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America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

May 28, 2018

57:31

America's Hidden History

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America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

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WELCOME TO AMERICA'S HIDDEN HISTORY WHERE WE
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UNCOVER EVENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO SHAPED THEM.
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TODAY'S EPISODE CENTERS AROUND MEMORIAL DAY AND
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HONORING THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT WERE
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SACRIFICED IN AMERICAN WARS.
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WE'LL INTRODUCE TO YOU TODAY TWO MEN WHOSE
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SURVIVAL STORIES READ KIND OF LIKE AN EPIC FILM
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AND OTHER STORIES FILLED WITH SACRIFICE
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AND SELFLESSNESS.
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THIS IS AMERICA'S HIDDEN HISTORY.
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[MUSIC]
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- MODERN HISTORIANS HAVE REVISED, REWRITTEN AND
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EVEN DELETED ENTIRE CHAPTERS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
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SO WHAT ARE WE MISSING?
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE HISTORY THAT DIDN'T MAKE
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THE BOOKS?
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JOIN HISTORIAN DAVID BARTON, TIM BARTON, AND
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SPECIAL GUESTS AS THEY UNCOVER THE FACTS SOME
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HISTORIANS DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.
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THIS IS AMERICA'S HIDDEN HISTORY.
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[MUSIC]
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- HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SHOW.
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TODAY'S SHOW IS COVERING MEMORIAL DAY, AND
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ACTUALLY IN OUR AUDIENCE WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF
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THE MILITARY, RETIRED MILITARY, AND SOME FAMILY
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MEMBERS WHO LOST LOVED ONES.
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AND TO DATE, ABOUT
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1.2 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE FOR THE
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CAUSE OF FREEDOM SO THAT YOU AND I CAN ENJOY ALL
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THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES WE HAVE HERE
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IN AMERICA.
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MEMORIAL DAY ACTUALLY HAS ITS ROOTS TRACING BACK
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JUST AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, ARLINGTON NATIONAL
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CEMETERY IS WHERE IT REALLY BEGAN.
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JUST STONE'S SHOW AWAY FROM ARLINGTON NATIONAL
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CEMETERY IS THE PENTAGON IS IRONICALLY IS THE
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SETTING WHEREON SEPTEMBER 11 ONE OF THE MOST
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HORRIFIC EVENTS EVER ON US SOIL HAPPENED WHERE A
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PLANE WENT AND CRASHED INTO THE PENTAGON.
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WELL, WE HAVE WITH US ON THE SHOW TODAY A SURVIVOR
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FROM THAT ATTACK.
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HE'S CURRENTLY A TEXAS STATE SENATOR BUT HE'S
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RETIRED LIEUTENANT FROM THE ARMY, BRIAN BIRDWELL.
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BRIAN, WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU WITH US ON THE
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SHOW TODAY.
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THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
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[ APPLAUSE ]
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- BRIAN BIRDWELL: THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU.
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- NOW, BRIAN, YOU HAVE CERTAINLY A LONG
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MILITARY CAREER.
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I REMEMBER I WAS IN COLLEGE WHEN 911
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HAPPENED, BUT FOR YOU THIS IS EVEN A LITTLE
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MORE SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERING WHERE YOU
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WERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
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WOULD YOU TELL US SOME OF YOUR STORY?
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- SURE.
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BE MORE THAN PLEASED TO DO SO.
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WE'D WATCHED EVENTS UNFOLD UP IN NEW YORK,
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KNEW THAT THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT DAY IN OUR
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NATION'S LIFE.
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THERE WAS NO THOUGHT THAT WE WERE NEXT, BUT WE WERE
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DOING EXACTLY WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE AROUND THE
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COUNTRY WAS DOING IS JUST WATCHING THE TV COVERAGE.
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PHONES WERE QUIET.
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I'D HAD MY MORNING COKE THAT MORNING AT
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ABOUT 7 O'CLOCK.
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ABOUT 9:35 I TOLD SANDY AND CHERYL I WAS GOING TO
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STEP OUT AND GO TO THE MEN'S RESTROOM.
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WHEN I DID, I WALKED THROUGH THE CRASH SITE
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WHICH IS AGAIN WHERE THE PLANE WOULD MAKE IMPACT,
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WENT THROUGH THAT, TURNED LEFT 4TH QUARTER TO GO TO
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THE MEN'S RESTROOM, TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS, CAME
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OUT, ABOUT 7 OR 8 STEPS, AND I'M ABOUT TO TURN
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RIGHT BACK INTO WHAT CRUMBLES WHEN FLIGHT
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77 MAKES IMPACT.
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SO I'M 15 TO 20 YARDS FROM WHERE THE NOSE OF
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THAT AIRCRAFT MAKES PENETRATION OF THE BUILDING.
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I SHOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE INITIAL
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IMPACT, YOU COULD NOT HEAR THE PLANE COMING
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BECAUSE ONE, THE PENTAGON IS HUGE, BUT I HEARD THE
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IMPACT, THOUGHT BOMB IN THAT NANO SECOND THAT I'M
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TAKING MY NEXT STEP RETURNING BACK TO THE
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OFFICE, AND THEN THE NEXT NANO SECOND I'M TOSSED
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AROUND LIKE A RAG DOLL, SET ABLAZE.
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AND I GO FROM A WELL LIT HALLWAY IN CHARGE OF MY
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FACULTIES AND MY SURROUNDINGS TO AN
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EARTHLY HELL OF FIRE AND CHOKING BLACK SMOKE.
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- HOW WERE YOU BURNED?
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WHAT WAS IT THAT CAUSED YOU TO CATCH FIRE IN
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THIS CASE MAYBE?
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- THE 757 EVEN THOUGH THE HIJACKERS HAD FLOWN
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IT OUT, TOOK CONTROL OF IT SOMEWHERE OVER WEST
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VIRGINIA, IT STILL HAD OVER 3.000 GALLONS STILL
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IN IT WHEN IT MAKES IMPACT.
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757 HOLDS ABOUT 5.000 GALLONS.
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IT'S GOT ABOUT 3.000 STILL IN IT WHEN IT
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MAKES IMPACT.
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SO THE JET FUEL IGNITES, I'M SET ABLAZE.
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YOU'VE GOT AN 80 TON BOMB THAT'S MADE PENETRATION
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OF THE BUILDING.
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IT MAKES IMPACT AT 530 MILES AN HOUR.
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AND IN THOSE MOMENTS THE PANIC THAT GRIPS YOUR
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HEART WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU'RE DYING THAT DEATH
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AND THERE'S NO WAY TO ESCAPE IT, THAT IS FAR
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MORE AGONIZING THAN THE PHYSICAL PAIN OF ACTUALLY
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BEING BURNED.
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I THOUGHT ABOUT MEL AND MATT THAT MORNING AND HOW I'D SAID
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GOODBYE THAT MORNING, AND THAT THE NEXT TIME I'D
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GET TO SPEAK WITH THEM OR SEE THEM WOULD BE
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IN ETERNITY.
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- MEL IS YOUR WIFE?
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- MEL IS MY WIFE.
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MY COMMANDING GENERAL.
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[ LAUGHTER ]
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OUR SON MATT WAS 12 AT THE TIME.
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THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT
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THE LORD BROUGHT INTO MY LIFE THAT HIS SOVEREIGNTY
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IS WHAT ALLOWED ME TO LIVE.
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I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING OF A HUMOROUS STORY
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PARTICULARLY WITH THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN THE
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AUDIENCE THAT MAY HAVE A PURPLE HEART AS WELL.
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WHEN PEOPLE ASK, WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU
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GOT YOUR PURPLE HEART, YOU KNOW, I WAS COMING
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OUT OF THE MEN'S RESTROOM, YOU KNOW.
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THAT'S JUST NOT VERY SEXY WITH GUYS THAT HAVE
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CLEARED BUILDINGS IN FALUSIA.
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[ LAUGHTER ]
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- HEARING YOUR STORY, RIGHT, KNOWING SOME
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DETAILS BEHIND IT THAT YOUR NAME SHOULD BE ON A
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WALL LIKE SO MANY OTHERS.
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- YEAH.
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THE PENTAGON MEMORIAL.
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YEAH.
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THERE'S THREE THAT I KNOW.
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HOW GOD'S KEPT YOU YOUR CAALIVE FOR A PURPOSE?AT,
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- YEAH, IT WAS THE LORD PUTTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE
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IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE RIGHT
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SOMETIMES EQUIPMENT.
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I WOULD GIVE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
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IN THE BUILDING THERE WERE FOUR MEN, BILL
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MCKENNON, ROY WALLACE, JOHN DAVIES, AND CHUCK
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KNOBLAUCH THAT COME OUT THE B-RING DOORS.
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HAD THEY NOT COME OUT OF THAT AREA AND GRABBED ME
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WHICH WAS IN ITSELF AGONIZING, THEN WHEN THEY
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TAKE ME THROUGH THE B-RING DOOR INTO AN A-RING
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ACCESS DOOR AREA TO WHAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE A
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HASTY TRIAGE SITE, AN AIR FORCE DOCTOR NAMED JOHN BAXTER
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WAS EVACUATING THE BUILDING, HAD US GO BACK
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WITH HIM.
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THERE'S A WONDERFUL LADY FROM THE NAVY, NATALIE
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OGLETREE THAT WILL KNEEL DOWN BESIDE ME AND JUST
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SAY THE LORD'S PRAYER, THE 23RD PSALM WITH ME.
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SHE'LL SAY THE 91ST PSALM OVER ME.
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DOCTOR BAXTER WILL TAKE MY SHOES OFF AND THE REMNANT
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OF THE SOCKS LEFT UNDERNEATH THE LEATHER
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SHOES BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOVE THAT IS MOSTLY
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BURNED AWAY.
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MY LEATHER BELT IS STILL INTACT.
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I'M EITHER COVERED IN BLOOD OR CHARRED.
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HE'LL PUT THE MORPHINE IN THE RIGHT FOOT, THE IV IN
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THE LEFT FOOT, EVENTUALLY TAKEN TO GEORGETOWN.
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AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT IS MOST SEMINOLE
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IS WHOSE AT GEORGETOWN.
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WHEN I ARRIVE AT GEORGETOWN, NOTHING IS FLYING
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AND WON'T FLY FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS.
