Before dawn in Aug.9th, the Soviets' attack began. A great number of women and children from the pioneer group who lived near our unit came running for refuge. After giving them temporary food and medical care, we began to prepare to fight back. I remember one 12- or 13-year-old boy among the refugees who said proudly but sadly, "I am a Japanese, too, so I helped fighting back using an air gun, but it was in vain. I could not help escaping with this lady." Later, I found out he was from Kan'nonji area in Kagawa prefecture.
Before dawn, Aug 9th, 1945