My grandfather had survived being kamikazied at Okinawa. His ship, the Bunker Hill, was back at Bremerton being repaired for the bloody planned invasion of the Japanese home islands. The A-bombs meant that never came to pass and millions of Americans and Japanese did not have to die. Had he still been alive, I can only imagine what he would say about Kerry’s sniveling about those bombings.
My Father was in the Navy fighting in the South Pacific during WWII.
He served on a Sub Chaser and a Military Tug. On the Tug their Job was to tow stranded Landing Craft off the Beach Heads while under fire throughout the Island hopping Campaign.
They almost got blown out of the Water by one of our own Destroyers when the Captain didn’t follow Orders and got in the way of our Warships. He was trying to be a Hero and almost got the entire Crew killed.
My Father even lived through the Major Typhoon that sunk many of our Ships. They made it through but everyone on Board was beyond Seasick, even the old Salts. It was the most miserable time he remembers.
If we had been forced to Invade Japan, there is a good chance I wouldn’t be here today to tell the tale and I assume the same goes for many here as well.
We took lives to save lives, such is the reality of War.