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#31
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General Tibbets Goes West
"Gatt" wrote in message ... He was 92. God speed, General. Damn. Another fine one of the great generation gone. Guys like him are pretty dang tough to come by. I always wondered how well he slept at night long after the war. Not saying what he did was wrong, but, so many men of virtue who knew they were fighting the good fight or who had no choice but to kill are haunted by their war. The pilot of my grandfather's plane never talked about it to his family, and the co-pilot shut down to the point where he refused to believe--he got angry at the suggestion--that there were ever B-17s that weren't olive drab when I spoke with him a few years ago. One of the officers later committed suicide. Very brave men who did what they had to do, but couldn't bear to remember. To be reminded of that every time the History Channel or somebody talked about dropping The Bomb must have weighed heavy on the old warrior. May he rest in eternal peace. I had heard years ago that Tibbet's bombardier had taken his own life shortly after the war, but I have my doubts. Does anyone know for sure? |
#32
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General Tibbets Goes West
"Maxwell" wrote in message ... I had heard years ago that Tibbet's bombardier had taken his own life shortly after the war, but I have my doubts. Does anyone know for sure? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ferebee "Like Tibbets, Ferebee never expressed regret for his role in the bombing, saying, "it was a job that had to be done." He remained in the military in the years after World War II, eventually serving in Vietnam and retiring in the rank of He died in Windermere, Florida home at the age of 81" |
#33
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General Tibbets Goes West
"Gatt" wrote in message ... "Maxwell" wrote in message ... I had heard years ago that Tibbet's bombardier had taken his own life shortly after the war, but I have my doubts. Does anyone know for sure? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ferebee "Like Tibbets, Ferebee never expressed regret for his role in the bombing, saying, "it was a job that had to be done." He remained in the military in the years after World War II, eventually serving in Vietnam and retiring in the rank of He died in Windermere, Florida home at the age of 81" That's good to know Gatt, thanks. |
#34
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General Tibbets Goes West
"S Green" wrote in message ... "Morgans" wrote in message ... "C J Campbell" wrote He was 92. God speed, General. Damn. Another fine one of the great generation gone. Guys like him are pretty dang tough to come by. Rest easy, brave one. I am sure there is a place reserved for him in Hell. Some people have too large a carbon footprint. Al G |
#35
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General Tibbets Goes West
Bill Watson wrote:
Just for the record Mr Henriques, I consider myself pretty far out on the left side political and social thinking. At the same time, I totally honor Mr Tibbets. I even think a lot of you. Do we have to politicize EVERYTHING? Mr Oppenheimer arguably had more to do with dropping the big one - check out what the far right did to him... and that actually happened. Christ! Politics! Let's fly. Dudley Henriques wrote: Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote: Bill Watson wrote: He has been recorded more than once answering that question. He's always answered it the same way. To his credit, I doubt whether that's true. Perhaps best reflected in his request for no funeral or grave marker... though it can be interpreted in several ways. I wondered about that too. He is eligible for a military burial at Arlington National Cemetery... and there ain't so such thing as a protest there. He'd be in excellent company and he'd be safe for posterity. Tibbets received many letters after the war and all through his life from Japanese citizens thanking him for helping to save what would have been millions of their lives as well the American lives saved by forcing the surrender. He never had trouble sleeping and always understood the role he played in ending the war. About his grave request; Tibbets always has understood and has had to deal with the extreme left all through his life. He was well aware of the ingenuity and inventiveness of some of these people. To my knowledge he has always believed that no matter where he was buried, the location would be a prime target for these people. As for Arlington; interning him there would only have served to feed the extreme left who would again have used the very location of the internment as cannon fodder for keeping his name alive for use in the anti-war movement. The word I have gotten through my sources is that Tibbets simply wanted to not be used after his death in any way the location of his remains would have provided. He had quite enough of that in life, and simply wanted not to be used in any ongoing controversy. Personally, I think he did the right thing, although it's puzzling to me why, considering his goals, he simply didn't choose cremation. It's not too much a stretch however, to surmise that feeling the way he did about all of it, that he chose to take even the "fire" relationship out of the equation for the extreme left. Not quite sure what you are addressing here, but I'm assuming you believe I have politicized something that need not have been politicized? Anyway, I'm happy that you "even like me" whatever the "even" might represent :-)) -- Dudley Henriques |
