Letter to the editor: Memories of the A-bomb

With much gratitude for their service during World War II, I read the stories of J. Wilson, B. Young and B. Brodine (“75 years after atomic bombs fell on Hiroshima, area vets believe U.S. did right thing,” Aug. 6, TribLIVE).

I recall being informed of the A-bomb being dropped on Japan by my father, a World War I Navy veteran, as we entered our living room from opposite doors. He said, “The war will end, as we are the only ones able to unleash the power of atoms splitting … and that means you and your brother will never have to serve!”

My brother and I were both born in the 1930s. He was honorably discharged from the Army as a first lieutenant in the 1950s and I as a Marine captain in the 1960s. My two daughters were both honorably discharged, one as an Army major and the other as an Air Force lieutenant colonel.

The Bible states, “There will always be wars and rumors of wars.” Writer William James Durant stated, “History is a great teacher, but unfortunately it has very few pupils.”

George Metzgar

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