by In July, the world learned of the sad death of Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! At the time, his death was recorded by authorities as drowning. However, a recent US War Journal report provided some additional, then unknown, details about his heroism at the time.
A story from Stars & Stripes, the Defense Department’s intelligence agency, reports that “A U.S. army officer is credited with saving three people from waves at a popular dive site in Okinawa in an episode in which a well-known Japanese manga artist is killed.”
The officer, Major Robert Bourgeau, 49, was credited with the Military Medal for his actions on July 4, which took place at the Mermaid Cave in the village of Onna, Okinawa. The bourgeoisie reportedly saw three swimmers – two Japanese civilians and another American soldier – fighting back in dangerous waves and rushing to their aid while “still wearing their sneakers”.
The S&S report said that while the wave itself was quite dangerous, a six-foot wave hit it and quickly created a vortex effect that began to suck in stranded swimmers.
Bourgeau- a trained diving instructor – was able to land civilians and escort American soldiers to safety. However, according to “several military witnesses,” Takahashi also came to the rescue during the rescue. However, viewers “only glimpsed him until he disappeared beneath the waves.”
“He’s a hero,” Bourjot told Stars & Stripes. “He died trying to save someone else.”
Takahashi’s body was found the next day by the Japanese Coast Guard floating off the coast of Nago, a city in northern Okinawa. His car was later found parked in the mermaid’s lair.
