The passing of Paul Tibbets - "Enola Gay" pilot

gemmer · **Joined:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am **Posts:** 314

Tigercat wrote:

Duane,

Do you honestly think there was all this controversy concerning Gen. Tibbets mission in November 1945 or November 1955. heck no!!

The news media has created most, but of course not all of this controversy in the last several decades. A lot of the pukes writing "news stories" now-a-days are the same losers that spent all their waking moments divided between smoking dope and spitting on soldiers in the late 1960's.

I was 19 in 1969 and I saw it happen, first hand! Any opportunity to grow doubt and controversy in relation to the military is right up their alley.

These clowns in the "main stream" news media lost my respect a long time ago.

Ted

Ted:

History has a way of rexamining itself after a long period of time and perspectives can change, especially if the topic involves the killing of over 100,000 people, most of them civilians. In 1946 MacArthur was a god. Yet
if you ask one of the few remaining survivors of Bataan for his opinion, he'd probably tell you that he's held in contempt by just about anyone that served there and is still around to talk about it.

I did a tour in Viet Nam so I obviously know alot of guys that were also there. It's been over 35 years since I came home and to this date I have never met a single guy who claimed he was spat upon. Heard alot of second hand stories but not one first hand. I'm not saying it never happened, but I think it's been a bit overdone. And as far as the military and controversy go, they do have the capacity to create one without any outside help. Does the Pat Tillman incident ring a bell?

Duane

Taylor Stevenson · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:15 pm

article: "he had no regrets about the mission and slept just fine at night. "

I wouldnt have any either. He saved many lives, including that of my grandfather...

RIP

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:22 pm

gemmer wrote:

Tigercat wrote:

Duane,

Do you honestly think there was all this controversy concerning Gen. Tibbets mission in November 1945 or November 1955. heck no!!

The news media has created most, but of course not all of this controversy in the last several decades. A lot of the pukes writing "news stories" now-a-days are the same losers that spent all their waking moments divided between smoking dope and spitting on soldiers in the late 1960's.

I was 19 in 1969 and I saw it happen, first hand! Any opportunity to grow doubt and controversy in relation to the military is right up their alley.

These clowns in the "main stream" news media lost my respect a long time ago.

Ted

Ted:

History has a way of rexamining itself after a long period of time and perspectives can change, especially if the topic involves the killing of over 100,000 people, most of them civilians. In 1946 MacArthur was a god. Yet
if you ask one of the few remaining survivors of Bataan for his opinion, he'd probably tell you that he's held in contempt by just about anyone that served there and is still around to talk about it.

I did a tour in Viet Nam so I obviously know alot of guys that were also there. It's been over 35 years since I came home and to this date I have never met a single guy who claimed he was spat upon. Heard alot of second hand stories but not one first hand. I'm not saying it never happened, but I think it's been a bit overdone. And as far as the military and controversy go, they do have the capacity to create one without any outside help. Does the Pat Tillman incident ring a bell?

Duane

When my father got home from Vietnam he had to change out of his uniform before he hit the streets. His own family wouldn't pick him up at the airport, and when he got a cab home, his sister greated him at the door by calling him a baby killer. There is no looking back at the bomb. Japanese tried to tule the world and we stopped them. End of story. Don't start a war with someone that is stronger than you, and has no beef wit you.

proped up · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:30 pm

The death of Paul Tibbets has been announced here in Aus this morning as a second to third news article. Something about a federal election seems to take precedents at the moment. The report that his wish for no head stone is sad. For many in the USA and those of the allied nations who lived through those dark days will remember this gentleman with a varied of emotions, regardless of what individuals think , he was a brave man doing his duty with out fear or favor, as many did in those days, and still do today. I am sure the there will be a public memorial somewhere some day to his honour.

muddyboots · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:28 pm

Tigercat wrote:

Sorry guys.......but this article is typical of the bilge that the AP, New York Times, and NBC put out. There are the obligatory facts of Gen. Tibbets life, interspersed with comments of near amazement that Tibbets was not suicidal over the Japanese who lost their lives at Hiroshima. And they also were apparently "shocked" that he could not bring himself to apologize for commanding the mission.

