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Show May 21, 1992 Hilltop Times 7 rosea pttw& F WW Generation that came of age in '30s carried burden by Jim Garamone American Forces Information Service .'There's a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations, much is given. Of other generations, much is expected. This generation has a rendezvous with destiny." When President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this in 1936, he had no idea just how much would be expected of the young generation of the time. He was speaking of lifting the United States out of the Great Depression. But the generation that came of age in the 1930s would be expected to bear the burden of the greatest war the world has ever seen. Fifty years later, the citizens of the United States remember the sacrifices of that generation of Americans. "It was truly a war supported by all, and we can never say thank you to that generation enough," said Claude M. Kicklighter, executive director of the 50th Anniversary of World War II Commemoration Committee. "When the country is finished with this commemoration, I hope the veterans of World War II understand Americans are proud of them and are thankful for their efforts." Kicklighter, a retired Army lieutenant general, said the lessons of World War II are important and relevant today because the United States is in a similar situation. "At the end of World War II, the world was in shambles," he said. "The United States had fielded the greatest military machine the world had ever known. Yet five years later, we couldn't field a ready force when South Korea was invaded. "The situation today is similar to the end of World War II," he continued. "We have won the Cold War. Our military is pre mmmw 86 We hope thlS commemoration Will tell VetS Of World War II that they indeed made a differ- ence and that .1 i r i we are tnanKiui for their Service. At left, an Eighth Air Force flies over Osnabruck, Germany, during the daylight bombing campaign of World War II. Below, soldiers disembark from a landing craft on a beach in the Philippines during World War II. B-2- 4 l eminent in the world. One lesson World War II taught was the dan- - Sers of being unpre- - pared. We face many of he & decisions to- day. I hope we take the lessons of World War II hea.rt. nd ?,ot repeat the mistakes, Kicklighter said other lessons still resound. The United states can. not remain isolated from the rest of the world. The United States cannot ap- Pease aggressors. Finally, the United States must be a leader in world affairs. Today s service memClaude M. Kicklighter should also learn bers Executive director, commemoration committee the lessons of World War II, he said. He envi sions an education program within the military services to teach young service members about the contributions their units made to victory. "Certainly in places where units can get to the battlefields, I can see terrain walks and other activities," he said. "The services themselves have put out material detailing the various campaigns." But the significance of World War II is not limited to the military. The war was a demarcation line in American history. From a sociological standpoint, the war forced change. "Women were brought into the work place in great numbers for the first time during World War II," Kicklighter said. "America becoming the arsenal of democracy would not have been possible without their contributions. All minorities in the country took part in the war." He said the contributions to education continue to be felt today. "The GI Bill financed many GIs' education after the war," he said. "Before the war, only the rich could afford college." Contributions to science and technology made during the war continue today. Computers, antibiotics, freeze drying and communications technology 9Q Doing battle all received hothouse growth under the pressure of ed although the program is just starting,. the comwar research. "The war was truly the great dividing mittee has received more than 60 applications. line in American history during the 20th century," The communities will play a major educational Kicklighter said. part in getting out the word on contributions AmeriFrom an American standpoint, the commemoracans made on the home front. "U.S. industry suption of the war started Dec. 7, 1991, the 50th anplied not only U.S. forces, but the allies," niversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Kicklighter said. "The production was phenomenal. The commemoration committee will serve as a We are working with communities and industries to catalyst for events through the next four years, he spotlight those contributions." The communities said. will also commemorate battlefields too remote for veterans to visit. involved Getting veterans The committee's Commemorative Community Program will play a large part in ensuring World War II veterans and the American people become involved. "According to (Department of Veterans Affairs) records, 9 million veterans of World War II are still alive," Kicklighter said. "Of these, only 2 million are involved with veterans organizations. We need to reach all of these men and women. We hope to do this in part through commemorative com- munities." The program got its start when San Antonio, Texas, decided to become a commemorative community. With numerous Air Force bases and a large Army post, the city has always had a gtrong military tradition, Kicklighter said. "They stepped out front in honoring veterans of World War II," he said. "We took their idea, added some of our own and adapted it for all communities." Like the Bicentennial of the Constitution communities, commemorative communities can fly a World War II commemorative flag. The flag features a stylized eagle designed from the World War II victory medal. It was made into a lapel pin given to all discharged veterans. The GIs called it the "ruptured duck" with typical GI humor, said Kicklighter. Essentially, all a community needs to do is establish a committee to coordinate World War II education programs and commemorate World War II events. They must host three or more World War II activities each year through the end of 1995 to qualify. Kicklighter said his committee will provide appropriate support for these communities and not like the Pearl Harbor commemoration, communities will host their own events," he said "Whi'o "Just the main ceremony was at Pearl Harbor, hundreds of communities around the United States hosted their own events. For many battles, in the Pacific especially, this will be crucial. For example, for the Battle of Midway, there will be a small ceremony on the island itself. But events are scheduled to mark the battle throughout the United States." Healing process Germany, Japan and Italy were the enemies during World War II. Today they are U.S. allies. Kick-lightsees the commemoration as more a healing process than a victory celebration. Josef Stalin's Soviet Union was an ally during the war. The Soviet Union became the United States' main opponent in the years following the war. With the breakup of the Soviet Union, the commemoration committee is working with the newly indepener dent states. "Russia has asked for a band and color guard to march in its annual victory celebration this year," Kicklighter said. "Also, Russia has opened its World War II film archives to the United States for the first time. This includes Soviet film and captured German newsreels. It's a pleasant sign." But the commemoration always circles back to the veterans themselves. "The veterans, their families, those who lost loved ones in the war they're what the commemoration is all about," Kicklighter said. |