oh, please." Rawlings said. "The next time I see the little buggers, I hope it's through the sights of a 14-inch gun."
Ducks were heard quacking as they saw ducks flying off, but the Japanese officers have managed to catch one. And Layton speaks out in Japanese to them, and one bows as the other keeps the net steady.
Later at night, they met with a dozen more officers as the duck they caught earlier was cooked and being served as their dinner.
"Gentlemen." Rawlings said. "On behalf of the British Empire, I wish to thank Admiral Yamamoto for this invitation." he turns to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. "May our nations work together to maintain peace on the seas."
He raised his glass up as the other officers stood raising their glasses, as well as Yamamoto and they drunk their whiskey. Though Layton had a sip as they placed their glasses down on the table.
Shortly later, Layton was with Yamamoto in his office.
"You don't like whiskey?" Yamamoto asked in Japanese.
Layton turns to him. "I could ask you the same question, Admiral." He said in Japanese. "I have it on good authority that your glass is filled with tea."
Yamamoto nods to a staff member, and he and walks off.
"An old Chinese trick." Yamamoto said to Layton as the staff member and bows and leaves the room.
"What else have you learned during your time in Japan?" Yamamoto asked.
"I'm just the assistant naval attaché." Layton said.
Yamamoto lightly smirked and turns to Layton. "Which is why I know that you must have an opinion." He said in English. "I was once our naval attache in Washington."
"After you went to Harvard." Layton said.
"Like you, I thought there was value in studying a potential adversary." Yamamoto said.
"There's a rumor that you told the prime minister that Japan can't win a win against the United States." Layton said.
"I said we couldn't win in a long war." Yamamoto stated correctly.
"There's another rumor that your life is in danger." Layton added. "That the nationalists think you're too moderate and have targeted you for assassination."
Yamamoto remains silent and gestures to Layton to have a seat, and they both sat down.
"Japan is at a crossroads." Yamamoto said. "We are emboldened by our invasion of China and eager to become a world power. Yet we get 80% of our oil from your country. If that supply is threatened, it will force us into drastic measures."
"You want me to pass this information along to Washington?" Layton asked.
"Don't push us into a corner." Yamamoto lightly warned. "You must give those of us who are more reasonable a chance to carry the day."
"Nobody wants a war." Layton said.
Yamamoto remains silent, and then stood up as well as Layton.
"Sayonara." Yamamoto said and speaks Japanese.
They both nodded.
"Sayonara." Layton said.
Yamamoto then turns and leaves the room as Layton remains a little unsure.
Author's Note:
For the film's 5th anniversary, I've decided to put together this story. I've recently seen the while film, and it is truly amazing.
My only regret was missing the chance to see it in theaters. I mean, it's not everyday you see a World War II film showing the attack of Pearl Harbor or the Doolittle Raid.