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WHEN I'M WHEELED INSIDE, THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN
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-- AND GEORGETOWN'S UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS
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PRIMARILY A TEACHING HOSPITAL, BUT THE
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ATTENDING PHYSICIAN IS DOCTOR MICHAEL WILLIAMS.
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AND DOCTOR WILLIAMS BEFORE HIS ASSIGNMENT
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THERE SPENT TWO YEARS IN A TRAUMA FELLOWSHIP OVER AT
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THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER UNDER THE
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DIRECTION OF MARION JORDAN AND JAMES JANK,
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MARION JORDAN THE DIRECTOR OF THE BURN
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CENTER, AND DOCTOR JANK IS CHIEF DEPUTY AND CHIEF
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OF RESEARCH.
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SO FROM THE EMERGENCY ROOM PERSPECTIVE OF ALL
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THE EMERGENCY ROOMS IN DC, ARLINGTON AND
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FAIRFAX, WALTER REED AND THE LIKE, I'VE GOT THE
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THIRD BEST BURN DOCTOR AVAILABLE TO ME.
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AND THAT'S THE LORD'S PROVIDENTIAL HAND BECAUSE
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NORMALLY IN A BURN CENTER OR IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM
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IT'S AIRWAY, BREATHING, CIRCULATION, ONCE THOSE THREE
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ARE STABILIZED YOU'RE EVACUATED TO
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SPECIALIZED CARE.
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BUT I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE BECAUSE DC AS A
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CITY IS BEING CLOSED.
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NO MEDIVAC HELICOPTERS ARE GOING TO FLY UNTIL
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ABOUT 5 O'CLOCK THAT AFTERNOON, SO DOCTOR
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WILLIAMS AND -AND THEY EXPECT MORE CASUALTIES.
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I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT ARRIVES.
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I HAVE THAT ENTIRE HOSPITAL'S
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UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.
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AND SO DOCTOR WILLIAMS NOT ONLY DOES THE
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EMERGENCY ROOM ASPECTS OF MY INJURIES, BUT HE ALSO
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BEGINS THE VERY BRUTAL THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE
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DONE BECAUSE HE LEARNED UNDER ONE OF THE BEST IN
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THE WORLD AND CERTAINLY IN ANY VIEW THE BEST IN
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THIS NATION, DOCTOR JORDAN, OF WHAT HAS TO BE
00:08:08.210 --> 00:08:11.250
DONE TO THAT BURN SURVIVOR.
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THAT EMERGENCY ROOM EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING
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THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
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IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL THINGS THAT
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WHEN I RECALL IT GETTING WHEELED IN, AND MY EYES
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ARE NEARLY CLOSED.
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DOCTOR WILLIAMS COMES TO THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, AND I
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CAN SEE IN HIS EYES THE NATURE OF HOW SERIOUS
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THIS IS BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I COULD BE VERY WELL
00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:37.000
SPEAKING MY LAST WORDS, AND I'D BEEN THINKING
00:08:37.020 --> 00:08:38.270
ABOUT THAT ON THE DRIVE OVER IN THE BACK OF THAT
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FORD, AND DOCTOR WILLIAMS SAYS, YOU KNOW, COLONEL
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BIRDWELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE
00:08:46.190 --> 00:08:48.010
POSSIBLY CAN FOR YOU.
00:08:48.030 --> 00:08:49.280
AND THEY TALKED ABOUT CUTTING THE WEDDING RING
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OFF, BUT I DIDN'T WANT IT CUT OFF.
00:08:51.230 --> 00:08:54.230
SO WHEN I TURNED TO DOCTOR WILLIAMS AFTER HE
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TELLS ME WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO, I
00:08:56.130 --> 00:09:00.140
TOLD HIM I WANTED TO TAKE THE WEDDING RING OFF AND
00:09:00.160 --> 00:09:03.070
GIVE IT TO MEL AND TELL HER THAT I LOVED HER.
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AND JUDITH ROGERS, ONE OF THE NURSES THAT HAD
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ANSWERED ONE OF THE ALL HANDS ON DECK CALL,
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JUDITH REACHES THE RING, AND THE BODY IS LIKE THAT
00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:13.120
STEAK THAT YOU COOK ON THE GRILL, TENDER WHEN
00:09:13.140 --> 00:09:17.020
IT COMES OFF BUT AS IT COOLS AND SITS THERE,
00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:20.280
IT HARDENS.
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AND THE BODY MELTS LONG BEFORE GOLD DOES, SO PART
00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:25.040
OF THE FLESH OF THE FINGER HAD ADHERED
00:09:25.060 --> 00:09:29.050
TO THE RING.
00:09:29.070 --> 00:09:30.290
AND JUDITH GRABS IT WITH HER GLOVED HAND AND
00:09:31.010 --> 00:09:33.220
GIVES IT A SLIGHT TUG, AND IT JUST -THE GLOVES,
00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:36.070
THE FINGER, BLOOD BEGINS STREAMING OUT OF THE BASE
00:09:36.090 --> 00:09:39.030
OF MY HAND.
00:09:39.050 --> 00:09:40.150
JOHN COLLISON, MAJOR COLLISON HAD ACCOMPANIED ME IN THE
00:09:40.170 --> 00:09:43.140
BACK OF THAT FORD, AND I LOOKED AT JOHN VERY
00:09:43.160 --> 00:09:47.240
DELIBERATELY AND SAID, GIVE THAT TO MEL AND TELL
00:09:47.260 --> 00:09:50.030
HER THAT I LOVED HER, BECAUSE I WAS SAYING
00:09:50.050 --> 00:09:51.220
GOODBYE TO MY WIFE AND MY SON THROUGH THE SYMBOLISM
00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:54.190
OF THAT RING.
00:09:54.210 --> 00:09:56.220
AND THEN THE HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN, I'D ASKED FOR
00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:58.090
THE HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN TO COME TO THE SIDE AND, SHE
00:09:58.110 --> 00:10:02.040
JUST LED THAT PRAYER THAT RECOGNIZED THAT OKAY,
00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:05.100
LORD, IF YOU'VE BROUGHT BRIAN HERE UNDER THE
00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.260
DIRECTION OF DOCTOR WILLIAMS AND THE TEAM
00:10:07.280 --> 00:10:10.100
HERE AT GEORGETOWN AND HE SURVIVES, WE'LL SALUTE
00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:12.220
THAT FLAG AND WE'LL MOVE OUT WITH THAT MISSION.
00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:15.120
BUT IF YOU'VE BROUGHT HIM HERE TO QUIETLY CALL HIM
00:10:15.140 --> 00:10:19.020
INTO ETERNITY UNDER THE PEACE AND THE QUIET AND
00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:22.210
THE COMFORT OF HIS FELLOW AMERICANS, WE'LL SALUTE
00:10:22.230 --> 00:10:25.260
THAT FLAG, TOO.
00:10:25.280 --> 00:10:28.000
WHEN THAT PRAYER WAS OVER WITH, IT WAS NOT WITH THE
00:10:28.020 --> 00:10:29.290
STRENGTH OF A SOLDIER BUT OF MY FAITH IN CHRIST
00:10:30.010 --> 00:10:33.030
THAT I COULD LOOK AT DOCTOR WILLIAMS AND SAY,
00:10:33.050 --> 00:10:34.270
LET'S GET ON WITH IT.
00:10:34.290 --> 00:10:38.000
AND IT'S AS VIVID TO ME TODAY AS IT WAS IN THOSE
00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:39.090
MOMENTS WHEN THEY PLACED THAT MASK OVER MY FACE
00:10:39.110 --> 00:10:42.150
CAN THE CANULES, TILTED MY HEAD BACK, AND WOULD
00:10:42.170 --> 00:10:45.090
BE THE BEGINNING OF A VERY AGONIZING 4 YEAR
00:10:45.110 --> 00:10:50.060
PROCESS TO BE MEDICALLY PUT BACK TOGETHER.
00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.230
THE LORD PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT TIME
00:10:52.250 --> 00:10:55.000
IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSES.
00:10:55.020 --> 00:10:57.050
- THERE'S AN IMAGE WHERE PRESIDENT BUSH GOES AND
00:10:57.070 --> 00:10:59.210
VISITS SOMEONE IN THE HOSPITAL.
00:10:59.230 --> 00:11:01.220
AT THE TIME WE HAD NO IDEA WHO IT WAS, AND
00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:03.010
ACTUALLY TO THIS DAY IF WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS
00:11:03.030 --> 00:11:06.130
YOU, WE MIGHT NOT KNOW IT WAS YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE
00:11:06.150 --> 00:11:10.130
COMPLETELY COVERED.
00:11:10.150 --> 00:11:12.130
I THINK I'VE HEARD YOU SAY YOU WERE MUMMIFIED.
00:11:12.150 --> 00:11:14.010
- MUMMIFIED, THE AMOUNT OF BANDAGING AND THE
00:11:14.030 --> 00:11:16.200
LIKE IS, YEAH.
00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:18.140
- DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOLLECTION OF THE
00:11:18.160 --> 00:11:19.220
PRESIDENT COMING TO VISIT YOU?
00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.040
- NO.
00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:23.030
I CAN TELL THE STORY BECAUSE MEL HAS TOLD
00:11:23.050 --> 00:11:25.030
IT TO ME.
00:11:25.050 --> 00:11:27.110
SO I'M PLEASED TO TELL IT.
00:11:27.130 --> 00:11:28.190
IT'S A REALLY NEAT STORY.
00:11:28.210 --> 00:11:30.250
OBVIOUSLY MEL AND I HAD CELL PHONES AT THAT TIME.
00:11:30.270 --> 00:11:35.040
SHE HAD HER CELL PHONE.
00:11:35.060 --> 00:11:37.140
SHE GETS A CALL FROM A 202 AREA CODE WHICH IS DC
00:11:37.160 --> 00:11:40.250
THAT MORNING AT ABOUT 8 O'CLOCK THAT MORNING.
00:11:40.270 --> 00:11:43.210
SHE'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS, BUT I GUESS
00:11:43.230 --> 00:11:45.050
I BETTER ANSWER IT.
00:11:45.070 --> 00:11:46.230
AND ON THE OTHER END IT'S,
00:11:46.250 --> 00:11:48.060
"MRS. BIRDWELL?"
00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:49.030
"YES."
