They were at war.
His orders were to kill them.
He saved 422 of them instead.
1942. The Java Sea.
British warships were sunk.
422 Allied sailors were floating in burning oil, surrounded by sharks, waiting to die.
Then, a Japanese destroyer appeared.
The drowning sailors closed
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They were at war.
His orders were to kill them.
He saved 422 of them instead.
1942. The Java Sea.
British warships were sunk.
422 Allied sailors were floating in burning oil, surrounded by sharks, waiting to die.
Then, a Japanese destroyer appeared.
The drowning sailors closed their eyes.
They expected machine-gun fire.
Instead, Captain Shunsaku Kudo hoisted the rescue flag.
For five straight hours, in submarine-infested waters, his crew pulled every single enemy from the sea.
They washed the oil from their burning eyes.
They shared their own fresh water and biscuits.
Then, Captain Kudo walked onto the deck, saluted the captured British officers, and spoke in English:
"You fought bravely. Today, you are the honored guests of the Imperial Japanese Navy."
He delivered all 422 men safely to a hospital ship.
And after the war?
He never told a soul. Not his friends. Not even his wife.
He took it to his grave.
Save the enemy at the risk of your own life.
Then speak of it to no one.
This is who we are.
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