Rev. Jacob DeShazer, Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, Asbury Seminary alumnus
Rev. Jacob DeShazer, an Asbury Seminary alumni and a member of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders passed away on March 15, 2008. Rev. Deshazer served as one of 80 men and specifically was the bombadier on Plane #16 in the raid on Tokyo. Members of this "dangerous secret mission" volunteered not knowing their target destination or plans until the mission was underway. DeShazer spent nearly four years as a prisoner of war after being captured by the Japanese. "I begged my captors to get me a Bible, and when the emperor of Japan told them to treat us better, I got one." He was finally granted permission to receive a Bible. This fueled DeShazer's passion to share Christ with the Japanese people should he ever be released. Ten days after the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima DeShazer was freed.
Rev. DeShazer earned a bachelor's degree from Seattle Pacific University and a master of divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. He and his wife then moved to Japan as missionaries with the Free Methodist Church to fulfill the vision he had in the prison cell. Together they established many churches and witnessed thousands of conversions to Christ.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and the Chinese Breast Order of Yung Hui. After serving in Japan for over 30 years DeShazer and his wife, Florence, retired to Oregon in 1977. Rev. Jacob DeShazer was 95 years old and is survived by his wife of 61 years, five children, six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and a sister.
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