00:11:49.050 --> 00:11:50.090
"THIS IS AGENT SMITH FROM THE SECRET SERVICE.
00:11:50.110 --> 00:11:51.290
PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO
00:11:52.010 --> 00:11:54.090
VISIT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AT THE WASHINGTON
00:11:54.110 --> 00:11:57.000
HOSPITAL CENTER THIS MORNING."
00:11:57.020 --> 00:11:58.120
AND ANYBODY THAT GETS A CALL FROM THE SECRET
00:11:58.140 --> 00:12:02.020
SERVICE ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW,
00:12:02.040 --> 00:12:04.150
THERE'S A CERTAIN WAY YOU RESPOND.
00:12:04.170 --> 00:12:07.030
AND MEL RESPONDED THAT WAY.
00:12:07.050 --> 00:12:08.220
AND SHE SAID, "HOW DID YOU GET MY CELL PHONE NUMBER?"
00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:11.030
[ LAUGHTER ]
00:12:11.050 --> 00:12:13.220
AND OF COURSE THE SECRET SERVICE MEMBER ANSWERED
00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.150
THE SAME WAY YOU'D EXPECT.
00:12:16.170 --> 00:12:17.250
"MA'AM, WE'RE THE SECRET SERVICE," YOU KNOW.
00:12:17.270 --> 00:12:20.030
BUT SHE SAID YES.
00:12:20.050 --> 00:12:22.190
SECRET SERVICE CLEARED.
00:12:22.210 --> 00:12:24.030
PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH COME IN.
00:12:24.050 --> 00:12:25.130
DOCTOR JORDAN WHOSE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BURN
00:12:25.150 --> 00:12:27.070
CENTER, JUST A NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONAL -- THERE'S ONLY
00:12:27.090 --> 00:12:31.220
ONE GREAT PHYSICIAN BUT THERE'S SOME EXCEPTIONAL
00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:34.030
ONE OUT THERE, AND SHE'S ONE OF THEM.
00:12:34.050 --> 00:12:36.110
MRS. BUSH COMES IN FIRST.
00:12:36.130 --> 00:12:37.210
MEL IS WITH ME TO THE LEFT.
00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:39.150
AND SHE TELLS MRS. BUSH BRIAN IS FROM FT. WORTH.
00:12:39.170 --> 00:12:43.270
AND MRS. BUSH'S EYES LIGHT UP.
00:12:43.290 --> 00:12:45.170
OH, YOU'RE FROM TEXAS.
00:12:45.190 --> 00:12:47.100
THAT LITTLE TEXAS HAPPY DANCE WHEN TEXANS MEET
00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.020
EACH OTHER WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
00:12:49.040 --> 00:12:51.230
AND SHE SAYS COLONEL BIRDWELL, I BROUGHT SOMEONE
00:12:51.250 --> 00:12:54.250
TO SEE YOU.
00:12:54.270 --> 00:12:55.250
AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
00:12:55.270 --> 00:12:57.240
AND SO SHE TURNS OVER HER LEFT SHOULDER AND SAYS,
00:12:57.260 --> 00:12:59.240
COLONEL BIRDWELL, I BROUGHT SOMEONE TO SEE YOU.
00:12:59.260 --> 00:13:03.210
AND PRESIDENT COMES IN ON THE SECOND CALL
00:13:03.230 --> 00:13:05.220
LIKE MOST HUSBANDS.
00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:08.000
TAKES TWO TIMES.
00:13:08.020 --> 00:13:09.200
PRESIDENT COMES IN AND HE'S ALREADY SEEN AND
00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:13.060
VISITED WITH FIVE OTHER CRITICAL BURN SURVIVORS.
00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:17.030
HE COMES TO THE FOOT OF MY BED AND RENDERS THE
00:13:17.050 --> 00:13:21.090
SALUTE, AND ON INSTINCT I AM TRYING
00:13:21.110 --> 00:13:25.140
TO RETURN THAT SALUTE.
00:13:25.160 --> 00:13:26.290
AND HE DOES HIS SALUTE, AND MEL SAYS YOU
00:13:27.010 --> 00:13:29.190
CAN SEE TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS EYES.
00:13:29.210 --> 00:13:31.170
AND THEN I DROP -AND I'M DOING THIS ON -I REMEMBER
00:13:31.190 --> 00:13:35.150
TRYING TO SALUTE BUT I -I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTEXT OF
00:13:35.170 --> 00:13:39.230
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME.
00:13:39.250 --> 00:13:42.100
PRESIDENT DROPS HIS SALUTE, COMES TO THE SIDE
00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.230
OF THE BED AND HE SAYS YOU KNOW, COLONEL BIRDWELL,
00:13:44.250 --> 00:13:47.040
YOU'RE A GREAT AMERICAN.
00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:48.080
THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO UNANSWERED.
00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:50.040
WE'RE GOING TO STOP TOLERATING THE CULTURE OF
00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:53.040
TERRORISM AND ACCEPTING IT AS A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
00:13:53.060 --> 00:13:56.250
THEN MRS. BUSH, THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD PRAY
00:13:56.270 --> 00:14:01.100
FOR US, AND THEN ABSOLUTELY SAID YES, AND
00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.150
THEN MRS. BUSH SAYS, GEORGE, COLONEL BIRDWELL
00:14:04.170 --> 00:14:08.020
IS FROM TEXAS.
00:14:08.040 --> 00:14:09.220
AND OF COURSE PRESIDENT BUSH'S EYES LIGHT UP AND
00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.250
DID THE TEXAS HAPPY DANCE.
00:14:13.270 --> 00:14:19.030
AND HE AND MEL HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT
00:14:19.050 --> 00:14:21.080
VARIOUS THINGS.
00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:23.160
BUT WHAT'S INSTRUCTIVE OF THAT VISIT IS NOT ME
00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:28.020
BEING THE FOCAL POINT OF THE VISIT.
00:14:28.040 --> 00:14:30.110
IT'S THAT THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD WHAT THIS
00:14:30.130 --> 00:14:35.240
VISIT MEANT AND WAS GOING TO MEAN BECAUSE THE
00:14:35.260 --> 00:14:39.260
DECISIONS HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE TO PROTECT
00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:43.230
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHICH IS HIS PRIMARY
00:14:43.250 --> 00:14:46.060
CONSTITUTIONAL FUNCTION WAS GOING TO RENDER OTHER
00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:50.170
MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THE SAME PHYSICAL CONDITION.
00:14:50.190 --> 00:14:55.290
AND HE STILL HAD THE COURAGE AS HE WAS MAKING
00:14:56.010 --> 00:15:00.050
DECISIONS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME FOR OUR NATION.
00:15:00.070 --> 00:15:02.290
AND SO I GOT A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT WHEN I WON
00:15:03.010 --> 00:15:07.040
STATE SENATE SEAT.
00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:08.270
AND IT WAS FUN.
00:15:08.290 --> 00:15:10.050
I MEAN, IT WAS JUST NEAT.
00:15:10.070 --> 00:15:12.080
WE'VE GOTTEN TO VISIT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH
00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.160
SEVERAL TIMES AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, BUT WE LOVE
00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:18.030
HIM AND RESPECT HIM IMMENSELY.
00:15:18.050 --> 00:15:19.290
- SO AFTER HE LEAVES YOU THEN GO INTO SURGERY, AND
00:15:20.010 --> 00:15:22.290
THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE BEGINNING OF
00:15:23.010 --> 00:15:24.220
YOUR RECOVERY.
00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:26.020
- IT IS -WHEN YOU SAY RECOVERY, YES, BUT
00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:32.050
THERE'S A LOT OF BAD -I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS IN A
00:15:32.070 --> 00:15:35.180
BURN CENTER AND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF FLAME
00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:39.220
THAT'S ON THE BATTLE FEED, THERE'S A LOT OF
00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.270
BURN INJURIES THAT COME FROM ARMED CONFLICT.
00:15:41.290 --> 00:15:45.040
SO I HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT MEDICALLY
00:15:45.060 --> 00:15:49.040
SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME.
00:15:49.060 --> 00:15:50.240
I MEAN, JUST WITHOUT A LONG DISCUSSION MY
00:15:50.260 --> 00:15:55.270
CHANCES OF SURVIVAL WHEN I ARRIVED WERE
00:15:55.290 --> 00:15:58.000
LESS THAN 1%.
00:15:58.020 --> 00:15:59.290
- WOW.
00:16:00.030 --> 00:16:02.230
- LIKE I SAID I SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED
00:16:02.250 --> 00:16:04.020
IN THE BUILDING.
00:16:04.040 --> 00:16:05.100
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PLACES THAT I SHOULD HAVE
00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.190
PASSED IN THE MEDICAL RECOVERY, BUT EVERY MAN
00:16:06.210 --> 00:16:11.260
OR WOMAN THAT'S EVER PUT ON THE UNIFORM WHETHER
00:16:11.280 --> 00:16:13.280
THEY SERVED IN PEACETIME, WARTIME, YOU KNOW, WERE A
00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.250
CLERK OR A FRONT LINE, YOU KNOW, FOXHOLE
00:16:16.270 --> 00:16:21.110
FIGHTING SOLDIER, THEY WERE WILLING TO BEAR THAT
00:16:21.130 --> 00:16:26.150
BURDEN, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S EMBLEMATIC OF
00:16:26.170 --> 00:16:32.180
CHRIST'S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS.
00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:34.150
HE WILLINGLY SUBORDINATED HIMSELF TO GOVERNMENT,
00:16:34.170 --> 00:16:39.230
SUBORDINATED HIMSELF TO THE FATHER JUST AS THE
00:16:39.250 --> 00:16:42.280
SOLDIER DOES TO GOVERNMENT FOR SOME
00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:46.080
GREATER CAUSE GREATER THAN HIMSELF, AND THAT'S
00:16:46.100 --> 00:16:50.170
WHAT MAKES OUR VETS AND PARTICULARLY THOSE ON
00:16:50.190 --> 00:16:53.030
MEMORIAL DAY BECAUSE THAT WE REMEMBER BECAUSE THEY
00:16:53.050 --> 00:16:55.120
DIED IN UNIFORM IN SERVICE TO THE NATION,
00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:58.290
THIS OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM ARE MOST CHRIST
00:16:59.010 --> 00:17:02.210
LIKE AMONG OUR NATION.
