南雲忠一
During the American torpedo attacks, Admiral Chūichi Nagumo and his subordinates are shaken by the American pilots' unexpected bravery. Nagumo remarks "They sacrifice themselves like samurai, these Americans". Similar to Isoroku Yamamoto's sleeping giant quote from the 1970 film "Tora! Tora! Tora!", there is no evidence that Nagumo made this statement. When the "Akagi" is bombed, Nagumo is stunned by the force of the bomb's blast and is unable to get up, being tended to by Genda. Witnesses saw Nagumo standing near the ship's compass looking out at the flames on his flagship and two other carriers in a state of shock. Nagumo's chief of staff, Rear Admiral Ryūnosuke Kusaka, was able to persuade him to leave the critically damaged Akagi. Nagumo, with a barely perceptible nod and tears in his eyes, agreed to go.