CNN Presents: "A FlyBoy's Story" featuring GW's dad, former President Bush (FASCINATING) 11:45PM EST

CNN TV | July 4, 2004

[summer]

This is an absolutely riveting documentary featuring highly personal comments about war from GW's dad.

[summer]

Turn it on now if you're near a TV.

[summer]

Former President Bush: "The feelings we've been talking about here have been very personal for me, and I think a few years ago, I couldn't even talk about them."

[summer]

I had no idea he flew a total of 58 missions during WWII.

[summer]

Marvin Bush, whom I've never even seen on TV, was just on, explaining his dad never talked about some of these matters with his own kids.

[summer]

Former President Bush: "I've never talked about the burden of the job, or the lonliness of being president. If I were going to do that, I would talk about the agonizing decision of sending someone off to war."

[summer]

FYI.

[summer]

Well, it's over, but if you ever get a chance to see this documentary, DON'T MISS IT! I think Paula Zahn just said it was made in conjunction with a book of the same name.

[Liberty Valance]

I've seen it. It is excellent and informative about his days as a 20 year old carrier pilot. Paula Zahn did a good job on this one.

[summer]

Incredible, especially the ending, when he returns to Japan. Just amazing. Former President Bush has an amazing background in wartime, and a lot of wisdom. He also knows how blessed he is to have survived what he went through.

Thanks for your post.

[dc-zoo]

CNN played that one hour special at least four times over the weekend. Its the best tribute to Bush Sr. I've seen on any network. Very factual and rally highlights the man's heroism.

[beaversmom]

Oh darn, wish I had CNN--would have loved to have seen it.

[texasflower]

It is a very good show.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I wish I had seen this. The Japanese island where he was shot down (Chi Chi Jima) was one where the inhabitants were known to practice cannibalism. Beheadings were also their style.

[jatfla]

I liked it too. It gave the President a lot of time to talk, to explain his feelings. He really is a very decent, tender-hearted, intelligent person.

However, the brutality of people against each other is beyond my comprehension.

[rabidralph]

I saw part of it on Saturday. It was very good. HW's shoot down and what was going on on the island. Japanese civilan befriending a POW. POW killed for being friends with the civilian. HW meeting that civilian on the island. All very touching.

[summer]

CNN played that one hour special at least four times over the weekend

Thanks for your comments. I hope they run it again or put it out on DVD or both. I didn't see all of it. I am rarely that interested in documentaries about war, but this was exceptional.

When George Bush Sr., as an returned to Japan at the end, the Japanese saluted him. It was very moving.

[summer]

I meant to type: as an older man, returned to Japan,

[hershey]

I can't help a sneaking suspicion that this documentary is seeing the light of day because CNN hopes voters compare father and son and remember that our present President didn't serve in Vietnam, (But Kerry did!), although he served honorably in the National Guard. But no, I must be paranoid.

[summer]

All very touching.

Yes, very much so, and I guess that surprised me, as usually one might not expect that tone in a documentary about war. When George Bush Sr reflected, he noted that "Time heals all wounds." In his running perspective on how things change, he also asked something like this: "Would all this have put a human face on the enemy during the war? I don't think so." He understood both the agony and necessity of war, and ironies that follow it once time has played more of a role.

Seeing how welcome he is in Japan, and how the Japanese respect him -- following all that had happened in WWII and his role in fighting them -- it was very touching indeed.

[summer]

Re your post #18 - Well, I'll tell you, after this seeing documentary about George Bush Sr., you can't help but feel better that our current president, GW, has a living father who is so wise, with a much longer perspective, who can be called upon. To me, this documentary was a vote-getter for GW, and there's no doubt about that in my mind at all.