When Gen. Tibbets came to my town, ten years or so ago, the sleazy newsrag that passes itself off as an unbiased news source did the same type of hatchet job. When interviewing Tibbets they came back several times to whether he planned to "make an apology" or if he was "sorry" for what he had done.

Let some doped up rock star or foul mouthed lesbo get in trouble with the law and the New York Times will be there in a heart beat extolling the virtues of that "great person", but let a genuine military hero make the news and they (liberal media) can't keep from second-guessing the man's decisions and generally wishing they could re-write history!

Ted

This is paranoia, man. There was nothing but facts, wuotes from family and friends, and quotes from Tibets himself. Ther4e is nothing liberal about fact telling. You're reading way too much into this. The media isn't some dark group of conspiritors who want to ruin your life. They just find an interesting person and write a story about him, using facts, quotes, and pictures. Which is what was done here.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:40 pm

People always talk about how many people died as a result of the bombs, but never about how many people lived because of the bombs. It was the right thing to do then as it would be now. He owed nobody any kind of apology.

west-front · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:05 pm

proped up wrote:

The death of Paul Tibbets has been announced here in Aus this morning as a second to third news article. Something about a federal election seems to take precedents at the moment. The report that his wish for no head stone is sad. For many in the USA and those of the allied nations who lived through those dark days will remember this gentleman with a varied of emotions, regardless of what individuals think , he was a brave man doing his duty with out fear or favor, as many did in those days, and still do today. I am sure the there will be a public memorial somewhere some day to his honour.

It has appeared on the Australian TV media this morning as the footnote story, (second to the cat up the tree type rubbish they usually run ). I've not seen any intelligent debate on the TV about his life though.

Personally I admire the fact the Col Tibbets remained true to his core values, in 1945 or 2007. He was given a task, and completed it to the best of his ability.

I think this quote sums up his life to me:

"You've got to take stock and assess the situation at that time. We were at war. ... You use anything at your disposal."

Rest in Peace sir

Craig59 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:10 pm

Rest In Peace, General Tibbets. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting you on September 20, 1991 and giving you my thanks. When you asked what for, I related as to how my very existance may be owed to the actions of you and all those involved with your unit. My father's PBJ squadron was preparing for the invasion of mainland Japan. Untold hundred's of thousands might have been killed, on both sides, had that taken place. I shall forever cherish the autographed copy of your book, Flight of the Enola Gay.

Tigercat · **Joined:** Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:54 am **Posts:** 288

The problem is, muddyboots, that the "mainstream" media DO have an agenda. To not see that is to ignore many facts. The media and the OTHER pacifists want a man like Tibbets to doubt his actions. If he won't, then they are highly offended and they will continue to badger him about it till the day he dies. Paul Tibbets mentioned that badgering having taken place numerous times over the last few decades.

To you guys who steadfastly and absolutely refuse to accept that much of the media has a peacenik, anti-military bias.......all I can say is knock yourself out.......keep buying their product, believe every word they say......it's a free country, for a while at least!

Now to the heart of the matter. Rest in peace General Tibbets. There will always be millions of people who honor your commitment to duty. Thank you so much for your service, Sir.

Ted

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:20 pm

Tigercat wrote:

The problem is, muddyboots, that the "mainstream" media DO have an agenda. To not see that is to ignore many facts. The media and the OTHER pacifists want a man like Tibbets to doubt his actions. If he won't, then they are highly offended and they will continue to badger him about it till the day he dies. Paul Tibbets mentioned that badgering having taken place numerous times over the last few decades.

To you guys who steadfastly and absolutely refuse to accept that much of the media has a peacenik, anti-military bias.......all I can say is knock yourself out.......keep buying their product, believe every word they say......it's a free country, for a while at least!

