“Erika, I’m sorry, but I’m stuck up here. The snowstorm is pounding away and all the roads are closed. You’ll have to pick him up at the airport tomorrow and entertain him until I can get to Minneapolis.”
My Weekend with a Kamikaze Pilot
Key Takeaways:
- The author, Erika, initially dreaded hosting Japanese WWII Zero pilot Masijiro "Mike" Kawato, expecting a fierce enemy, but instead discovered a demure, witty, and polite gentleman.
- A museum visit dramatically unveiled Kawato's past as a celebrated ace pilot who survived multiple shoot-downs, a failed suicide attempt, and was believed to have downed Pappy Boyington.
- Observing her father and Kawato's mutual respect and camaraderie despite their wartime history, the author learned that "enemies are often in that position by circumstance" and that shared humanity can transcend past conflicts.
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