00:17:02.230 --> 00:17:04.130
- AND WE JUST WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR WHO
00:17:04.150 --> 00:17:07.090
YOU ARE, FOR THE SERVICE TO OUR NATION, BUT WE
00:17:07.110 --> 00:17:09.010
ALSO APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW TODAY.
00:17:09.030 --> 00:17:10.030
- WHO-AH!
00:17:10.050 --> 00:17:11.070
MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU.
00:17:11.090 --> 00:17:12.240
-COLONEL BIRDWELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
00:17:12.260 --> 00:17:13.190
- WHO-AH! THANK Y'ALL.
00:17:13.210 --> 00:17:14.150
[ APPLAUSE ]
00:17:14.170 --> 00:17:15.180
[MUSIC]
00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:27.050
- MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, JACK CHAMBERLAIN WAS
00:17:27.070 --> 00:17:29.070
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON WHY WE
00:17:29.090 --> 00:17:31.040
SHOULD REMEMBER DURING MEMORIAL DAY, WHY WE
00:17:31.060 --> 00:17:34.100
SHOULD REMEMBER OUR FALLEN.
00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:36.190
HE SAID, BEFORE YOU GO I WANT TO GIVE
00:17:36.210 --> 00:17:38.100
YOU SOMETHING.
00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.140
I SAID, OKAY.
00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:41.200
SO I HUNG AROUND.
00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.140
HE COMES OUT WITH THIS CIGAR BOX.
00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.030
AND I KNEW WHAT WAS IN IT.
00:17:46.050 --> 00:17:48.150
AND HE SAID, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THESE.
00:17:48.170 --> 00:17:49.270
AND I SAID, NO, GRANDPA.
00:17:49.290 --> 00:17:51.040
I CAN'T TAKE THOSE.
00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:52.080
THOSE ARE YOUR BROTHER'S.
00:17:52.100 --> 00:17:54.130
HE SAID, YOU WILL TAKE THEM BECAUSE I KNOW YOU
00:17:54.150 --> 00:17:57.020
WILL KEEP FRANK'S MEMORY ALIVE.
00:17:57.040 --> 00:18:00.060
AND I HAVE.
00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:02.000
IF YOU GO TO MY CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE
00:18:02.020 --> 00:18:03.280
TODAY IN WASHINGTON DC, THERE'S FRANK'S PICTURE.
00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.130
THERE'S HIS PIPE.
00:18:07.150 --> 00:18:09.140
THERE'S HIS ARTIFACTS.
00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:11.020
I HAVE A PICTURE OF HIS GRAVE ON MY WALL BECAUSE
00:18:11.040 --> 00:18:14.150
FRANK WAS 19.
00:18:14.170 --> 00:18:17.220
MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WHEN HE DIED HE HAD OVER
00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:20.000
60 DESCENDANTS ME BEING ONE OF THEM.
00:18:20.020 --> 00:18:23.110
AND HE WAS A POWERFUL MAIL FIGURE IN MY LIFE.
00:18:23.130 --> 00:18:26.250
FRANK NEVER GOT THAT CHANCE.
00:18:26.270 --> 00:18:29.040
LIKE SO MANY, HE WAS 19, AND HE DIED.
00:18:29.060 --> 00:18:33.240
A LOT OF THE SOLDIERS I LOST WERE 19.
00:18:33.260 --> 00:18:36.290
THEY NEVER KNEW THE JOYS OF MARRIAGE.
00:18:37.010 --> 00:18:40.140
THEY NEVER KNEW LOVE AND RAISING THEIR CHILDREN.
00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:45.080
THEY NEVER LIVED TO A RIPE OLD AGE WORKING IN
00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:49.220
SOME CAPACITY THAT THEY ENJOYED, ENJOYING THE
00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:53.180
FREEDOMS THAT THEIR SACRIFICE PAID FOR, NEVER
00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:56.050
GOT TO SEE THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
00:18:56.070 --> 00:18:59.020
SO WE SHOULD DO THAT.
00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:03.050
WE SHOULD PAUSE FROM THE BARBECUE AND LAKE TRIPS
00:19:03.070 --> 00:19:06.020
AND GO DOWN AND REFLECT THE NAMES ON A WALL, AND
00:19:06.040 --> 00:19:13.090
MAYBE LOOK ONE OR TWO OF THEM UP AND FIND OUT
00:19:13.110 --> 00:19:15.160
WHO WERE THEY? WHO WERE THEIR LIVES?
00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:18.260
WHAT WAS THEIR IMPACT?
00:19:18.280 --> 00:19:21.080
AND WHAT WAS THE LIFE THEY NEVER GOT TO
00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:23.080
LIVE LIKE FRANK COMPARED TO JACK.
00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:28.070
- SO EVEN THOUGH THE HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY
00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.280
GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO JUST AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,
00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.000
LOOKING AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, MOST
00:19:37.020 --> 00:19:39.150
AMERICANS TODAY STILL DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
00:19:39.170 --> 00:19:41.280
MEMORIAL DAY, DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY WE HAVE
00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.070
A DAY TO COMMEMORATE AND REMEMBER OR EVEN
00:19:44.090 --> 00:19:46.100
REALLY WHEN IT BEGAN.
00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:49.010
- YOU HAVE TO GO BACK ACTUALLY INTO THE CIVIL
00:19:49.030 --> 00:19:51.170
WAR BECAUSE IN THE SOUTH AND IN THE NORTH, YOU
00:19:51.190 --> 00:19:53.210
PARTICULARLY HAD LADIES THAT WERE DECORATING
00:19:53.230 --> 00:19:55.120
THE GRAVES OF FALLEN SOLDIERS.
00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:57.020
AND SO IN 1868, AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IS OVER,
00:19:57.040 --> 00:20:00.200
GENERAL JOHN LOGAN WHO IS COMMANDER OF NOW THE
00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:03.190
REUNITED AMERICAN FORCES ISSUES GENERAL ORDER
00:20:03.210 --> 00:20:06.200
NUMBER 11, AND ON GENERAL ORDER 11 IT SAYS ON THIS
00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:11.090
PARTICULAR DAY, WE WANT TO DECORATE THE GRAVES OF
00:20:11.110 --> 00:20:14.000
ALL OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE CIVIL WAR.
00:20:14.020 --> 00:20:17.000
AND SO WHAT HAPPENED IN ARLINGTON CEMETERY,
00:20:17.020 --> 00:20:19.230
THEY HAD A SPECIAL COMMEMORATION THAT DAY,
00:20:19.250 --> 00:20:23.010
THE ADDRESS WAS GIVEN BY GENERAL JAMES A. GARFIELD,
00:20:23.030 --> 00:20:26.140
AND THEN LADIES AND CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER
00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.080
THE CITY DECORATED THE GRAVES OF BOTH
00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:30.120
CONFEDERATE AND UNION SOLDIERS.
00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:32.010
SO IT WAS KNOWN AS DECORATION DAY.
00:20:32.030 --> 00:20:34.090
BUT AFTER WORLD WAR I.
00:20:34.110 --> 00:20:35.190
AFTER THE DEATHS AND WORLD WAR I, AT THAT
00:20:35.210 --> 00:20:37.250
POINT IS WHEN THEY CHANGED IT TO MEMORIAL DAY.
00:20:37.270 --> 00:20:40.040
THEY SAID LET'S TAKE THIS DAY IN MAY AND CELEBRATE,
00:20:40.060 --> 00:20:44.010
NOT JUST THOSE WHO DIED IN THE CIVIL WAR, BUT
00:20:44.030 --> 00:20:46.080
THOSE WHO DIED IN ALL WARS.
00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:48.000
THAT'S HOW IT CAME TO BE, AND IT IS A TIME TO
00:20:48.020 --> 00:20:50.020
REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY, THOSE
00:20:50.040 --> 00:20:53.290
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES, GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
00:20:54.010 --> 00:20:56.120
- FOR US, WORLD WAR II IS PRETTY MUCH AS FAR BACK
00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:59.070
AS YOU CAN GO, AND THERE ARE STILL VETERANS
00:20:59.090 --> 00:21:01.170
WHO LIVED AND EXPERIENCED THAT.
00:21:01.190 --> 00:21:03.150
ACTUALLY, LATER IN THE SHOW, WE GET TO INTERVIEW
00:21:03.170 --> 00:21:05.180
ONE OF THOSE GUYS.
00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:07.000
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SO MANY OF THE STORIES THAT HAVE
00:21:07.020 --> 00:21:11.240
COME FROM WORLD WAR II, THERE ARE SOME AMAZING
00:21:11.260 --> 00:21:14.230
STORIES NOT JUST OF HEROIC ACTS WHERE THERE
00:21:14.250 --> 00:21:18.020
WAS VICTORY, THERE'S SOME PRETTY AMAZING HEROIC
00:21:18.040 --> 00:21:21.080
ACTS OF SACRIFICE.
00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:23.100
- WELL, IF YOU MOVE OUT OF THE PACIFIC AND GO
00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.250
OVER TO THE ATLANTIC SIDE, AT THE ATLANTIC
00:21:24.270 --> 00:21:27.080
SIDE WE WERE SHIPPING TROOPS OUT ALL THE TIME
00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:29.220
TRYING TO KEEP REINFORCING EUROPE,
00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.180
AND WE'D GO UP THROUGH GREENLAND AND OVER TO
00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:33.120
EUROPE OR SOMETIMES STRAIGHT ACROSS.
00:21:33.140 --> 00:21:35.130
AS THEY SAILED INTO GREENLAND, THERE WAS A
00:21:35.150 --> 00:21:37.220
PLACE CALLED TORPEDO ALLEY, WHERE THE GERMAN
00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:39.280
U-BOATS WOULD SIT OUT THERE AND JUST SINK THESE
00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.250
SHIPS, ALL THESE SHIPS FILLED WITH SOLDIERS
00:21:41.270 --> 00:21:44.260
GOING TO EUROPE.
00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:46.120
AND SO AS THEY SET OUT IN THE LAST PART OF JANUARY
00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:49.170
OF 1943, JANUARY 29TH, THEY SET OUT-- THE GERMANS
00:21:49.190 --> 00:21:53.280
KNEW THEY HAD SET OUT.
