5 Unsettling Facts About World War II That Nobody Talks About

Many books have been written on the history of the Second World War. Over the years, students have explored the subject, but the scope of their school curriculum often restricts teachers to specific details, leaving many aspects unexplored. Here are five particularly troubling and lesser-known facts about WWII.

Ni'ihau Incident

Airman First Class Shigenori Nishikaichi was a Japanese pilot involved in the second wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor , launching from the aircraft carrier Hiryū . Before the covert assault, all pilots were instructed that, in the event of trouble , they should fly for 30 minutes to the Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau and wait for submarine pickup.

Although assigned to combat air patrols over Pearl Harbor, Nishikaichi never reached the US naval base. His Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" ran out of fuel, forcing him to crash land on Ni'ihau. Like his fellow Japanese, he believed the island to be uninhabited. This assumption proved incorrect.

Ranch hand Hawila "Howard" Kaleohano discovered the crash site and, aware of the strained tensions between the United States and Japan, confiscated the pilot's pistol and documents, after which Nishikaichi received medical treatment. A translator was summoned to overcome the language barrier between Nishikaichi and the island's residents, who were unaware of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Yoshio Harada and his wife, Irene, of Japanese descent, conversed with the young pilot. Although they learned about the attack, they chose to keep this information private. It wasn't until a radio report that night that the residents learned of the events and placed Nishikaichi under house arrest.

What ensued was a period of chaos and fear as Nishikaichi attempted to escape the island. Harada had reclaimed the pilot's pistol and used it to shoot Kaleohano. The ranch hand's house was set on fire, and hostages were taken. One hostage was shot three times , but miraculously survived and ultimately killed Nishikaichi. Harada ended up taking his own life.

Now known as the Ni'ihau Incident, this little-known episode was one of the most disturbing moments of WWII.

One of the shortest soldiers captured one of the tallest

Before the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Jakob Nacken was gaining fame in the circus. At seven feet, three inches tall, the German traveled internationally, known as the "Giant from the Rhineland." Predictably, he was the tallest soldier in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War .

Conversely, Canadian Corporal Eldon Bob Roberts was among the shortest men to serve in the war, standing just five feet, three inches tall.

On September 26, 1944, a few months after landing in Normandy during the D-Day landings , Eldon and his comrades were in Calais when they captured a German gun crew. Among the 250 prisoners of war (POWs) was Nacken. A photograph taken of the pair meeting has become one of the war's most notable (and amusing) images.

Pilots had astonishing mortality rates

This is likely the most expected entry on our list of unsettling facts about WWII, but it's nonetheless important to note.

While aircraft played an important role in combat during the First World War , they were far more common during the Second. As one of the most dangerous occupations to hold during the conflict, pilots had to swallow their fears and fly headfirst into combat, never sure if they'd return to base.

There are a couple of statistics that show just how dangerous it was to be an aviator during WWII:

• The average life expectancy for newly enlisted Supermarine Spitfire pilots during the Battle of Britain was only four weeks.
• Around 71 percent of those named to a bomber crew died or were labeled as missing in action (MIA).
• Over 13,000 American pilots died while training in the United States, without ever facing the enemy.

George H.W. Bush narrowly missed certain death

George H.W. Bush was born into privilege as the son of banker and politician Prescott Bush. Despite his affluent background, the future US president was eager to join the fight during the Second World War. Upon turning 18 , he enlisted in the US Navy and was swiftly commissioned as an ensign in the Naval Reserve, becoming one of the youngest pilots in the service's history.

Flying a Grumman TBF Avenger, Bush embarked on his first combat mission against the Japanese at Wake Island in 1944 while stationed aboard the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) in the Pacific Theater. In August of that year, his torpedo bomber was shot down during an attack on Chichijima. He narrowly escaped death and was later rescued by the USS Finback (SS-230).

Tragically, some of his comrades were captured, killed and even cannibalized by their captors, marking an unsettling and chilling chapter of WWII.

Despite the harrowing ordeal, Bush continued his service in the Pacific, engaging in combat operations over the Philippines and training for the planned invasion of Japan , which was averted by Japan's surrender following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki .

A 12-year-old enlisted in the US Navy

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, plenty of young men were eager to enlist in the US military. Among them was Calvin Graham, who, at just 12 years old, wasn't about to let the US Navy's age limit prevent him from serving his country.

One loophole for enlistment was to have a guardian's permission. Not wanting his family to know his intentions, Graham forged his mother's signature on the necessary papers and snatched a notary stamp from a hotel. He then told his family he was going to visit relatives, at which point he traveled to Houston, Texas. While a dentist noted his young age , the pre-teen convinced the man to not reveal his true identity.

After undergoing training as an anti-aircraft gunner, Graham was assigned to the USS Dakota (BB-57). His first engagement was the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942, after which he participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal . He sustained severe injuries during the fight, but put his own well-being aside to ensure the safety of his fellow sailors.

It was newsreel footage that ultimately blew Graham's cover. His mother recognized his face and contacted the Navy, leading to his dishonorable discharge.

Why not necessarily an unsettling moment of WWII, as many young men lied about their age to enlist, the truly upsetting part is that Graham's life entered what many would call a downward spiral after he left the Navy. He failed to return to school and found himself a divorcee and father by the time he was 17. He later joined the US Marine Corps, but was forced to leave the service after breaking his back .

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In 1978, after writing a letter to then-US President Jimmy Carter, Graham's dishonorable discharge was changed to honorable.