Well, as some old general once said, war is hell, but in this case, it may be more like purgatory.

A 22-year-old Japanese soldier was left to defend a South Pacific island during World War II.

But he never knew the war ended,

and he stayed on the job until the 1970s.

I'm Patty Steele.

He's next on the backstory.

The Black Information Network and six-time Emmy-nominated news anchor Vanessa Tyler welcome you to Blackland.

A podcast about the ground on which the black community stands right now.

From stories about salvation and loss.

They did not love themselves enough to know their HIV status, to not pass it on to me.

To dreams achieved or still yet unfulfilled.

From people who have made it.

We started a hospital-based violence intervention program called the IV

project and it stands for interrupting violence and using young adults.

To those who have been left behind.

But no one talks about the survivors of the gun violence and the number is rising because the gun violence has risen.

Politically, financially, emotionally, spiritually.

This is where we are.

This is Black Land.

And one of the things that my father said to me before he passed away, it's like almost like a prophecy.

He said that I would be helping men.

Listen to Blackland on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

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