00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.070
THEY HAD SPIES HERE, FIFTH COLUMN IS WORKING,
00:21:55.090 --> 00:21:58.020
SO AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT TORPEDO ALLY,
00:21:58.040 --> 00:22:00.270
IT'S ABOUT MIDNIGHT, AND PARTICULARLY U-BOAT 233
00:22:00.290 --> 00:22:05.150
IS SITTING THERE WAITING FOR THEM.
00:22:05.170 --> 00:22:07.140
SO AS THE U.S.A.T. U.S. ARMY TRANSPORT DORCHESTER
00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:10.260
WENT BY, THEY LAUNCHED TORPEDOES AT IT,
00:22:10.280 --> 00:22:13.220
AND THE TORPEDO HIT BELOW THE WATER LINE.
00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:16.130
AND SO OF THE 900 PEOPLE ON BOARD, ABOUT
00:22:16.150 --> 00:22:19.020
A THIRD OF THEM DIED BELOW WATER LINE FROM THE
00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:22.000
IMPACT AND WHAT HAPPENED.
00:22:22.020 --> 00:22:23.250
AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP HAD ORDERED
00:22:23.270 --> 00:22:25.220
EVERYBODY TO SLEEP IN THEIR LIFE JACKETS
00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:28.040
BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH--
00:22:28.060 --> 00:22:29.200
- HE KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS.
00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:31.070
MANY OF THOSE SOLDIERS WHO DECIDED THEY DIDN'T
00:22:31.090 --> 00:22:33.100
WANT TO SLEEP WITH THEIR LIFE JACKETS, SLEEP WITH
00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:35.110
THEIR BULKY STUFF ON, SO WHEN THOSE TORPEDOES HIT,
00:22:35.130 --> 00:22:39.000
AS THEY ARE SCRAMBLING TO SURVIVE, THEY'RE
00:22:39.020 --> 00:22:42.040
SCRAMBLING WITHOUT THE THINGS THAT WERE TO HELP
00:22:42.060 --> 00:22:44.100
GIVE THEM EXTRA MINUTES IN THAT ICE FREEZING
00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:47.260
WATER THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET INTO.
00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:50.020
- AND AS THEY GET UP ON TOP, THERE'S PANIC EVERYWHERE.
00:22:50.040 --> 00:22:52.200
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN A CATATONIC STATE.
00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:54.080
THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:55.160
AND THESE FOUR CHAPLAINS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE
00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:59.070
KEEPING REALLY A CALM ON IT.
00:22:59.090 --> 00:23:02.000
AND AS GUYS ARE PANICKED AND NOT KNOWING WHAT TO
00:23:02.020 --> 00:23:04.120
DO, THEY'RE HELPING THEM FIND GLOVES, HELPING
00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:06.110
THEM FIND LIFE JACKETS.
00:23:06.130 --> 00:23:07.250
AND FINALLY, AS THEY RUN OUT OF LIFE JACKETS,
00:23:07.270 --> 00:23:09.160
THESE FOUR GUYS TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE JACKET OFF
00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:11.240
AND GIVE TO THE LAST FOUR GUYS GOING IN.
00:23:11.260 --> 00:23:14.090
AND AS THE SHIP WENT DOWN, WAS GOING UNDER THE
00:23:14.110 --> 00:23:16.120
WATERS, ON THE DECK THEY WATCHED, THE WITNESSES
00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:19.250
WATCHED AS THESE FOUR GUYS LINKED ARMS AND
00:23:19.270 --> 00:23:22.050
WERE PRAYING TOGETHER AND SINGING HYMNS
00:23:22.070 --> 00:23:23.190
AS THE SHIP WENT UNDER.
00:23:23.210 --> 00:23:25.100
AND SO A LOT OF THOSE YOUNG GUYS SAID HAD IT
00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:27.050
NOT BEEN FOR THEM, I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT.
00:23:27.070 --> 00:23:29.050
SO WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT WAS CONGRESS
00:23:29.070 --> 00:23:32.000
CAME UP WITH THIS.
00:23:32.020 --> 00:23:34.260
THESE GUYS WERE NOT GIVEN THE MEDAL OF HONOR
00:23:34.280 --> 00:23:36.120
BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT KILLED IN BATTLE
00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:38.150
AGAINST HOSTILE ACTION.
00:23:38.170 --> 00:23:39.250
THEY WERE KILLED AS A RESULT OF SINKING A SHIP.
00:23:39.270 --> 00:23:41.260
SO CONGRESS MADE THIS.
00:23:41.280 --> 00:23:43.180
IT'S SOMETIMES CALLED THE CHAPLAIN'S MEDAL OF
00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.110
HONOR, BUT THEY CREATED THIS JUST FOR THOSE FOUR
00:23:45.130 --> 00:23:48.090
GUYS. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY OF THE SACRIFICE
00:23:48.110 --> 00:23:52.060
THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO MAKE.
00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:54.220
- THESE ARE STORIES THAT, ESPECIALLY ON
00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:56.200
MEMORIAL DAY, THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS WE
00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:59.080
OUGHT TO BE LOOKING TO SO GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE
00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:02.240
THAT LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM.
00:24:02.260 --> 00:24:05.030
BUT AGAIN, ONE OF THE STORIES THAT TODAY
00:24:05.050 --> 00:24:07.060
DOESN'T GET NEARLY THE ATTENTION IT PROBABLY
00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:09.030
DESERVES, JUST, WE'VE KIND OF MOVED PAST KNOWING
00:24:09.050 --> 00:24:12.110
SOME OF THESE SAYINGS BUT WORTH REMEMBERING.
00:24:12.130 --> 00:24:15.020
- AS WE MOVE TOWARD THE END OF THE PACIFIC
00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:17.040
THEATER, BECAUSE AFTER WE'RE ABLE TO GO IN ON
00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:19.150
D-DAY AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS A FLAG FROM D-DAY.
00:24:19.170 --> 00:24:23.170
THAT WAS THE THIRD FLAG THAT WENT IN ON D-DAY,
00:24:23.190 --> 00:24:26.100
AND SO IF YOU GET ON THE BACKSIDE OF THAT FLAG,
00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:28.040
YOU'LL SEE ALL THE SHRAPNEL HOLES THROUGH
00:24:28.060 --> 00:24:29.220
THAT FLAG. IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:31.140
SO WHETHER IT BE AFTER WE FINISH IN GERMANY, THEN
00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:34.040
WE COME BACK, AND NOW WE HAVE TO FINISH
00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:35.270
IN THE PACIFIC AREA.
00:24:35.290 --> 00:24:37.210
WE KNOW IWO JIMA, AND WE KNOW THE ICONIC
00:24:37.230 --> 00:24:41.130
IMAGE THAT WE HAVE AT IWO JIMA.
00:24:41.150 --> 00:24:43.260
BUT THE GUY ON THE LEFT SIDE WHO HAS JUST RAISED
00:24:43.280 --> 00:24:46.140
THE FLAG, JUST GONE UP WITH IT, IS A GUY NAMED
00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:49.040
IRA HAYES. IRA HAYES WAS A PIMA INDIAN.
00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:52.120
HE WAS 22 AT THIS POINT.
00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:55.080
WE HAVE A LETTER FROM IRA HAYES THAT IS JUST PRETTY
00:24:55.100 --> 00:25:00.030
UNBELIEVABLE. THIS IS IRA WRITING TO HIS PARENTS.
00:25:00.050 --> 00:25:05.030
I WANT TO READ YOU WHAT HE SAYS TO HIS PARENTS
00:25:05.050 --> 00:25:09.190
HERE. HE SAYS "DEAR PARENTS AND BROTHERS,
00:25:09.210 --> 00:25:15.160
GOOD EVENING DEAR FOLKS.
00:25:15.180 --> 00:25:17.170
I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO JUST NOW SO I'M WRITING
00:25:17.190 --> 00:25:19.260
TO YOU. I HOPE YOU'RE ALL OKAY, BUT PLEASE
00:25:19.280 --> 00:25:22.050
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ME.
00:25:22.070 --> 00:25:23.250
I'M ALL RIGHT AND CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF
00:25:23.270 --> 00:25:25.090
IN ANY SITUATION.
00:25:25.110 --> 00:25:27.020
I DON'T KNOW IF I EVER MENTIONED THIS TO YOU,
00:25:27.040 --> 00:25:29.070
BUT WHEN I JOINED THE CORP, I STARTED TO PRAY.
00:25:29.090 --> 00:25:32.020
MAYBE FOUR OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.
00:25:32.040 --> 00:25:34.050
BUT WHEN I WENT OVER THE FIRST TIME,
00:25:34.070 --> 00:25:35.250
I PRAYED EVERY NIGHT.
00:25:35.270 --> 00:25:37.160
AND THE SECOND TIME OVER, HERE BEFORE WE WENT TO
00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:39.270
IWO AND DONE LIKEWISE.
00:25:39.290 --> 00:25:42.060
BUT ON IWO, I WAS ALWAYS PRAYING.
00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:44.270
SO MANY OTHERS WAS PRAYING FOR THEIR FIRST TIME.
00:25:44.290 --> 00:25:48.060
MY PRAYERS WERE WITH ME AND COMFORTED ME.
00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:51.100
THEY GAVE ME COURAGE TO FACE THE NEXT DAY.
00:25:51.120 --> 00:25:54.160
I NEVER ASK GOD TO SPARE MY LIFE.
00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:57.060
I'D SAY IF IT IS BY HIS WILL THAT I SEE ANOTHER
00:25:57.080 --> 00:26:00.030
MORNING, I WOULD BE THANKFUL FOR IT.
00:26:00.050 --> 00:26:02.260
BUT IF IT IS THE OTHER WAY AND GOD'S WILL,
00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:04.230
WELL, I'LL BE READY.
00:26:04.250 --> 00:26:06.260
AND I HAVE BEEN READY A LONG TIME AGO.
00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:09.130
I NEVER FELT HIS NEARNESS TO ME AS I DID
00:26:09.150 --> 00:26:12.090
ON THAT DAMN ISLAND.
00:26:12.110 --> 00:26:14.140
PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS HEARD AND I'LL KEEP ON PRAYING
00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:17.080
AS I NEVER DID BEFORE.
00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:19.160
WELL FOLKS, I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO WRITE.
00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.200
THANKS FOR SENDING THAT LETTER TO ME."
