“(almost typed “Japs” there)”
In a less politically correct world I bet you would have used that term. It’s historically correct for the era. And in my opinion, not derogatory. Terms such as “gooks” and other similar would be though.
My late Dad was in the Navy in WWII. North Atlantic Convoy duty on Cans. Two shot out from under him in the Med. Last half of the war on Guam.
He always referred to them as “Those Purple-Pissin’ Jap Bastards!”
Who am I to correct him? He was there.
About the word gook. It came to be used during the Korean conflict. The word Meegook is Korean for white occidentals, Hahngook is Korean for Koreans. As US soldiers entered villages the Koreans shouted Meegook at the soldiers. So there really is nothing about the word Gook that is derogatory.
When I was a kid the older men called them pan heads and zipper necks.
I get a kick outa that, because when I say those phrases no one knows what I'm talking about.
Those epithets have died, it seems.