"WAR MEMORIALS" and THE BELLS OF BALANGIGA!

There is an element in this country that has dedicated their lives to changing the history of this great country.  It is no secret that this small but noisy segment of our society has been successfully changing some of the events that shaped the United States of America.  Civil War statues and memorials moved or torn down after standing in place for 150 plus years.  The CSA Battle flag (mistakenly called the Confederate States Flag) is a prime example.  Even the Ten Commandments have been removed in some areas.
Now the controversy over "The Bells of Balangiga" has reared it's head again.  First of all, let me explain what these bells are and what they represent.  Two of  the bells are displayed near the entrance to Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while one is with an Army unit in South Korea.
The United States acquired the Philippines in the Spanish American War of 1898.  In 1901 during the war between U.S. troops and Philippine insurgents 48 U.S. soldiers were killed in their sleep in a night attack.   In retaliation an attack on the town of Balangiga killed many Filipinos, men and women and children.  The troops took the bells from the local church as a war trophy.  Yes, it was an unfortunate episode in our history but, still history.
Several years ago this same attempt was made to give back the bells to that town in Samar, PI.  Replica bells were made and given while the original bells remain in U.S. hands.  I say keep the bells!....Medicineman!

"THE SWAMP"--DRAIN IS PLUGGED!

Originally a swamp when chosen to be the seat of government the water was drained off to make possible building sites.  The term, "The Swamp", became popular in the Trump campaign with  his pledge to drain same.  This has proven to be like spitten' in the wind!
Looking back to the Clinton years we see the same names popping up year after year.  Names like James Comey, Robert Meuller, Lois Lerhner (conservatives remember her).  There is Rod Rosenstein who becomes Assit. Attorney General when Comey gets fired and then comes up with the Russian thing.
Comey went to work for Lockheed Martin and secured 17 no bid contracts with the State Dept. and was rewarded with a six million dollar thank you when he left the company.  Then he became FBI Director in 2013.
On and on it goes with 20% of our Uranium deposits  sold to Russia with Hillary saying OK when she was Sec. of State.  Then "Billy Boy" goes to Russia and is paid 500 Million to speak for one hour.  Not bad pay I'd say.
I won't even go into the Benghazi debacle.  You can see what the people of this country are up against and they elected Trump to get it done and, guess what?  He gets pilloried by the "No News Press"---Medicineman!

"LITTLE BOY" THEN "FAT MAN" AND IT WAS OVER!

I have been away from my desk for a time and have just completed the four book, wonderfully researched, history of the Pacific war written by James D. Hornfischer.  Those who served there or have an interest in history will do well reading his books.
It was the summer of 1945 and the war in Europe had been won.  Plans were underway for the invasion of Japan with expectations of up to a million and a half U.S. casualties.  There was a way to avoid such numbers.  Saipan and Tinian (three miles it's neighbor) had been taken by Marines, at great price, and airstrips were built to handle B-29 bombers, new, four motor, pressurized, long distance behemoths, expected to clobber the cities of Japan.
The U.S.S. Indianapolis sailed into Tinian with a cargo even the Captain did not know what.  It was after delivering his package that She was sunk by a Jap torpedoe with the loss of 2/3 of Her crew.
I had a friend who was stationed on Tinian and helped load that cargo "Little Boy" on Paul Tibbet's "Enola Gay" (named after his mother) destined for Hirosima
Tibbets and crew had been training for this for months.  He had gone to Omaha and personally chose the B-29 he wanted.  There was no room for error.  The "gun" that fired the "bullet" of U-235 into the core of the bomb was not inserted into the firing chamber until airborne, reason?  The bomber was noted for crashing on takeoff.  The engines were not reliable and engine failure was common.
After Hiroshima, and no surrender plea from the Emperor, the "Fat Man" was dropped three days later, August 9, on  Nagasaki.  
The Emperor Hirohito never used the word "surrender" but instead spoke the word "capitulated".  It amounted to the same thing, the war was over.  No bloody invasion was needed.
September 2, 1945 the papers were signed on board the U.S.S.Missouri--The war was over!
It is worth noting here that six of the crew of twelve on the "Enola Gay" were enlisted men from PFC to Staff Sgt........Medicineman!