00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:23.160
AND IT'S SIGNED IRA HAYES.
00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:25.280
NOW, IRA DIED TEN YEARS LATER.
00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.140
HE CAME BACK WITH WHAT WE MIGHT CALL P.T.S.
00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:34.150
WE DON'T CALL IT P.T.S.D., IT'S NOT A
00:26:34.170 --> 00:26:36.120
DISORDER, BUT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS.
00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:39.070
AFTER HE GOT OUT OF THE MILITARY, HE WAS ARRESTED
00:26:39.090 --> 00:26:43.170
52 TIMES FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, AND IT WAS
00:26:43.190 --> 00:26:46.270
JUST HE COULDN'T HANDLE IT.
00:26:46.290 --> 00:26:48.040
HE KEPT SAYING SO MANY GUYS BETTER THAN ME DIED
00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:50.250
AND I DIDN'T, AND IT WAS JUST THIS THING THAT WAS
00:26:50.270 --> 00:26:53.090
HARD FOR HIM TO RECONCILE, SO HE DIED
00:26:53.110 --> 00:26:55.100
AT THE AGE OF 32.
00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:57.100
AND YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST REPRESENTATIVE SOMETIMES
00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:01.270
OF WHAT CIVILIANS DON'T UNDERSTAND.
00:27:01.290 --> 00:27:04.130
- I THINK IT'S PROBABLY WORTH POINTING OUT AS
00:27:04.150 --> 00:27:06.100
SOMETHING THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR HOW AMERICAN
00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:08.280
CULTURE HAS RECOGNIZED A LITTLE BETTER THAT WE
00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:12.140
NEED TO HELP GUYS THAT ARE COMING BACK FROM DOWN
00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.090
RANGE. THERE'S A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, ACTUALLY
00:27:14.110 --> 00:27:17.050
SOME FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE
00:27:17.070 --> 00:27:18.260
THE HIGHEST SUCCESS RATE.
00:27:18.280 --> 00:27:20.160
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT'S BEEN DISCOVERED IS
00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:22.260
WITHOUT GOD, RIGHT, IT'S HARD TO
00:27:22.280 --> 00:27:25.040
FIND THAT RECONCILIATION.
00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.280
IT'S HARD TO FIND THAT FORGIVENESS, SOMETIMES
00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:29.060
EVEN SELF-FORGIVENESS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF
00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:31.230
AMAZING FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
00:27:31.250 --> 00:27:34.040
HELPING VETERANS AS THEY COME BACK, AND CERTAINLY
00:27:34.060 --> 00:27:38.240
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT THERE ARE GROUPS THAT DO
00:27:38.260 --> 00:27:40.160
THIS, BUT WHEN YOU BACK UP TO WORLD WAR II, WHEN
00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:45.070
YOU'RE COMING BACK AFTER THE WAR, THERE WASN'T A
00:27:45.090 --> 00:27:47.130
LOT OFFERED TO HELP PEOPLE KIND OF
00:27:47.150 --> 00:27:50.090
REINTEGRATE AND OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE STRUGGLES.
00:27:50.110 --> 00:27:53.120
- AND WHAT THESE GUYS SAW, PARTICULARLY IN A
00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:55.070
CULTURE WHERE THE KILLING IS WHAT THE ENEMY LOVED
00:27:55.090 --> 00:27:58.230
DOING. I MEAN, THEY WANTED TO TAKE YOU OUT, AND IF
00:27:58.250 --> 00:28:01.120
THEY COULD TAKE THEMSELVES OUT, THAT'S GREAT TOO.
00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:03.280
- ESPECIALLY THE PACIFIC THEATER.
00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.110
- ESPECIALLY IN THE PACIFIC THEATER.
00:28:05.130 --> 00:28:06.220
- JAPANESE ENVIRONMENT.
00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.010
- YOU TAKE THIS PICTURE DOWN HERE WITH THE
00:28:08.030 --> 00:28:11.000
BEHEADING THAT'S GOING ON.
00:28:11.020 --> 00:28:12.220
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BEHEADING SWORDS.
00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:17.200
WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF ACCOUNTS OF JAPANESE
00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:22.050
OFFICERS WHO WOULD HAVE BEHEADING CONTESTS WITH
00:28:22.070 --> 00:28:24.280
EACH OTHER TO SEE WHO COULD BEHEAD A HUNDRED
00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:27.210
SOLDIERS, A HUNDRED P.O.W.'S THE FASTEST.
00:28:27.230 --> 00:28:30.050
THEY HAD TO HAVE RUNOFFS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO FAST.
00:28:30.070 --> 00:28:32.160
I WAS READING LAST NIGHT THE ACCOUNT OF ONE
00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:34.140
JAPANESE OFFICER WHO SAID IF HE WENT MORE THAN TWO
00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:37.090
WEEKS WITHOUT BEHEADING SOMEONE, HE REALLY DIDN'T
00:28:37.110 --> 00:28:39.250
FEEL GOOD ABOUT HIMSELF.
00:28:39.270 --> 00:28:41.110
HE NEEDED TO BEHEAD SOMEONE.
00:28:41.130 --> 00:28:42.240
- ACTUALLY, HE WOULD REMEDY THAT, AS WE WERE
00:28:42.260 --> 00:28:44.130
READING THE ACCOUNT, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD
00:28:44.150 --> 00:28:46.020
JUST GO GET A P.O.W. AND JUST BRING HIM OUT,
00:28:46.040 --> 00:28:48.230
HAVE HIM DIG YOUR GRAVE, CHOP HIS HEAD OFF,
00:28:48.250 --> 00:28:51.050
THROW HIM IN THE GRAVE AND THEN GO BACK.
00:28:51.070 --> 00:28:52.250
HE SAID I JUST FELT BETTER AFTER I BEHEADED SOMEBODY.
00:28:52.270 --> 00:28:56.210
AND THAT'S A CULTURE THAT AS WE TALK ABOUT EVEN
00:28:56.230 --> 00:28:59.050
HISTORY THAT'S FORGOTTEN, PROBABLY THE EUROPEAN
00:28:59.070 --> 00:29:02.120
THEATER IS STUDIED A LOT MORE, RIGHT, IN HISTORY
00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:04.290
THAN THE PACIFIC THEATER.
00:29:05.010 --> 00:29:07.110
MOST AMERICANS KNOW THAT HITLER TARGETED JEWS.
00:29:07.130 --> 00:29:13.070
MOST AMERICANS AREN'T AWARE THAT THE JAPANESE
00:29:13.090 --> 00:29:16.140
EXECUTED FAR MORE CHINESE THAN HITLER EVEN GOT
00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:19.260
CLOSE TO WITH WHAT HE DID, AND ACTUALLY MANY
00:29:19.280 --> 00:29:23.230
OF, PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON WAY OF EXECUTION
00:29:23.250 --> 00:29:26.040
FOR JAPANESE WAS BEHEADINGS.
00:29:26.060 --> 00:29:28.180
- YEAH, WE SEE THAT HITLER TOOK OUT NEARLY
00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:31.140
6 MILLION JEWS, BUT THE JAPANESE TOOK OUT NEARLY
00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:33.100
10 MILLION CHINESE.
00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:35.110
AND LIKE ISIS, THEY HAD THEIR SEX SLAVES.
00:29:35.130 --> 00:29:38.290
THEY WENT TO THE KOREAN PENINSULA, TOOK KOREAN
00:29:39.010 --> 00:29:40.220
WOMEN BACK, THEY BECAME SEX SLAVES FOR THE OFFICERS.
00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:44.200
THE CULTURE, THEY TAUGHT THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE
00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:46.290
HOW TO DO SUICIDE BOMBS.
00:29:47.010 --> 00:29:48.220
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY USED IN WORLD WAR TWO
00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:51.060
WERE SUICIDE TORPEDOES.
00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:52.210
YOU'D PUT TWO JAPANESE INSIDE A TORPEDO
00:29:52.230 --> 00:29:54.080
AND LAUNCH IT.
00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.180
THEY WOULD GUIDE THE TORPEDO TO HIT THE SHIP.
00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:57.140
IT'S LIKE A KAMIKAZE BOMBER BUT YOU HAVE IT IN
00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:00.080
TORPEDOES. I MEAN KILLING WAS JUST-- AND SO IF WE HAVE TO
00:30:00.100 --> 00:30:04.130
INVADE JAPAN LIKE WE INVADED GERMANY AND
00:30:04.150 --> 00:30:08.240
EUROPE, IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING BECAUSE
00:30:08.260 --> 00:30:10.290
THEY'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH
00:30:11.010 --> 00:30:14.090
AND NOT SURRENDER.
00:30:14.110 --> 00:30:15.200
SO AS WE FINALLY GET-- WE DID NOT LOSE A BATTLE,
00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:18.280
ISLAND HOPPING, GOING, WE DID NOT LOSE AN ISLAND,
00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:21.210
WE WON EVERY SINGLE ISLAND UNTIL WE FINALLY
00:30:21.230 --> 00:30:23.210
GET UP AGAINST JAPAN.
00:30:23.230 --> 00:30:25.170
AND NOW WE'VE GOT TO TAKE JAPAN, AND THEY'RE NOT
00:30:25.190 --> 00:30:28.120
SURRENDERING, AND THEY KNOW THEY'VE LOST,
00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:30.090
THEY'VE LOST ALL THEIR ALLEYS BUT
00:30:30.110 --> 00:30:32.070
THEY'RE NOT SURRENDERING.
00:30:32.090 --> 00:30:33.170
AND IT'S INTERESTING WHAT WE DO AT THAT POINT.
00:30:33.190 --> 00:30:36.130
THE AMERICAN SIDE CAME THROUGH IN A WAY THAT IS
00:30:36.150 --> 00:30:38.250
NOT COVERED IN TEXTBOOKS.
00:30:38.270 --> 00:30:40.070
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS COVERED IN ANY SINGLE
00:30:40.090 --> 00:30:41.210
TEXTBOOK AT ALL.
00:30:41.230 --> 00:30:43.190
AND IT IS THAT WE TOOK THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN, AND
00:30:43.210 --> 00:30:46.200
WE STARTED BROADCASTING FROM THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN
00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:49.040
EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES INTO JAPAN THAT WE'RE
00:30:49.060 --> 00:30:51.190
COMING TO DESTROY ALL THE MILITARY STUFF THERE,
00:30:51.210 --> 00:30:54.040
WE DO NOT WANT TO TAKE OUT A SINGLE CIVILIAN,
00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:56.010
SO HERE'S WHERE WE'RE COMING.
