Stories of World War II spark even more remembrances
Letters to the Editor
Published September 4, 2005
Re: WW2, Aug. 28.
My gratitude is boundless for publishing this wonderful collection of wartime stories. I intend to place it in our Jefferson High School Alumni Museum located in the original JHS building, now known as the Waters Center. We became a high school in 1939. so these were our years of growing up. It's everything we remember that our children never had to go through and everything later graduates should have access to in the future.
I know Delbert Hunter never knew my brother, Charles Otis Davis Jr., who was a fireman on the USS Missouri and one of the original crew, but I still have my invitation to the commissioning of the Mo at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on June 8, 1944. I graduated on the 4th and my mother and I boarded the train the next day for New York. The next morning they were running through the train yelling, Europe was invaded - it was D-day! What excitement for a 16-year-old! People were going wild.
We had come to bid my only brother farewell, to attend the ceremony and tour the ship - it was huge! When I think today that I have stood where the surrender was signed I still get a thrill and pray someday to get to Hawaii and stand there again in honor of all who served aboard it and all who served in the war.
Thank you, for giving us this remembrance so full of history.
-- Wynelle Gilbert, Tampa
The indignities of war
Thank you for the very complete and well-researched special section on World War II. The death marches described briefly in Bataan (1942) and in Germany (1945) remind me of historical events surveyed in James Bradley's book Flyboys, the story of Chichi Jima.
It seems that human indignities have been part of every war since the beginning of time. This is demonstrated by the need of soldiers to dehumanize their enemy, so that people are able to commit horrible atrocities in the name of achieving some sort of victory. This happens on both sides of conflicts and continues even today. Wars break our hearts, yes, but they also diminish us: Those fighting are turned into war-machines or, worse, torturers. And those at home are left remembering damaged or lost loved-ones and friends and wondering how it could have been.
The books recommended by Margo Hammand and Bradley's book Flyboys provide a close look at what really makes war "hell." I think these books should be "required reading" for all of us.
-- Diana Carsey, Dunedin
Remembering the Greatest Generation
You have outdone yourself with the WW2 special edition. The leadership and talents of the Times are to be complimented.
I have read most of the section, word-for-word, but was inspired to comment. At almost 69, I can well remember much of the stories as a youngster growing up in Seminole Heights. The evenings sitting around the dome-shaped radio listening to FDR and the news about the war were a ritual. Our prayers every night were for God to bless family members and Neil, who was the only person we knew in the war at that time.
As a Southerner, I am reminded of the shame over segregation. My congratulations to all who served to make the world a safer place. There is no doubt in my mind that they were the Greatest Generation in my lifetime.
-- Frank B. Hill, Homosassa
A keepsake
My congratulations to everyone involved with the production of your WW2 special segment in last Sunday's paper. In one word it is "outstanding." This should be a keepsake to every World War II veteran and history buff.
-- K.L. Jones, Tampa
Honesty takes a back seat
Re: Robyn Blumner's The dangers of keeping secrets and the article Critic of Halliburton demoted.
Robyn Blumner wrote her Aug. 28 column on Sibel Edmonds, the FBI bureaucrat who blew the whistle on incompetence within the agency and was subsequently fired. The next day readers learned that Bunnatine Greenhouse, a high level Army Corps of Engineers analyst was demoted for questioning a billion-dollar government contract granted to Dick Cheney's old, infamous firm, Halliburton.
So much for Bush administration values. The message is clear: Honesty on the job occupies a remote back seat to unblinking allegiance to the administration policy.
In the Bush version of American government, secrecy is good, silence is better. Truth takes a long-term holiday.
-- Bill McGrath, Bradenton
Hospital care here is superior
Re: Testing their patients, Aug. 28.
The story in Perspective by Benedict Carey of the New York Times describes horror stories that provide a startling contrast to what happens in Pinellas County, at least in my experience.
In the past four years, I have grown familiar with Sun Coast Hospital, Largo Medical Center and Tampa General Hospital. Two of these facilities are teaching hospitals. For example, when I was visited at Sun Coast by my surgeon, Dr. Dave Lowery, with students, the utmost care and courtesy were given for my comfort.
In fact, no procedure involving me has ever been done without an explanation about it and a request for permission to so much as touch me.
Apparently, the care given in the Tampa Bay area is not the standard elsewhere. Pity.
-- Leo Coughlin, Largo
Nurses are due an apology
Re: Testing their patients.
I agreed with most of this article and even found it interesting. However, to make a general statement describing the "sadistic night nurse" is an affront to every nurse! How dare Benedict Carey use the word sadistic to describe nurses.
Nurses have been fighting stereotyping since the beginning. From the shampoo commercial showing a nurse shampooing her hair while her patient slept to the idiotic sexual innuendos we have endured forever.
I have been a nurse for 10 years. I have worked with very devoted nurses and admire them. In many instances nurses are underpaid, overworked and understaffed. We are fighting a critical nursing shortage. Nurses are fighting for respect, and articles like this do not help.
I currently work 12-hour night shifts. It is not easy to stay awake all night and perform a difficult job. I do it because I love my career and am proud to be a nurse. I am fortunate to be employed by a good health care facility that appreciates me. Carey owes every nurse, especially night nurses, a sincere apology. I doubt we'll get one.
-- Pat DiLouie, Ocala
[Last modified September 3, 2005, 01:17:02]
