By William Ricketts
Special to the Examiner
Dates are what we remember relating to an event, a pet or a person. Some major dates in the United States stick out, like “Remember the Alamo” from 1836; Dec. 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy; and Sept. 11, 2001, never forget, and “Let’s roll” from Flight 93.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775.
The Civil War ended between April 9 and June 2 of 1865, 160 years ago.
The conflict in Vietnam would start on Nov. 1, 1955, 70 years ago, and not end until April 30, 1975, 50 years ago.
World War II would start on Sept. 1, 1939, 86 years ago.
On Dec. 7 1941, 84 years ago, America would be attacked and declare war on Dec. 8 against Japan; and Germany would follow after they declared war on the U.S.
In 1945, 80 years ago, you would see battles, atomic bombs, and surrenders of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. I would like to cover some of those events. I feel it’s important to remember those at home and abroad during times of conflict in American history.
While WWII started in 1939, America wouldn’t enter fully until after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Up until this point, America had been shipping supplies and planes to the U.K.
Some Americans went north to Canada to fly with the Royal Air Force in England, helping the British. Others would resign their commissions in the U.S. military to sail to China and fly with Clair Chennault and become the famed flying tigers.
1942 was a year of mostly learning in the European Theater and Pacific Theater, and by 1943 things were going in the right direction.
1944 was the beginning of the end. Then during 1945 in the European Theater, you would see the end of: the Battle of the Bulge (12-16-1944/ 1-25-45); The Battle of Hurtgen Forest, (9-19-44/2-10-45); Operation Nordwind, (1-1-45/1-25-45); Colmar Pocket, (1-20-45/2-9-45); Ruhr Pocket, (3-7-45/4-27-45); Operation Varsity, (3-24-45) ; Battle of Frankfurt, (3-26-45/3-29-45); Battle of Paderborn, (3-30-45/3-31-45); Battle of Kassel, (4-1-45/4-4-45); Battle of Heilbronn, 4-4-45/4-12-45; Battle of Nuremburg, (4-16-45/4-20-45); and the Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, (4-6-45/5-2-45).
On May 2, 1945, all axis forces surrender in Italy. May 8, 1945, Germany surrenders and it’s known as “V-E Day,” Victory in Europe is upon the world.
Men and women would begin to return home, some wondering if they would be sent back to the war to help finish the war in the Pacific. Some not at home would start training.
Moving to the Pacific in 1945, many hard-fought battles took place: Battle of Luzon, (1-9-45/ 8-15-45); Battle of Manila, (2-3-45/3-3-45); Battle of Bessang Pass, (6-1-45/6-15-45); Battle of Iwo Jima, (2-19-45/3-26-45); Battle of Okinawa, (4-1-45/6-22/45).
On Aug. 6, 1945, the B-29 Superfortress, Serial number 44-86292 named Enola Gay after the mother of Col. Paul Tibbets, the man in charge of the 393rd Bombardment squadron and 509th Composite groups would fly from Tinian Island and drop an atomic bomb named Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
On Aug. 9, 1945, Major Charles W. Sweeney the C.O. of the 393rd would fly Fredrick C. Bock’s B-29 serial number 44-27297 named Bockscar off Tinian Island and drop Fat Man on Nagasaki.
He and Bockscar would fly one more mission on Aug. 14, participating in an all-plane available bomb run on the Japanese mainland, dropping a pumpkin bomb, a non-atomic bomb.
On Aug. 15, 1945, Japan would surrender; it would be known as V-J Day. You had a Sailor and a nurse kissing in Times Square in New York City on that day, along with celebrations all over America and worldwide, the war was finally over.
Eighty years ago, on Sept. 2, 1945, in Tokyo Harbor on board the battleship representing the state of the president of the United States Harry S. Truman the U.S.S. Missouri, the Japanese would sign the papers, making it official.
In 1946, a movie would come out called “The Best Years Of Our Lives.” It’s about three returning veterans in 1946 coming home and adjusting to home life. It’s an amazing movie, if you get a chance to watch it.
Many sacrifices were made at home and abroad. Some wouldn’t come home, but many would and those men and women would come home from war and either pick up where they left off before leaving or start over, and they would build something special.
They would and will continue to live the lives they fought or served to preserve. This Veterans Day 2025, I’d like to say, “thank you and God bless” to all the retired and currently serving military personnel.
