-- Posted by Old John on Fri, Jun 6, 2014, at 11:40 PM
Blender, I think I have read that more people died of conventional bombs than the two A Bombs. Also Truman and Churchill didn't want to divide Japan up like Germany.
-- Posted by Old John on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 9:39 AM
America will never see again the great generation in our life time. These brave Americans came together without complaint and went to war won it in 4.5 years fighting two enemies and came back home not whining or complaining went to work started a small business and raised a family. Today, it has taken us 11.5 years for two Wars with the enemies being far weaker than what the great generation had to fight. The great generation had outstanding Presidents in Roosevelt and Truman when you got good leadership that makes a big difference and that is something we lack today.
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 9:51 AM
Well put swamp.
I have an Uncle in his 90's that served and was at Normandy Beach on D-Day. He never talked much until recently when I visit him and he mentions a few things.
When he was discharged after the war he said they took away his military possessions, gave him $20 and said "now go get a job".
That was it. And he did and raised a family of four quite successfully.
-- Posted by not_sorry on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 10:22 AM
One thing I had never heard that was on the History Channel last night was a deal between the U.S. and Briton early on. England got a promise of America's industrial base for top secret designs of British innovations of weaponry including radar development and aircraft design.
I knew the Japanese Zero was built around a British designed engine but never knew the Brits were pioneers of the magnetron.
Later when the R&D of both countries came together and the RAF was able to shoot down German bombers over the channel at night, Churchill told the press they had developed a formula of carrot juice that improved the pilots night vision.
-- Posted by Old John on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 7:30 PM
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 9:51 AM
You hit the nail on the head.
Rick
You got another $50 a month to be in the airborne. Many didn't know what it was but they wanted the extra green.
OJ
Carrot juice. What you wanna bet Hitler had his guys drinking it by the gallon.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 9:44 PM
Anyone that served in World War II deserves our thanks and all the honor we can bestow on them.
-- Posted by blender on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 1:22 AM
Absolutely, and anyone who has served in any capacity of service for our Country.
America will never see again the great generation in our life time. These brave Americans came together without complaint and went to war won it in 4.5 years fighting two enemies and came back home not whining or complaining went to work started a small business and raised a family.-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sat, Jun 7, 2014, at 9:51 AM
They did! And they DID, because they had a "public who backed them up", and they served the President who was elected.
If you have read some of the behind the scenes accounts of WWII and other wars, and the public knew about "things" as we are informed today, I would guess things would be different.
The fire bombing of Tokyo while the war was still going on probably took more civilian lives. That does not justify the a-bomb slaughter after Japan's offer for surrender.
-- Posted by BCStoned on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 7:36 AM And on this we agree.
-- Posted by Reasoning on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 8:14 AM
-- Posted by BCStoned on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 7:36 AM
BC: Some more info on the Japan offer for peace/surrender:
-- Posted by Truth Slinger on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 9:58 AM
This administration has lost a lot of respect not by just the people but the military as well, Reasoning that is the reason he don't have the backing and that is not the people's fault or the military fault he brought a lot of his problems on himself.
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 10:17 AM
BC, Seems to me the Japanese demonstrated quite well that surrender was not of their culture or tradition. They may have been testing the winds with the Russians but I doubt they would have surrendered unconditionally without total defeat.
The haste in using the bombs were to keep the Russians from sharing in the victory IMO.
-- Posted by Old John on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 1:24 PM
The fire bombing of Tokyo while the war was still going on probably took more civilian lives. That does not justify the a-bomb slaughter after Japan's offer for surrender.
-- Posted by BCStoned on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 7:36 AM And on this we agree.
-- Posted by Reasoning on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 8:14 AM
And if your grandfather was going to be in the invading force there is a big possibility you wouldn't be here. The Japs drew fist blood so I think they got their due. Go to the Vets Home and ask their opinion.
You think like Obama Reason. Turning a cheek would only give them time to kill a few more Americans. And that olive branch? It wouldn't have worked.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 1:49 PM
Regret, I would say that Reasoning must have served in the military and served with honor.
-- Posted by BCStoned on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 1:53 PM
Maybe so but I came from a large family on men that were there as kids and young men. Not a one of them ever expressed they regretted the bomb. They thought the mainland was their next stop.
The thing that they did speak of is the rumor that Mrs. Truman thought they were to crazy to come back home. One of my uncles said he wanted to leave the cotton fields when he got older but decided after war they weren't so bad after all and farmed until he died two years ago.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 3:12 PM
I think they had ample warning(s) before we dropped the bomb. BTW it took two.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 6:22 PM
-- Posted by blender on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 7:00 PM
blender: That shows the mentality of the Japanese, better to commit suicide than to give up.
-- Posted by Truth Slinger on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 8:26 PM
The a-bomb on Nagasaki did significant damage to Japan's Catholic population. It has never recovered to the point it was before the a-bomb.
-- Posted by BCStoned on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 6:40 PM
I don't know about Japan but the religious thing happened to Germany. Churches were destroyed and never rebuilt. A large part of the E. German population is agnostic because of it.
My cousin married a girl that escaped from East Berlin. She has told me many stories about how the people recovered from the war. It is always interesting. She says people here can get rich with the same work as it takes to survive there. She says most Americans are lazy. I think she is right.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 10:03 PM
She says most Americans are lazy. I think she is right.
-- Posted by We Regret To Inform U on Sun, Jun 8, 2014, at 10:03 PM
I agree, but I think we are attributing lazy to different aspects. I suppose she was referring to work ethics. I think Americans are lazy because of their attitude towards life.
-- Posted by Reasoning on Mon, Jun 9, 2014, at 8:10 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzgKMDydr5Y#t=41
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