Trailer Park Casanova
08-10-2003, 05:11 PM
I was watching the news again, and they're criticizing the U.S. for Hiroshima. This is it's aniversary date.
I've shook hands with a few involved with those historical events right there at the river.
We pull up to the Headgate Sandbar and go into the ritual,,, get the anchors set, get the the drinks dialed in,, make sure the kids are doing what they want,, then Kathy and I walk around chatting to anyone we can.
We came across a guy on a deckboat with his girlfriend, and his super neat dog named dipstick.
Got to chattin with him. Affiable and interesting as I've ever met. Looked in his late 50's,, was in fact in his 80's.
Life is facinating to listeners, everyone has a story.
I learned he was a WWII veteran, and later after a few beers, I got a story outta him.
He was a lieutenant in the US Army Infantry in the Pacific. After VJ day,, he was the officer in charge of executions of war criminals. He stood on the gallows as the proceedings were read, the ropes were placed, and the trap door dropped.
It was his duty to carry it out.
His unit executed almost 600 of Japans worst. If you read the book 'The Rape of Nanking' or any history of Japans occupation of Manchuria,,you'd understand why these criminals got their necks stretched.
He told me over another beer that we executed over 2000 war criminals in the Pacific alone. After the war, the U.S. rounded up all these guys,, and stretched their necks deluxe.
My dad used to come out and stay a couple of days with us in Parker. He's too old now,, but near one of his last trips, he took me to the VFW.(Veterans of Foreign Wars).
I'm a Viet Nam veteran,, but won't join the VFW because of a bad incident my dad and I had there once over their acceptance of Viet Nam vets,, but thats another story for Military.com.
Anyway,, in town, and at the VFW, was another WWII Vet we bumped into that was in Havasu to visit his daughter because it was his Grandchilds birthday.
My dad was a pilot in WWII and new this guy. It was Paul Tibbits, the pilot of the Enola Gay.
I got to meet him,, most of the VFW members had no clue who he was, and didn't really want any fuss over his notarity anyway. He was very sharp,, with a outstanding sense of humor, and is still alive today.
Probably no BFD to you,, but shaking hands with history is facinating to me.
I've shook hands with a few involved with those historical events right there at the river.
We pull up to the Headgate Sandbar and go into the ritual,,, get the anchors set, get the the drinks dialed in,, make sure the kids are doing what they want,, then Kathy and I walk around chatting to anyone we can.
We came across a guy on a deckboat with his girlfriend, and his super neat dog named dipstick.
Got to chattin with him. Affiable and interesting as I've ever met. Looked in his late 50's,, was in fact in his 80's.
Life is facinating to listeners, everyone has a story.
I learned he was a WWII veteran, and later after a few beers, I got a story outta him.
He was a lieutenant in the US Army Infantry in the Pacific. After VJ day,, he was the officer in charge of executions of war criminals. He stood on the gallows as the proceedings were read, the ropes were placed, and the trap door dropped.
It was his duty to carry it out.
His unit executed almost 600 of Japans worst. If you read the book 'The Rape of Nanking' or any history of Japans occupation of Manchuria,,you'd understand why these criminals got their necks stretched.
He told me over another beer that we executed over 2000 war criminals in the Pacific alone. After the war, the U.S. rounded up all these guys,, and stretched their necks deluxe.
My dad used to come out and stay a couple of days with us in Parker. He's too old now,, but near one of his last trips, he took me to the VFW.(Veterans of Foreign Wars).
I'm a Viet Nam veteran,, but won't join the VFW because of a bad incident my dad and I had there once over their acceptance of Viet Nam vets,, but thats another story for Military.com.
Anyway,, in town, and at the VFW, was another WWII Vet we bumped into that was in Havasu to visit his daughter because it was his Grandchilds birthday.
My dad was a pilot in WWII and new this guy. It was Paul Tibbits, the pilot of the Enola Gay.
I got to meet him,, most of the VFW members had no clue who he was, and didn't really want any fuss over his notarity anyway. He was very sharp,, with a outstanding sense of humor, and is still alive today.
Probably no BFD to you,, but shaking hands with history is facinating to me.