Corpus Christi in Nueces County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Kamikaze

“Divine Wind”

— USS Lexington —

Kamikaze Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 13, 1998

1. Kamikaze Marker

Inscription. Kamikaze, meaning “divine wind,” was an echo from Japan’s legendary past. It was the name of a wind god who was said to have sent a typhoon that repulsed a mongol invasion fleet heading for Japan in the year 1281. Nearly seven centuries later, the divine wind again became the anathema to an invading Armada.

What the U.S. Navy did not know was that Japan had no other choice in weapons or tactics. The air battles from the Coral Sea to the Marinas had stripped the nation of its best pilots, and American submarines had sunk so many oil tankers that training flights had been severely curtailed. Many student pilots had no time to learn conventional bombing torpedo tactics. Faced with these grim realities, Admiral Takhiro Onishi, the tactician who more than three years earlier had favorably assessed the idea of attacking Pearl Harbor, conceived the extreme measure of using navy planes to crash dive into enemy ships. The result was a Kamikaze Corps of young volunteers, glad to have the opportunity to serve in so special a role. The Japanese base their lives on obedience to Emperor and Nation. On the other hand they wish for the best place in death, according to Bushido (Bushido was the ancient warrior code). One Kamikaze pilot had simpler explanation of his role. “I am nothing,” he wrote on the eye of his sacrifice

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“but a particle of iron”.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 27° 48.905′ N, 97° 23.339′ W. Marker is in Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nueces County. Memorial is on N Shoreline Blvd. The marker is on the deck of the USS Lexington. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2914 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi TX 78402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rising Sun (here, next to this marker); USS Lexington CV-16 (a few steps from this marker); Nueces County (approx. half a mile away); 1919 Storm (approx. half a mile away); Corpus Christi Longshoremen's Unions (approx. 0.6 miles away); Julius Lichtenstein House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sidbury House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Simon Gugenheim House (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corpus Christi.

Walkway to the USS Lexington image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 13, 1998

2. Walkway to the USS Lexington

Tarawa to Tokyo image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 13, 1998

3. Tarawa to Tokyo

Rising Sun Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 13, 1998

4. Rising Sun Marker

USS Lexington Museum on the Bay image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Don Morfe, June 13, 1998

5. USS Lexington Museum on the Bay

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 29, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.