Military

The Boston Globe is reporting the death of General Charles W. Sweeney:

Charles W. Sweeney, a retired Air Force general who piloted the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki in the final days of World War II, has died at age 84.

Sweeney died Thursday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, hospital spokeswoman Christine Johanson said. She did not disclose the cause of death.

[…]

Sweeney was 25 and had never previously dropped a bomb on an enemy target when he piloted the B-29 bomber that attacked Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, six days before Japan surrendered. About 70,000 people were killed in the explosion of the bomb, dubbed ”Fat Man.” The attack came three days after the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Years later, Sweeney became an outspoken defender of the bombings, appearing on the Larry King show on CNN and speaking at colleges and universities.

Sweeney also wrote the book, ”War’s End: An Eyewitness Account of America’s Last Atomic Mission,” because of what he considered ”cockamamie theories” that the bombings were unnecessary.

”I looked upon it as a duty. I just wanted the war to be over, so we could get back home to our loved ones,” Sweeney told The Patriot Ledger of Quincy in a 1995 interview. ”I hope my missions were the last ones of their kind that will ever be flown.”

Over at “Gator Six”, Tim has posted from Major General Dempsey’s remarks on the casing of the colors as the 1st Armored Division prepares to leave Iraq after more than fifteen months of duty there:

Today we also celebrate our Independence Day. It seems fitting that we end our mission on this great American holiday that celebrates our freedom.

We have learned a lot about the price of freedom.

We have learned that people experiencing freedom for the first time may not understand how fragile it can be and how much sacrifice may be required to earn it and preserve it.

I am confident that our actions have shown the Iraqi people how much we value our freedom. It is a shining example that cannot be ignored.

And we have learned that even people who have lived in freedom may not fully comprehend the profound care it requires. It was, after all, Thomas Jefferson who said “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

You will never feel the same about Independence Day again.

Go read the whole speech, it’s well worth the read….

Blackfive has posted a letter from the 3/4 Marines written to Al Qaeda about the captured US Marine that they are holding hostage:

Before the current politically correct climate enveloped our culture one of the recruiting slogans of our band of brothers was “The Marine Corps Builds Men.” You will soon find out just how true that is. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a bunch of women. If you were men you would show your faces, and take us on in a fair fight. Instead, you are cowards who hide behind masks and decapitate helpless victims. If you truly represented the interest of the Iraqi people you would not be ambushing those who come to your country to repair your power plants, or sabotage the oil pipelines which fuel the Iraqi economy. Your agenda is hate, plain and simple.

When you raise that sword over your head I want you to remember one thing. Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is not alone as he kneels before you. Every Marine who has ever worn the uniform is there with him, and when you strike him you are striking all of us. If you think the Marines were tough on you when they were cleaning out Fallujah a few weeks ago you haven’t seen anything yet. If you want to know what it feels like to have the Wrath of God called down upon you then go ahead and do it. We are not Turkish truck drivers, or Pakistani laborers, or independent contractors hoping to find work in your country. We are the United States Marines, and we will be coming for you.

The letter speaks for itself….

Sgt. Hook writes today about two anonymous Marines that gave their lives this week:

The two headlights coming our way caught my eye initially, and then the sounds of the HUMVEE rhythmically driving over the steel plates of the beach sounding like a slow moving train on a rickety old rail system filled my ears. As the vehicle passed the first group of onlookers, they silently snapped to the position of attention and rendered a hand salute. A VIP perhaps? It became obvious that there was a second HUMVEE following the first, as group after group of Soldiers now lining both sides of steel beach snapped to and saluted. It would soon be our turn.

As the lead vehicle arrived at our location we too assumed the proper position and rendered honors though there was no command given, we acted on instinct. We stood rigid holding our salutes until the second of the two flag draped caskets riding in the back of the desert tan HUMVEEs passed, and we silently dropped our salutes. Two Marines had given their all in defense of our country and were now going home, to the land of the free, receiving a final goodbye from a group of tired and sweaty Army aviators, mechanics, crewmembers, and technicians some with their flight suits tied around their wastes, others saluting with hands turned black from oil and dirt and still others fighting back tears for the two anonymous men whom they’ve never met, but knew all too well. Silently we went back to work as the sun rested behind the craggy mountain tops turning the sky orange. The winds continued to blow.

The Marines who Sgt. Hook saluted were:

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Daniel B. McClenney, 19, of Shelbyville, Tenn

Lance Cpl. Juston T. Thacker, 21, of Bluefield, W.Va.

Both Marines died June 24 from hostile fire near Bari Khout, Afghanistan. They were both assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Semper Fi

Andy Rooney just did a great commentary about D-Day on 60 Minutes:

On each visit to the Beaches over the years, I’ve wept. It’s impossible to keep back the tears as you look across the rows of markers and think of the boys under them who died that day.

Even if you didn’t know anyone who died, your heart knows something your brain does not – and you weep.

If you think the world is selfish and rotten, go to the cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach. See what one group of men did for another group on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Wizbang writes of Major George E. Preddy, Jr.:

In just 12 short months Maj. George E. Preddy, Jr. had 26.83 air victories and 5 ground victories bringing his total to 31.83 kills. Almost certainly, he would also have come out as top American ace in Europe had it not been for that tragic error on Christmas Day in 1944. He would no doubt have been a part of the air battle called Operation Bodenplatte by the Luftwaffe when many of his squadron mates shot down as many as five enemy aircraft on New Years Day 1945. John C. Meyers, CO of the 352nd who upon meeting him said that Preddy “couldn’t punch his way out of a paper bag” later said of him: “He’s just the greatest fighter pilot who ever squinted through a gunsight”.

Maj. Preddy could have not fought at all. He could have gone home on no less than 7 occasions to a hero’s welcome. Instead he continued to fight for his country. Thanks to people like Maj. Preddy and countless others we get to enjoy Memorial Day in freedom. Think of him while you enjoy the day.

Hat Tip: Jay