# What's happening in this Pearl Harbor photo? (Geneva Conventions) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549 "2010-12-09T17:05:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/1 "2010-12-09T17:05:50Z")
I was listening to something recently about the Geneva Conventions, and I was surprised to learn that it requires in some circumstances the burials of enemy soldiers with military honors. Then yesterday, I was looking at [these photos](http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/12/pearl_harbor_69_years_ago_toda.html), and #32 jumped out at me. Is that what’s happening in this picture? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/2 "2010-12-09T17:23:45Z")
That’s exactly what the caption says. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/3 "2010-12-09T17:35:40Z")
I’m a little more curious about what’s going on in picture 21, to the point where I wonder if the caption is correct. Of the six newsmen whose faces are visible, at least three are smiling and one (the third guy, with his suspenders visible) seems to be laughing. 😕 Could these have been newsmen racing for the phones at the White House but on a different day, to relay more happy news? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/4 "2010-12-09T17:42:58Z")
It may be callous, but they’re probably excited over getting the scoop on THE BIG STORY. I’m sure they’d be embarrassed to be seen smiling after hearing the news. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/5 "2010-12-09T17:55:05Z")
Biggest scoop of their lives. I’m not surprised at all that they were smiling. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/6 "2010-12-09T17:56:28Z")
Regarding the reporters, this is just a guess, but they may not be taking it as seriously as we think they should because they may have no idea how devastating the atack has been. I would imagine that the first reports contained no information about deaths, the _Arizona_, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/7 "2010-12-09T18:38:28Z")
> [@Clark\_Cello](#): > > Regarding the reporters, this is just a guess, but they may not be taking it as seriously as we think they should because they may have no idea how devastating the atack has been. I would imagine that the first reports contained no information about deaths, the _Arizona_, etc. Goog guess. Another guess is that this picture is a staged recreation. (What are the chances a photographer happened to be there and thought it would be worth taking a picture of reporters leaving the office? Remember, according to the caption, nobody knew this was big news yet.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/8 "2010-12-09T18:44:15Z")
Why bother to stage a recreation of something that inconsequential? My guess is there was a photographer outside the door who reacted to a bunch of excited people bursting out of a room. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/9 "2010-12-09T18:56:54Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Another guess is that this picture is a staged recreation. (What are the chances a photographer happened to be there and thought it would be worth taking a picture of reporters leaving the office? Remember, according to the caption, nobody knew this was big news yet.) For a recreation, it’s a terrible picture–blurred, one guy visible only by the top of his head behind and between two others, several limbs at odd angles. I’m pretty sure **silenus** has it right. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/10 "2010-12-09T19:51:29Z")
Not to mention, I don’t know about you but I always have a really funny look on my face when I run. ---
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/11 "2010-12-09T19:58:40Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > That’s exactly what the caption says. I wasn’t clear. You’re right the caption says with military honors, but it doesn’t say anything about the Geneva Conventions. I’m wondering if they’re doing it because it’s international law or if they’re doing it just because they believe in honoring dead soldiers, even if they’re the enemy. It’s not obvious (and also not unimaginable) that soldiers would naturally decide to give a formal ceremony to someone who just tried to kill them. I think most people would assume that the dead Japanese were thrown in a ditch and left to rot. ---
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/12 "2010-12-09T19:59:41Z")
And also, my first reaction to the picture y’all are talking about was the same. “Is he _smiling_?” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/13 "2010-12-09T20:01:57Z")
> [@gitfiddle](#): > > You’re right the caption says with military honors, but it doesn’t say anything about the Geneva Conventions. Yes, I would also like to know about that photograph, the one the OP actually asked about. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/14 "2010-12-09T20:09:35Z")
The US was able to raise a sunken Soviet sub with bodies in it. They had a formal ceremony where they sent the bodies back down into the ocean. > **[Project Azorian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian)** > > Project Azorian (also called "Jennifer" by the press after its Top Secret Security Compartment) was a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) project to recover the sunken Soviet submarine K-129 from the Pacific Ocean floor in 1974 using the purpose-built ship Hughes Glomar Explorer. The 1968 sinking of K-129 occurred approximately 1,600 miles (2,600 km) northwest of Hawaii. Project Azorian was one of the most complex, expensive, and secretive intelligence operations of the Cold War The US desi... ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/15 "2010-12-09T20:26:16Z")
It’s possible that _this_ pic (not #21) is the recreation. It would be good propaganda (domestic or otherwise) to demonstrate respect for the enemy. Kind of like a “oh yeah, well at least we _respect_ airmen!” I’m reminded of a quote from Hamburger Hill, something along the lines of: “These are not Viet Cong. They are well-trained and well-equipped NVA. When you meet him you will call him Nathaniel Victor. When you meet him twice, you will call him Mr. Nathaniel Victor.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/16 "2010-12-09T20:32:19Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The US was able to raise a sunken Soviet sub with bodies in it. They had a formal ceremony where they sent the bodies back down into the ocean. > > [Project Azorian - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Azorian) I always loved this story and I’m amazed nobody’s made a feature film out of it yet. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/17 "2010-12-09T20:43:03Z")
Re: #21 It could also be that they are happy the US is finally entering the war. Folks were sharply divided on the subject, but war is good for reporters, right? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/18 "2010-12-09T20:59:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Why bother to stage a recreation of something that inconsequential? My guess is there was a photographer outside the door who reacted to a bunch of excited people bursting out of a room. Would 1941 photo technology allow a photographer just standing around to be able to suddenly take a flash photo? Just seems a little odd that one happened to be there and thought this was a worthwhile picture. [Not saying I live and die by whether this is a recreation, but want to give the idea a fair trial] ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/19 "2010-12-09T22:02:58Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Would 1941 photo technology allow a photographer just standing around to be able to suddenly take a flash photo? Just seems a little odd that one happened to be there and thought this was a worthwhile picture. > [Not saying I live and die by whether this is a recreation, but want to give the idea a fair trial] Yes if the flash were attached and the film loaded. He could have simply lifted the camera and shot. He could well have already focused on the door and set the aperture correctly if he expected to take some kind of photo. He might well have had some indication that the reporters were getting ready to leave or maybe he was expecting The Secretary of Sate or someone similar to step out. He might have heard a commotion or seen someone open the door before the stampede started. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549/20 "2010-12-09T22:03:29Z")
RE: #21: Maybe they’re laughing b/c the guy in front ran full speed into that chair, or they tripped / shoved him to get out of there first? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-pearl-harbor-photo-geneva-conventions/563549.md?page=2)