Jump to content

Anniversary:doolittle Raider's


Recommended Posts

yes what a day 62 years ago:30 seconds over tokyo...

{they volunteered for a mission,and knew they might not make it back}

well i had the honor today,to spend time with seven of the seventeen remaining survivor's of the raid.80 total:

 

and take pic's of the four b-25 mitchell bomber's.in glorious black and white................

 

and was able to get them to sign a copy of.destination tokyo:by>stan cohen.............and meet tung-sheng liu...... who had helped the crew..of the ruptured duck.....the same crew and plane,as told in the story......"Thirty second's over Tokyo"

 

it was a true honor to meet these men..............and sit in the b-25...............which gives you a true feeling........of that was some dangerous raid..............

 

it will not be long before all these old warrior's are gone........and for the things they did to preserve........the nation they served..............

 

i will remember that day as long as i am around,

 

just as my grandfather who served on the uss enterprise in the battle of midway,

 

and my uncle,who served and died on the uss arizona on dec.7,1941

 

i myself have never made any contribution as these men have,only after serving myself in the u.s.m.c. in time of the viet-nam conflict.............1968-1974............. and as i sat at the table today with these men.............nobody asked for my autograph..............but i am sure as hell glad i did ask them for their's...........as that memory will stay with me,and i am sure the other's who attended..........

 

keep them flying..........semper-fi..........

 

take care,ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron, I would have given my right %@t to have been there! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif I'd love to interview some of those guys, hero's all. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif Regards, Walter

 

P.S. Ron, thanks for your service to our Nation (U.S.A.), and all of us. Phil is right, you did not get to pick the fight or the leaders. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People like that fight and die to preserve our freedom, and yet, only 30% or so will vote in November. I don't get it.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Where was this meeting at? I was in Louisville at a show about a month ago and they had the co-pilot and a bombadier from the 2 planes, Enola Gay & Bocscar(sp) that dropped the Atomic bombs on the yellow bastards of WWII. I was just able to see them, but the lines for autographs and pictures was deep.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron,...good story...touches a common fiber all of us here respect and honor.I know exactly how you feel, a couple of weeks ago I had the honor of meeting Col.Robert Morgan,pilot of the `MEMPHIS BELLE`,B17 at the Macdill Airshow in Tampa,Fl....I was in awe of this hero and his service record to say the least...got to shake hands and talk for a few moments and he autograghed his memoirs for me...it`s hard to describe the feelings even now...I`m glad I have video of the moment...thanks for post,out. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with you guys that we owe such a debt of gratitude to all vets. Thoe guys were willing to give all and some did so we can live as free as we do.

The librals just dont get it and never will because most of them have never sacrficed anything except someone elses money.

To the vets I say THANKS

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're right on that point, Philohio. Kerry's been made out to be a Sgt. York in Navy whites. The problem is, the converse is true. He's little better than a traitor to this country. Hopefully, Nader will pull enough votes away to keep Bush in. We can't hope that the public will see the truth.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

they had the reunion in tucson this year.and yes a salute to all vet's............i consider myself a lucky one,came back with no loss of limb's...........or loss of sanity.........and as a person who joined and not drafted.......... i really have no polotik's about that conflict..................

 

and after the end of it,my greatest time was the viet-nam 1986 chicago{coming home parade}i had people come up to me and shake my hand, and say welcome back.even tho i returned in 1971........

 

we all should have the same feelings for those serving in iraq and other third world hell-hole's.....

 

that they have the support they need.............

 

and in time of their most need.they will find peace.

 

in your life some just need a awakening of what is happening around them..........in life along the way we sometimes lose that.............hopefully later on we find the right road again.............

 

anyhow my thought for the day................maybe a little off track..............and not the subject of some post's...............but thats the way it is.............

 

anyhow it was a sobering moment for me...........

 

take care,ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron, thanks for filling us in on your family and their serivce to this great USA (yourself included).

 

Mike, Ye Thompson Knight, please stop your flaming of the Japanese and other foreigners. Do it somewhere else. Comments like yours are racist and sure don't contribute in any way to this forum, in my view. I met MANY people in Japan that lived through WWII, and they absolutely hated what was going on during those years, both politically and militarily in their country. I know, I'm just one of the "semi-auto peeps" around here, but I'll bet I'm not alone in my opinion. Go out and blast a few mags on the range, buddy. Just don't hate all the Japanese. You don't, right?

 

I've visited the Arizona, Little Big Horn, the Alamo, and I have to go to Normandy before I die (I'm 51...and not dying, yet). I salute each and every man & woman that has served and will serve this country. Always have, always will. No, I did not serve. I didn't evade or escape to Canada, either.

 

Anyway, just speaking my mind. You or anyone else is always welcome to respond here, or E-mail me privately. Just another part of "we live in the greatest country in the world" (even if I live in Illinois).

