My grandfather served in the Naval Civilian Construction Corps, better known as the Seabees, in the Pacific campaign. A small naval detachment was tasked with seizing a minor airfield and radio station in the Gilbert Islands. The landing went unopposed, and as the Marines conducted their reconnaissance and positioned themselves to assault the Japanese positions the island erupted with a fury of gunfire and explosions. When the Marines and sailors finally began their approach they discovered that the entire Japanese garrison had committed suicide. It was assumed that while giving an inspiring speech about the honor of dying for the emperor, and waving his service pistol, the Japanese commander had accidentally shot himself in the face, and the men under his command assumed he meant right then and there.