(Lehigh University graphic on the history wars)
 
I said that everyone who saw it who had a dad that would have been there for the apocalypse would have disagreed with him.
 
“They started too soon,” said Mac. “Too many of use were still alive who remember. They had to change the story board to reflect the estimates of American casualties. “As you might imagine, I have followed this with a great deal in personal interest. In the CIA study of the end of the war are the minutes of a meeting at the White House with Truman, his chief of staff Admiral Leahy, George Marshall and Admiral King. They talked about all sorts of factors, but the one that was preeminent was the number of American kids who were going to die in the assault. Our estimates helped influence the course of the discussion.”
 
“Did they talk about the Bomb? Did they all know?” I asked.
 
The Admiral looked at me sadly. “The President, Chief of Staff, Secretary of War and CINCFLEET? Come on. Of course they did.”
 
“And the decision was to use the bomb.”
 
“Of course. And it saved a lot of lives, American and Japanese, if our estimates from CINCPAC Hill were correct. I think they were. The revisionists will just have to wait until I am gone to say otherwise.”
 
The waitress returned with another glass of that Chardonnay for me, one for the Doc and a glass of water, no bubbles, for the Admiral.

(Colonel Paul Tibbet’s Enola Gay in the loading process for a special mission, August 5, 1945. The mission was accomplished the next day at Hiroshima. Air Force picture.)
 
Copyright 2010 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
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