00:30:56.030 --> 00:30:57.210
HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BOMB.
00:30:57.230 --> 00:30:59.020
WE WANT ALL CIVILIANS TO LEAVE THOSE AREAS BECAUSE
00:30:59.040 --> 00:31:01.010
WE DON'T WANT CIVILIAN DEATHS.
00:31:01.030 --> 00:31:03.140
THIS IS A LEAFLET THAT WE DROPPED IN JAPANESE.
00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:07.190
IT GIVES THE 35 CITIES THAT THE AMERICAN BOMBERS
00:31:07.210 --> 00:31:09.200
ARE GOING TO BOMB.
00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:11.100
AND IT WARNS THE JAPANESE TO GET OUT OF THOSE CITIES.
00:31:11.120 --> 00:31:13.220
WE WILL DESTROY ALL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:15.170
WE WANT NO INNOCENT LIVES.
00:31:15.190 --> 00:31:17.140
WE FINALLY GOT TO A POINT, THE B-29 BOMBED TOKYO.
00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:20.150
A 100.000 JAPANESE LOST THEIR LIVES IN TOKYO,
00:31:20.170 --> 00:31:22.120
B-29 BOMBER.
00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:23.240
SO THE JAPANESE ARE VERY AWARE OF WHAT A B-29 CAN
00:31:23.260 --> 00:31:26.160
DO, AND THEY CAME OUT WITH THIS ONE HERE.
00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:28.190
THIS SHOWS FIVE B-29S.
00:31:28.210 --> 00:31:31.230
IN JAPANESE, THESE FIVE B-29S, IT SAYS ALL RIGHT
00:31:31.250 --> 00:31:34.060
YOU SEE WHAT A B-29 CAN DO.
00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:36.160
WE HAVE ONE BOMB THAT'S CAPABLE OF DOING WHAT
00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:40.040
2.000 B-29S DO. WE WILL USE THAT BOMB.
00:31:40.060 --> 00:31:43.080
WE DON'T WANT TO. GET OUT OF THE CITY. GET AWAY
00:31:43.100 --> 00:31:46.080
FROM THIS. GET YOUR GUYS TO SURRENDER.
00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:48.200
WE DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.
00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:50.060
WE'RE DROPPING 70 MILLION LEAFLETS ACROSS JAPAN.
00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:54.180
HERE'S SOME OF THE OTHERS.
00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:56.020
- WE HAVE A LOT, A LOT OF LEAFLETS.
00:31:56.040 --> 00:31:58.190
- EVERY CONCEIVABLE MESSAGE YOU CAN IMAGINE.
00:31:58.210 --> 00:32:01.060
- AND THE AMERICAN WARNINGS WERE COMPLETELY
00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:03.120
NEGLECTED. AGAIN, THE JAPANESE THOUGHT THAT IF YOU ARE
00:32:03.140 --> 00:32:07.170
DYING IN BATTLE, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.
00:32:07.190 --> 00:32:10.010
YOU CAN BE REWARDED IN ETERNITY, THERE'S GONNA
00:32:10.030 --> 00:32:12.130
BE GREAT THINGS WAITING FOR YOU, SO THEY'RE NOT
00:32:12.150 --> 00:32:14.130
AFRAID OF THIS NOTION.
00:32:14.150 --> 00:32:16.070
AND SO THEY'RE EMBRACING THE IDEA OF DEATH.
00:32:16.090 --> 00:32:18.140
BUT TRUMAN KNOWS THIS IS GONNA COST A LOT OF
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:20.210
AMERICAN LIVES.
00:32:20.230 --> 00:32:22.070
- THE ESTIMATES WERE THAT IT WOULD COST ONE
00:32:22.090 --> 00:32:24.210
MILLION AMERICAN LIVES IF WE HAD TO INVADE JAPAN
00:32:24.230 --> 00:32:27.100
BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT.
00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:28.270
IT WOULD TAKE 2-4 MILLION ALLIED LIVES, AND
00:32:28.290 --> 00:32:31.140
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 5-10 MILLION JAPANESE WOULD
00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:34.030
LOSE THEIR LIVES.
00:32:34.050 --> 00:32:35.160
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT ESTIMATES OF ANYWHERE
00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:37.040
FROM 3 TO 15 MILLION PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES
00:32:37.060 --> 00:32:40.100
IN THIS, AND THEY WON'T SURRENDER, AND THAT'S
00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:42.280
WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMAN SAID NO, WE'VE GOT TO BOMB.
00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:46.150
WE TOLD YOU THAT WE'VE GOT A BOMB THAT WOULD DO
00:32:46.170 --> 00:32:49.270
WHAT 2.000 OF THESE DID.
00:32:49.290 --> 00:32:51.200
WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS.
00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:53.090
SO WE DROPPED THE FIRST BOMB ON THE 6TH OF AUGUST
00:32:53.110 --> 00:32:56.170
1945. YOU HAD ABOUT 70.000 KILLED, ABOUT
00:32:56.190 --> 00:33:00.060
80.000 WITH RADIATION DEATHS AFTER THAT.
00:33:00.080 --> 00:33:03.260
THREE DAYS LATER, THEY'RE STILL NOT SURRENDERING.
00:33:03.280 --> 00:33:05.220
SAIPAN, WE'RE STILL BROADCASTING, WE'RE GONNA
00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:07.120
DROP A SECOND BOMB.
00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:08.280
TRUMAN, AFTER WE DROPPED THE FIRST BOMB, WENT ON
00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.180
AIR AND SAID WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE.
00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:12.110
SURRENDER OR WE'LL USE IT.
00:33:12.130 --> 00:33:14.030
THEY WON'T SURRENDER.
00:33:14.050 --> 00:33:15.110
WE DROPPED THE SECOND ONE.
00:33:15.130 --> 00:33:16.250
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE. WE'LL USE IT.
00:33:16.270 --> 00:33:18.040
THEY WON'T SURRENDER.
00:33:18.060 --> 00:33:19.160
IT WAS FIVE DAYS LATER BEFORE THEY FINALLY SURRENDERED.
00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:21.200
SO THAT'S WHAT EVENTUALLY ENDED THE WAR.
00:33:21.220 --> 00:33:24.240
AND ANYWAY YOU LOOK AT IT, THE USE OF ATOMIC
00:33:24.260 --> 00:33:28.050
WEAPONS SAVED MILLIONS OF LIVES.
00:33:28.070 --> 00:33:31.130
- WE ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF IMAGES THAT IT'S
00:33:31.150 --> 00:33:35.070
SPECIFICALLY SIGNED BY DUTCH VON KIRK WHO WAS
00:33:35.090 --> 00:33:37.110
A NAVIGATOR OF THE ENOLA GAY.
00:33:37.130 --> 00:33:39.080
AND IN THESE, IT'S INTERESTING WHAT HE SAYS,
00:33:39.100 --> 00:33:41.140
AND LET ME READ A PORTION.
00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:43.050
HE SAYS "MOST PEOPLE DO NOT RECALL WHY WE DROPPED
00:33:43.070 --> 00:33:45.040
THE ATOMIC BOMBS.
00:33:45.060 --> 00:33:46.180
IT WAS FORGOTTEN AFTER 64 YEARS."
00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:48.210
SO IT TELLS YOU WHEN HE WROTE IT. 64 YEARS.
00:33:48.230 --> 00:33:51.060
"ONLY REMEMBERING THE LARGE CASUALTIES THEY CAUSED.
00:33:51.080 --> 00:33:54.070
WE DROPPED THE BOMBS TO END THE WAR AND STOP THE
00:33:54.090 --> 00:33:56.290
KILLING BY DESTROYING MILITARY AND MILITARY
00:33:57.010 --> 00:33:59.020
SUPPORT FACILITIES DEFENDING AGAINST AN
00:33:59.040 --> 00:34:01.210
INVASION. EARLIER, WE DROPPED MILLIONS OF LEAFLETS
00:34:01.230 --> 00:34:05.040
WHICH WERE LARGELY IGNORED."
00:34:05.060 --> 00:34:07.150
NOW THE REASON IT'S SIGNIFICANT IS HE'S
00:34:07.170 --> 00:34:08.200
REMINDING PEOPLE WE WARNED THEM.
00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:12.130
MILLIONS OF LEAFLETS THAT WERE DROPPED.
00:34:12.150 --> 00:34:15.140
THIS WASN'T SOME ARBITRARY ATTACK OF HOW
00:34:15.160 --> 00:34:17.280
CAN WE BE DESTRUCTIVE AND DO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT
00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:21.080
BE BAD, ALTHOUGH THAT IS PART OF HOW IT'S
00:34:21.100 --> 00:34:24.040
PORTRAYED IN SOME OF MODERN ACADEMIA.
00:34:24.060 --> 00:34:27.020
NOW, CERTAINLY NOT ALL ACADEMICS WOULD PROMOTE
00:34:27.040 --> 00:34:29.240
THAT, BUT IT'S EVEN SOMETHING WE SAW,
00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:32.230
IF YOU BACK UP TO THE 2014 A.P. U.S. HISTORY STANDARDS.
00:34:32.250 --> 00:34:38.030
SO FOR A.P. HISTORY, IF YOU'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
00:34:38.050 --> 00:34:40.140
IF YOU ARE A BRIGHT STUDENT, YOU MIGHT TAKE YOUR A.P.
00:34:40.160 --> 00:34:43.000
COURSES. IF YOU TAKE THE A.P. HISTORY COURSE,
00:34:43.020 --> 00:34:45.180
THE SECTION THAT COVERS WORLD WAR II,
00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:48.120
THIS IS THE ENTIRE SECTION THAT COVERS WORLD WAR II.
00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:51.160
- NOW, GUESS WHAT?
00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:54.060
HITLER IS NOT MENTIONED ONCE.
00:34:54.080 --> 00:34:56.030
THE HOLOCAUST IS NOT MENTIONED ONCE.
00:34:56.050 --> 00:34:59.040
D-DAY IS NOT MENTIONED ONCE.
00:34:59.060 --> 00:35:01.080
IWO JIMA IS NOT MENTIONED ONCE.
