I was a freckle-faced boy of nine, living in the countryside near Fort Smith, Arkansas,when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and war began formally following that "day that will live in infamy". In the months and years ahead I learned the names of all our planes and most of those of the enemy. I may not remember your name tomorrow, but I can tell you about P-40's and B-25's and Zeros and Messerschmitt 109.It was the most famous fighter plane of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. Some in battle were singled out as heroes. Our leaders knew we needed them to spur us on.
The first one to capture our imagination and admiration was Capt. Colin P. Kelly, Jr.. It was December 10, 1941. Captain Kelly and his crew were in a B-17. They found and sunk an enemy ship. It was thought to be the aircraft carrier, Haruna, off Luzon. After World War II it was found to be a light cruiser, Ashigara. It makes little difference. Leaving the sinking their B-17 was attacked by Japanese fighter planes. The waist gunner was killed and the plane caught fire. Kelly ordered his crew to bail out. They did and all were rescued. Kelly stayed with the plane trying to bring it home, but it crashed and he was killed. President Franklin D. Roosevelt awarded Colin P. Kelly Jr. the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously, for his bravery.
The list of heroes dying in battle grew and grew. The un-named and unknown ones numbered many more. By the end of World War II our military war dead, men and women, numbered 291,000. In all our wars as a nation since 1775 the figure is a staggering 700,000 or more.
War is not a video game or movie. It is not an adventure book. It is awful reality involving pain and suffering, cowardice and heroics, and all that is in-between. Very simply put, "War Is Hell".
As we remember the dead of wars present and past let us all pray that we might know peace again, and that all might come to know The Prince of Peace.