#36
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General Tibbets Goes West
Bill Watson wrote:
Sorry Dudley, I just have a habit of reacting to terms like "these people" and "extreme". They've been used so often to negatively characterize people of good faith and purpose. I also tend to consider the terms "left wing" and "extreme left" to be political, don't you? And I consider their application to the remembrance of the recently deceased to be "politicizing". And yes, I still 'even' respect you despite your insistence on the casual politicization of the passing of a hero.... or your unwillingness to recognize the weight of you words. I think Paul Tibbets was a man who bore his duty, and the great burden that attended it, with honor and distinction. And I know you do too. Perhaps we can agree with that if nothing else. Bill Watson Durham NC Dudley Henriques wrote: Bill Watson wrote: Just for the record Mr Henriques, I consider myself pretty far out on the left side political and social thinking. At the same time, I totally honor Mr Tibbets. I even think a lot of you. Do we have to politicize EVERYTHING? Mr Oppenheimer arguably had more to do with dropping the big one - check out what the far right did to him... and that actually happened. Christ! Politics! Let's fly. Dudley Henriques wrote: Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote: Bill Watson wrote: He has been recorded more than once answering that question. He's always answered it the same way. To his credit, I doubt whether that's true. Perhaps best reflected in his request for no funeral or grave marker... though it can be interpreted in several ways. I wondered about that too. He is eligible for a military burial at Arlington National Cemetery... and there ain't so such thing as a protest there. He'd be in excellent company and he'd be safe for posterity. Tibbets received many letters after the war and all through his life from Japanese citizens thanking him for helping to save what would have been millions of their lives as well the American lives saved by forcing the surrender. He never had trouble sleeping and always understood the role he played in ending the war. About his grave request; Tibbets always has understood and has had to deal with the extreme left all through his life. He was well aware of the ingenuity and inventiveness of some of these people. To my knowledge he has always believed that no matter where he was buried, the location would be a prime target for these people. As for Arlington; interning him there would only have served to feed the extreme left who would again have used the very location of the internment as cannon fodder for keeping his name alive for use in the anti-war movement. The word I have gotten through my sources is that Tibbets simply wanted to not be used after his death in any way the location of his remains would have provided. He had quite enough of that in life, and simply wanted not to be used in any ongoing controversy. Personally, I think he did the right thing, although it's puzzling to me why, considering his goals, he simply didn't choose cremation. It's not too much a stretch however, to surmise that feeling the way he did about all of it, that he chose to take even the "fire" relationship out of the equation for the extreme left. Not quite sure what you are addressing here, but I'm assuming you believe I have politicized something that need not have been politicized? Anyway, I'm happy that you "even like me" whatever the "even" might represent :-)) Sorry. I can't agree with you on that. I do however respect your right to an opinion and I won't push the issue. Best to you DH -- Dudley Henriques |
#37
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General Tibbets Goes West
"Gatt" wrote in message ... "S Green" wrote in message ... Rest easy, brave one. I am sure there is a place reserved for him in Hell. Arrogant, ignorant and meaningless. The only difference between him and your average war criminal is that he was on the winning side |
#38
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General Tibbets Goes West
S Green wrote:
"Morgans" wrote in message ... "C J Campbell" wrote He was 92. God speed, General. Damn. Another fine one of the great generation gone. Guys like him are pretty dang tough to come by. Rest easy, brave one. I am sure there is a place reserved for him in Hell. No, you have your place and his confused. Matt |
#39
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General Tibbets Goes West
In article ,
"S Green" wrote: The only difference between him and your average war criminal is that he was on the winning side Define "war criminal" -- Bob Noel (goodness, please trim replies!!!) |
#40
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General Tibbets Goes West
"S Green" wrote in message ... Arrogant, ignorant and meaningless. The only difference between him and your average war criminal is that he was on the winning side My assessment of you stands. You are of course entitled to your opinion. Thanks, mainly, to guys like Tibbets who risked their lives so that it could be preserved for you. Had Japan or Germany won the war you would not now have the ability to accuse their warriors of war crimes in a public forum. -c |
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