NationStates Jolt Archive

Fred Olivi, one of the men who risked life and limb in a gamble that effectively ended the Second World War in the Pacific, saving thousands, if not millions of lives, has died at 82. On Easter, when we honor sacrifice, secular and non-secular, let us not forget this man. Few of us can probably even begin to fathom the kind of responsibility placed on this man, barely in his 20's at the time, but it is doubtless that we are better off for his calm, confidence, and determination. Ultimately, Olivi carried out his duty, uncertain of whether he would be successful or even survive the day, at a time when peace was almost unknown to his generation. :arrow:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Midwest/04/10/obit.olivi.ap/index.html

Let his accomplishments be a monument in all of our minds, at a time when he and thousands of other patriots are passing unnoticed into history. I know I'll never forget my grandparents who fought in our defense as Americans, as well as those who fought for so many of you, as Britons, Russians, Chinese, and citizens of all allied nations. In their humble acheivements, they symbolize to me what this man symbolizes to our entire Nation in his great strike against the enemy, who refused surrender for an uneasy six days afterward. Yes, a piece of history passes today.

For once I agree with you Roy.

This decision saved many lives.

Nagasaki, which Olivi bombed, was a legitimate military target.

*virtual salute*

Let's hope our kids aren't as ignorant to WW2 as my fellow peers are. Or perhaps, they'll be in WW3...*shudders, because I'll be fighting in that war*

For once I agree with you Roy.

This decision saved many lives.

Nagasaki, which Olivi bombed, was a legitimate military target.

Absolutely. I'll admit though, that my impromptu eulogy for the man is partially a response to the bitterness, or even rejection, of the man's service that I saw in the news when I woke up. CNN's antisceptic treatment left me feeling empty. Our veterans simply deserve better, especially those who took such risks.

For once I agree with you Roy.

This decision saved many lives.

Nagasaki, which Olivi bombed, was a legitimate military target.

Absolutely. I'll admit though, that my impromptu eulogy for the man is partially a response to the bitterness, or even rejection, of the man's service that I saw in the news when I woke up. CNN's antisceptic treatment left me feeling empty. Our veterans simply deserve better, especially those who took such risks.

I didn't think that that obituary was that bad. Or are you talking about another article on him?

For once I agree with you Roy.

This decision saved many lives.

Nagasaki, which Olivi bombed, was a legitimate military target.

Absolutely. I'll admit though, that my impromptu eulogy for the man is partially a response to the bitterness, or even rejection, of the man's service that I saw in the news when I woke up. CNN's antisceptic treatment left me feeling empty. Our veterans simply deserve better, especially those who took such risks.

I didn't think that that obituary was that bad. Or are you talking about another article on him?

No, the article wasn't particularly bad, relatively speaking. In fact, CNN is the only major outlet that even gave it the equivalent of front-page coverage, to my knowledge. It still presented it in an antisceptic, '10-foot pole' sort of way though, which is probably appropriate for their online audience. However, coverage of the subject in general is usually cynical at best. Regardless, I think our veterans deserve an honorable mention, which is something I feel the article lacked.

Bump. :wink: :arrow:

Edit -- The astronaut post reminded me of this one from last night.

yeah, if it wasnt for the atomic attacks millions more lives would be lost in an invasion. (recommended reading, hiroshima, by john hershey)

While I am of Japanese descent, I will acknowledge that the use of atomic weaponry probably did save millions of lives. (Thankfully, we never really found out.)
Regardless of his actions in this regard, Mr. Olivi's passing is a true loss. Farewell, and clear skies, sir.
Hopefully, we won't have a World War III. (That would be the greatest memorial we could give the soldiers who fought in WWII.)

While I am of Japanese descent, I will acknowledge that the use of atomic weaponry probably did save millions of lives. (Thankfully, we never really found out.)
Regardless of his actions in this regard, Mr. Olivi's passing is a true loss. Farewell, and clear skies, sir.
Hopefully, we won't have a World War III. (That would be the greatest memorial we could give the soldiers who fought in WWII.) hm, too true; kind of morbid....

I've seen Bockscar and replicas of 'Little Boy' and 'Fatman' at the Airforce musem in Dayton,OH. Them were BIG planes and 'Fatman', the bomb his plane dropped was well named, it was something like a giant egg with a box fin tail stuck on the small end. the allied casuality estimates for the home island invasion started in the range of a million so those 2 bombs saved a whole lot of people and possibly Japan as a people and a nation.

We salute the passing of another member of the 'greatest generation'