Now to the heart of the matter. Rest in peace General Tibbets. There will always be millions of people who honor your commitment to duty. Thank you so much for your service, Sir.

Ted

Very well said man.

Saabmeister · **Joined:** Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:56 pm **Posts:** 170

Tigercat wrote:

The damnable slimey, sleazy left wing news media. They could not just give a decent discussion of Gen. Tibbets life.......Oh, NO........they have to spend three quarters of the article agonizing over the "questionable" use of the Atom bomb and repeating their shock at Tibbets inablility to apologize for his actions.

I still don't see where in that AP article they call the use of the atomic bomb "questionable", or where they say they are shocked that he didn't apologize.

Tigercat wrote:

There are the obligatory facts of Gen. Tibbets life, interspersed with comments of near amazement that Tibbets was not suicidal over the Japanese who lost their lives at Hiroshima. And they also were apparently "shocked" that he could not bring himself to apologize for commanding the mission.

Again, where do they say they are amazed that he wasn't suicidal, or where do they say they were "shocked" at him not apologizing?

Tigercat wrote:

Just when I think I can ignore the liberal media in this country......they throw another cow pie in my face and spike my blood pressure. What a bunch of low life scumbags!

Oh, so the AP woke up this morning and said "hey, Gen. Tibbets just died. This is the perfect opportunity to screw with Tigercat on the WIX forums."

Rest in peace General Tibbets.

ZeamerB17 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:23 pm

I just heard on the radio that General Tibbets passed. :cry:

He was a man of integrity and courage as far as I'm concerned and he will be missed. BTW, "Duty" is an excellent account about this fine man and American hero. I guess once again I waited too long to write a letter to one of my heroes.

Dave

Glen · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:05 pm

Truly Sad news :cry:

As I look a the Autograph from Paul Tibbets Tennesse Ernie Ford , George Gay Ziggy Hunter (WASP ) just to name a few that I had the Honor of meeting, I would give em all away for them to be back with us ! God speed General

muddyboots · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:55 pm

Tigercat wrote:

The problem is, muddyboots, that the "mainstream" media DO have an agenda. To not see that is to ignore many facts. The media and the OTHER pacifists want a man like Tibbets to doubt his actions. If he won't, then they are highly offended and they will continue to badger him about it till the day he dies. Paul Tibbets mentioned that badgering having taken place numerous times over the last few decades.

To you guys who steadfastly and absolutely refuse to accept that much of the media has a peacenik, anti-military bias.......all I can say is knock yourself out.......keep buying their product, believe every word they say......it's a free country, for a while at least!

Ted

And for those of you who see a pinko commie liberal fag behind every bush... :rolleyes:

The only media agenda is to make money. Paul Tibbets dropped a bomb that killed upwards of 100K people. It is an issue that should be discussed, in a variety of ways. Your tirade against the media is both creepy and misplaced in this column about the passing of Gen Tibbets, and is generally insulting to both his memory and that of hundreds of thousands of American Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors who fough, bled and died to defend our constitution, which gives us all the right to free speech, which includes questioning what Gen. Tibbets did. I suspect that although Tibbets was personally insulted by the few who questioned the decency of his actions, he would not give up his service for anything, nor take away their rights to question. That would be fascism, which he loathed.

To General Paul Tibbets: a Great American. :drink3:

Valkyrie · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:21 pm

Somebody here will remember the name of the book I am referencing here...written by a guy that lived in Columbus, OH and had the chance to interview Tibbets numerous times and basically kind of hang out with him and get a feel for the man. Anyway, in the book, the writer was surprised that Tibbets bore no ill will towards the Japanese and spoke often of his duty to follow his orders and his pride in the job and mission. The writer also was surprised that Tibbets drove a Japanese car!

Thank you for your service, sir, and godspeed.

Dave G

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The passing of Paul Tibbets - "Enola Gay" pilot

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