 

Ron Mills

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to associate myself with Ron's remarks, with one clarification. IMHO, those of who fought the Japanese during WWII, especially who survived the POW camps, are entitled to any negative opinion of the Japanese they want. But when I hear such remarks from those who did not, especially when racial characteristics are highlighted, they seem to me to be racist.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

the atomic bomb in human history has only been used twice...........both times on the japanese......they have suffered enough..........and paid a heavy price for the atrocities to the chinese people,and others that suffered during those year's 1931 thru 1945...........

and sometimes it was the wrong one's whom suffered........

 

i have forgiven....................and for all those storie's of i got this off a dead jap or nazi...........they in their time had been doing what they had been told to do...........that is called serving......................i am sure many stories around the campfire of i got this off a dead american...........and the beat go's on,thanks ron m. for the kind word's..........not much of that go's around anymore today.......................a lot of class in a world of...............

 

wink!! take care,ron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

its funny how the DOOLITTLE RAIDER'S......who did a lot.....was only read 179 or so times,and soooo many other's,have been viewed.............500 plus time's............just go's to show you times are a changin........

 

and how few people have comments.........of past history!!

 

maybe they just want to forget...............

 

take care,ron

 

 

now what was that post about colt actuator being worth $18000...wink!! sad huh??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/sad.gif Hollywood;;In the movie, Pearl Harbor, I hated to see, the leftist, Alec Baldwin play the role of such a great hero.....Also there were too many left wing,anti-military types playing heroic American soldiers in Saving Private Ryan...... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/mad.gif

I am sure you'al can come up with other hollywood non-military types playing the role of American heros..But on the other hand, someone like Mel Gibson playing the role of LTC.Moore in the movie,"We were soldiers", was just right http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/wink.gif

Don't be hard on Mike,guys;; I got to meet him at the MG Shoot, and what a great guy he is. Wish he was my neighbor..I believe his remark, was in the context & time period of 41-45, ie, Atomic bomb + Japanese = defeating the enemy. .......I think he owns a Toyota..

I personally am glad that Japan has a 500+ man Battalion in Iraq, It's about time, after 58 years they, and the Germans need to be sending fighting units with us to wipe out these fanatics, that will not listen to reason, and want the whole West obliterated ! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/mad.gif ..................jw

Link to comment
Share on other sites

the reason i posted this topic on the thompson board,is because they had a few on the trip.{in case they did get to make a decent landing }in japan,

besides the 45's they carried...................

 

as told by a few of the crew................

 

and this site seemed as good as any to post it............

 

those who tend to forget history, tend to repeat it.......for good as well as evil!!

 

and was not meant to be a slug/fest against anyone,

but a little story on a few who came home.........{and are still around today to talk about it}

 

which in about ten years or so,we won't have..........

 

hard to beleive.............we have all these posts and so few comment's................

 

have to switch it to the history channel..wink!!!oh!wait!off topic......

 

take care,ron

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ron, I agree most people today only want to focus on physical artifacts, not true history, and the lessons to be learned, heros to be remembered, etc.

 

Junglewalk, not only should the German and Japanese militaries be defending the West from terrorist thugs around the World, but we Americans should completely pull out of their nations. After all, it has been almost 60 years since hostilities ended in WWII. It is a collosal waste of our tax dollars to continue to defend, watch, etc. these two supposed allies! If we want bases in those nations, we should negotiate for them, and leave them to solve their own problems. After all, the World should get back to some semblance of normality eventually, without us interfering in the foreign and domestic affairs of two major U.S. allies!!! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif Regards., Walter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

yep walther> a little guard shack with a few u.s.marines and a bulldog should do the trick..........................

 

wow some thought!!!

 

 

let them police themselves.............

 

we all have enough to do already.....don't we???

 

well back to the franks and bean's........and cool lemonade..........it gets hot in the desert...wink!! RON

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You are right Walter, and we are in the process of doing that in Germany; From the late 80s of the Cold war of 7-Full divisions sitting in Germany, down to 2......The 1st Arm Div and the 2nd Arm Div...These two divisions are rotating in Iraq, and preparations are being made in the states to eventually receive them...Here at Ft. Knox is where in 1939, Gen Patton created 1st Arm Div......and it's coming home, or at least one full Brigade, and other units of 1st Arm Div is to settle.... http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/smile.gif

 

Yeah, goodbye Germany, they are on their own. There is talk of stationing small units in Poland, Bulgaria and Lithuania... ..These were our former enemies alligned with the Soviet union.. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif and now we are getting close.Ha!........Things change, I am so old; get the wheel chair! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif ............jw

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is indeed good news, Junglewalk! http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif I have heard of the ideas of stationing some American troops in Eastern Europe, however there have already been unfriendly noises heard in Warsaw and Moscow, with respect to such ideas. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif I can't say that I blame them. Also, what would be the advantage or purpose for us? I think it would be more money down the drain. Let them police themselves! Besides, now that much of Eastern Europe has joined the European Union (as of today, May 1, 2004), it is more their collective responsibility than ours. http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/blink.gif http://www.machinegunbooks.com/forums/invboard1_1_2/upload/html/emoticons/cool.gif Regards, Walter
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...