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2014-07-30 -Obits-
Last Surviving Crew Member That Bombed Hiroshima Dies
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Posted by Thineng Angailet7166 2014-07-30 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ]  Top

#1 RIP, Dutch. The passing of each clear-headed WWII vet actually hits me pretty hard. The "practical intelligence" of the American people WRT world affairs arguably reached its zenith in that war and its immediate aftermatch. Now?

I wonder if any of the "Bock's Car" crew are still alive. The mission that ended up bombing Nagasaki is sort of an amazing tale.

And I've always loved how the procedure for arming Little Boy, after being worked out (like everything else connected to these amazing weapons) in finite detail over months, was completely switched at the last minute (arm in the air, not on the ground).
Posted by Verlaine 2014-07-30 01:07||   2014-07-30 01:07|| Front Page Top

#2 As you say, in this and so many other endeavors, we couldn't do it again.
Posted by Skidmark 2014-07-30 06:32||   2014-07-30 06:32|| Front Page Top

#3 Greatest Generation for a damn good reason. My generation is a pail imitation. I feel like I should apologize each time I read or hear about deeds of men like "Dutch".
Posted by Charles 2014-07-30 08:49||   2014-07-30 08:49|| Front Page Top

#4 Yes, we've sort of been trust fund babies to their efforts.
Posted by Procopius2k 2014-07-30 09:04||   2014-07-30 09:04|| Front Page Top

#5 Here's a toast...
Posted by Lowspark 2014-07-30 10:09||   2014-07-30 10:09|| Front Page Top

#6 Many years ago, I met Mr. Van Kirk (along with Paul Tibbets and Robert Ferebee) and had a chance to talk with them at length about the technical aspects of the mission. Mr. Van Kirk was a very pleasant man who had no qualms about the mission he was tasked to carry out. I hope we still have a few left like him.

Mike
Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2014-07-30 10:47||   2014-07-30 10:47|| Front Page Top

#7 There are still the freedom-loving and brave. Some gave all. 2014 MOH Convention-Knoxville 2014.
Posted by JohnQC 2014-07-30 11:19||   2014-07-30 11:19|| Front Page Top

23:53 JosephMendiola
23:31 SteveS
23:28 SteveS
23:27 USN, Ret.
23:20 USN, Ret.
22:59 trailing wife
22:38 Procopius2k
22:36 anon1
22:33 Charles
22:12 Pappy
22:10 OldSpook
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