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Like
most young men of my generation I was faced with military service
when I became eligible for the draft in the early '60s.
Almost everyone I'd known, had been in the Army, Navy or Air
Force. My best friend had joined the Marines. I'd
always been interested in the military. They got to play
with such neat things. Airplanes, tanks and warships had an
almost mystical appeal to a young boy. Later I realized that
I'd probably have to go through the military, more as a rite of
passage than as some great adventure. It turned out to be
both. I was drafted in 1966, just as the war in Vietnam (and
the anti war movement) was heating up. While in I was given
the opportunity to fly, something I'd always wanted to do.
But there was a price to pay for this gift of wings. I was
expected to fly in "Sunny South East Asia," better known as
Vietnam. I did it and I'm not sorry I did. But like
almost every vet I've ever know, I don't think I'd like to do it
again. |
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But as time passes history is re-written. Villains become heroes and heroes become villains. In my correspondence over the years, two such cases came to hand. First, the attempt to "prove" that FDR knew of the impending attack on Pearl Harbor, but did nothing about it. Second, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. As to the first, I did a lot of research, and turned up some amazing things. For example there are many myths I was taught while growing up, such as America was a peaceful nation, completely unprepared for the war. In reality America was preparing for war BEFORE Pearl Harbor, and could have been at war almost a year before the raid. If you'd like to see some of the things I found
As to the A bombing of Japan, most Americans have no idea of the conduct of the air war and why the Atomic bombs were just one more weapon in that war. The atomic bombs, themselves, were terrible because of the little effort expended in the air raids (If you don't count the millions spent on their development). Only one plane destroyed much of a city. But the truth is, we had ALREADY destroyed most cities in Japan by the time the bombs were dropped. After the atomic bombs were dropped and a bombing pause was put into affect. But it was deemed that the Japanese leadership was dragging it's feet so Gen. LeMay was given the go ahead to continue to destroy anything that even vaguely looked like a target. Had there been no bombs, Hiroshima and Nagasaki would surly have been destroyed long before they were. Here's some of the information I found when I looked into the conduct of the air war over Japan in 1944 and 1945. - Click here -
Library of Congress Search Page Military/Info Publishing History
of
the 155 Assault Helicopter Company United states Air
force Museum Naval Historical
Center The
Army Historical Foundation For years America believed in coastal artillery as the means of keeping us safe. Here are a few sites. |
