The most epic deaths through history

Start writing...Today, we will discuss some of the most notable deaths in human history. Our first story features Ben K, a unique warrior monk from 12th century Japan. On a dark night in Kyoto, he wanders the streets with a naginata, a weapon that resembles a sword and long spear. Unlike other monks, Ben K is not in search of enlightenment; he is on a hunt. He seeks to challenge himself by defeating 1,000 samurai. At that point, he has already conquered 999.
One night, he hears a flute near Gojo Tenjin Shrine. He discovers a small samurai with a beautiful katana. Ben K sees this as the perfect final addition to his collection and challenges the samurai to a duel. The samurai accepts, and they fight at Gojo Bridge. Despite his size advantage, Ben K is swiftly defeated. The samurai lets him live but walks away.
Enraged, Ben K decides to seek revenge. He spots the samurai again and challenges him to another duel but loses once more. In defeat, he offers to abandon his life as a monk and follow the samurai, who is Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The two become inseparable companions.
They join Yoshitsune's brothers to fight against the tyrannical Taira clan. After five years, they emerge victorious, with Yoshitsune's brother becoming Shogun. However, peace leads to jealousy and suspicion among the brothers, forcing Yoshitsune and Ben K to go on the run. They find refuge with the Fujiwara clan but are eventually betrayed.
On June 15, 1189, at the Battle of Koromua, they are surrounded and outnumbered. Despite the odds, Ben K fights bravely, cutting down enemies much shorter than him. As he stands against the Fujiwara army on the bridge, he takes countless arrows but remains defiant.
In his final stand, Ben K positions himself to seem alive, buying time for Yoshitsune to commit seppuku and maintain his honor. His sacrifice is remembered as an act of true loyalty and bravery.
Now we move to our second story about Admiral Yi Sun-sin in 16th century Korea. At this time, Korea was a tributary to China. It experienced a period of relative peace, while Japan was embroiled in civil war. However, in 1592, the Japanese began to invade.
Korea's military was weak, largely due to corruption. The invasion started with the Japanese landing in Busan, causing panic among the Korean leaders. As a result, many soldiers defected or sank their ships to avoid battle. However, Admiral Yi refused to yield.
He had superior ships called Panokseon, designed for naval combat. At the helm of a small fleet, Yi decisively engaged the Japanese navy and won multiple battles. He sank over 200 Japanese ships without losing any of his own. As the war dragged on, Yi faced jealousy and betrayal from within his ranks.
After being imprisoned on false charges, he was reinstated to save the beleaguered Korean navy. Outnumbered, he displayed remarkable strategy and courage, defeating Japanese forces 25 to 1. Sadly, during a final assault, he was mortally wounded but instructed his body to be kept hidden so that his men could continue fighting. Admiral Yi Sun-sin died as a hero, leaving a legacy of victory.
Finally, we have the story of Ben L. Salomon, a World War II field medic. Drafted in 1940, he served as a dental officer but quickly proved himself as a capable soldier. In June 1944, the 105th Infantry Regiment was sent to fight in Saipan.
When the battalion surgeon was wounded, Salomon took his place. After heavy fighting, the remaining Japanese forces planned a final charge on July 7, 1944. Salomon's medical tent filled with injured soldiers, and he worked tirelessly to care for them.
When Japanese troops broke through, he boldly defended his position, taking out several enemy soldiers. As things escalated, he ordered his medics to evacuate while he stayed behind to provide cover. Salomon fought valiantly at a machine gun position until he was eventually overrun.
His body was discovered days later alongside 98 dead Japanese soldiers. Despite his heroism, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor due to a Geneva Convention rule forbidding medical personnel from engaging in combat. This oversight was eventually corrected, and in 2002, he was recognized posthumously.
These stories highlight the sacrifices made by individuals who fought bravely for their beliefs and their people.