00:35:01.100 --> 00:35:04.020
PATTON-- AND THAT'S PATTON'S FLAG THAT WAS ON
00:35:04.040 --> 00:35:05.290
HIS CASKET. THAT'S A FOUR STAR FLAG.
00:35:06.010 --> 00:35:07.180
PATTON IS NOT MENTIONED.
00:35:07.200 --> 00:35:09.010
EISENHOWER IS NOT MENTIONED.
00:35:09.030 --> 00:35:10.030
TRUMAN IS NOT MENTIONED.
00:35:10.050 --> 00:35:11.140
NIMITZ IS NOT MENTIONED.
00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:12.250
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE GUYS?
00:35:12.270 --> 00:35:15.100
- BUT WHAT IS MENTIONED IS THEY SAID THERE WAS
00:35:15.120 --> 00:35:17.210
INTERNMENTS OF JAPANESE AMERICANS, CHALLENGES TO
00:35:17.230 --> 00:35:20.140
CIVIL LIBERTIES, DEBATES OVER RACE AND SEGREGATION
00:35:20.160 --> 00:35:23.040
AND THE DECISION TO DROP THE ATOMIC BOMB RAISED
00:35:23.060 --> 00:35:25.120
QUESTIONS ABOUT AMERICAN VALUES.
00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:28.080
NOW HERE'S WHAT'S CRAZY.
00:35:28.100 --> 00:35:30.060
YOU COULD GO THROUGH AN A.P. HISTORY CLASS TODAY
00:35:30.080 --> 00:35:33.250
AND LEAVE THINKING AMERICA WAS THE BAD GUY
00:35:33.270 --> 00:35:36.070
FROM WORLD WAR II. WHY?
00:35:36.090 --> 00:35:38.100
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY ELSE.
00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:39.280
NOW THIS WAS 2014 STANDARDS.
00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:41.290
THIS WAS SO BAD AMERICANS CRIED OUT, SAID YOU'VE
00:35:42.010 --> 00:35:44.120
GOT TO CHANGE IT.
00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:46.000
SO HERE'S THE 2015 STANDARD FOR WORLD WAR II.
00:35:46.020 --> 00:35:48.270
IN THE 2015 STANDARDS, THEY DO MENTION THE
00:35:48.290 --> 00:35:53.090
HOLOCAUST, AND THEY DO MENTION HITLER, BUT THEY
00:35:53.110 --> 00:35:57.030
STILL KEEP ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT AMERICA.
00:35:57.050 --> 00:35:59.200
WHEN WE TELL HISTORY IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU COULD
00:35:59.220 --> 00:36:01.180
LEAVE THINKING AMERICA WAS THE BAD GUY OF WORLD
00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:04.020
WAR II, WE'RE DOING A DISSERVICE TO EVERY YOUNG
00:36:04.040 --> 00:36:06.290
PERSON. BUT THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE
00:36:07.010 --> 00:36:10.140
FORGOTTEN IN HISTORY.
00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:11.260
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT DAYS LIKE
00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:14.200
MEMORIAL DAY ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:17.030
ALLOWS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETELL SOME OF THESE
00:36:17.050 --> 00:36:19.070
FORGOTTEN STORIES, TO HELP REMIND ESPECIALLY
00:36:19.090 --> 00:36:22.250
THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE PRICE THAT WAS PAID
00:36:22.270 --> 00:36:25.250
FOR THE FREEDOMS, THE BENEFITS, THE LUXURIES
00:36:25.270 --> 00:36:28.190
YOU GET TO ENJOY, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY
00:36:28.210 --> 00:36:30.260
SOMETHING THAT WE JUST, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT
00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:33.230
GENERATION, WE JUST DON'T KNOW MUCH APART FROM
00:36:33.250 --> 00:36:36.200
TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT?
00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:38.170
REALLY TECH SAVVY, NOT REAL GOOD WHEN IT COMES
00:36:38.190 --> 00:36:40.240
TO HISTORY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MILITARY
00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:42.170
HISTORY OR EVEN WHAT OUR NATION LARGELY IS ABOUT.
00:36:42.190 --> 00:36:46.140
- AND WHILE WE TODAY CAN IDENTIFY THE PATTON KIND
00:36:46.160 --> 00:36:50.080
OF GUYS, WHICH IS GOOD, VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN
00:36:50.100 --> 00:36:54.080
IDENTIFY THE JOHN BASILONES AND CHAPLAIN GOODE,
00:36:54.100 --> 00:36:57.290
AND IT'S SO MANY OF THESE SMALLER GUYS THAT REALLY
00:36:58.010 --> 00:37:02.050
MAKE THE HEART OF WHAT AMERICA IS AND WHAT
00:37:02.070 --> 00:37:04.260
AMERICA DID AND WHAT ALLOWS US TO BE FREE AMERICANS.
00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:08.020
I MEAN, IT IS GOOD WE'VE GOT THESE LEADERS, AND
00:37:08.040 --> 00:37:10.070
EISENHOWER, AND NIMITZ AND THE OTHERS, BUT IT'S
00:37:10.090 --> 00:37:13.050
THESE GUYS DOWN HERE THAT ARE SO SIGNIFICANT THAT
00:37:13.070 --> 00:37:16.170
WE DON'T GET THE STORY ABOUT IN HISTORY TODAY.
00:37:16.190 --> 00:37:19.090
[MUSIC]
00:37:19.110 --> 00:37:29.110
- SO SPEAKING OF UNSUNG HEROES, ONE OF THOSE
00:37:29.130 --> 00:37:31.020
UNSUNG HEROES IS ED HARRELL.
00:37:31.040 --> 00:37:33.110
ED HARRELL IS A VETERAN FROM WORLD WAR II.
00:37:33.130 --> 00:37:35.170
HE IS A SURVIVOR OF THE SINGLE LARGEST LOSS OF
00:37:35.190 --> 00:37:38.270
LIFE IN ANY SINGLE SHIP IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
00:37:38.290 --> 00:37:41.200
HIS SHIP, THE U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS, WAS SUNK
00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:43.180
IN WORLD WAR II.
00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:45.040
IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT EVENT THAT SHIP WAS PART
00:37:45.060 --> 00:37:47.110
OF AND A VERY SIGNIFICANT STORY THAT ED HAS TO TELL
00:37:47.130 --> 00:37:50.090
US. WE WERE RECENTLY WITH ED IN TENNESSEE.
00:37:50.110 --> 00:37:52.140
HERE'S HIS STORY.
00:37:52.160 --> 00:37:54.090
[MUSIC]
00:37:54.110 --> 00:38:00.280
[MUSIC]
00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:08.150
- WE'RE IN CLARKESVILLE, TENNESSEE.
00:38:08.170 --> 00:38:10.060
WE'RE AT THE HOME OF VETERAN EDGAR HARRELL
00:38:10.080 --> 00:38:12.180
FROM WORLD WAR II.
00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:14.060
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US INTO YOUR HOME.
00:38:14.080 --> 00:38:16.260
YOU WERE PART OF WORLD WAR II.
00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:19.270
YOU WERE ON THE U.S.S.
00:38:19.290 --> 00:38:21.200
INDIANAPOLIS, WHICH IS THE SINGLE GREATEST
00:38:21.220 --> 00:38:23.130
LOSS OF LIFE FOR ANY SINGLE SHIP IN NAVAL HISTORY.
00:38:23.150 --> 00:38:27.260
HOW OLD WERE YOU AT THE TIME?
00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:30.050
- WELL, I VOLUNTEERED IN THE MARINE CORPS
00:38:30.070 --> 00:38:32.080
WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.
00:38:32.100 --> 00:38:34.220
I'M ALREADY IN THE MARINES FOR A PERIOD OF
00:38:34.240 --> 00:38:36.270
TIME BEFORE THE SINKING OF THE INDIANAPOLIS,
00:38:36.290 --> 00:38:41.050
WHICH HAPPENED JULY 30, 1945.
00:38:41.070 --> 00:38:44.270
- HELP US PUT IN PERSPECTIVE WHAT THE
00:38:44.290 --> 00:38:47.160
INDIANAPOLIS WAS ABOUT, WHAT IT WAS DOING.
00:38:47.180 --> 00:38:49.140
WHAT'S THE OVERALL PICTURE OF THE
00:38:49.160 --> 00:38:50.290
INDIANAPOLIS.
00:38:51.010 --> 00:38:52.100
- WELL, OF COURSE, MUCH, MUCH MORE THAN
00:38:52.120 --> 00:38:54.200
JUST TAKING THE ATOMIC BOMB OVER.
00:38:54.220 --> 00:38:59.210
WHEN I WENT ABOARD, OF COURSE I WENT TO SAI
00:38:59.230 --> 00:39:02.220
PAN, TEN AN, GUAM.
00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:06.020
I WAS AT OKINAWA WHERE WE RECEIVED A KAMIKAZE
00:39:06.040 --> 00:39:09.130
PLANE AND LOST SEVERAL BOYS.
00:39:09.150 --> 00:39:12.180
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAD TO COME BACK TO THE
00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:14.250
STATES FOR REPAIR, AND THEN AFTER REPAIR, THEN
00:39:14.270 --> 00:39:18.040
WE GET THE TOP SECRET CARGO.
00:39:18.060 --> 00:39:20.260
- WE KNOW FROM HISTORY THAT IT WAS PREDICTED
00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:24.210
THAT IF WE HAD TO INVADE JAPAN, IT WOULD
00:39:24.230 --> 00:39:27.220
COST MILLIONS OF LIVES, AND SO WHAT YOU GUYS
00:39:27.240 --> 00:39:31.200
DID WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS, TO TAKE
00:39:31.220 --> 00:39:34.140
THE ATOMIC BOMB OVER -- WHICH IS THE ONE THAT
00:39:34.160 --> 00:39:36.230
YOU CARRIED OVER?
00:39:36.250 --> 00:39:38.150
- LITTLE BOY.
00:39:38.170 --> 00:39:40.010
- LITTLE BOY, SO THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT
00:39:40.030 --> 00:39:41.120
WAS DROPPED.
00:39:41.140 --> 00:39:42.270
- THAT WAS THE FIRST TO DROP AT HIROSHIMA.
00:39:42.290 --> 00:39:44.140
- THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE CARING AT THE TIME IN
00:39:44.160 --> 00:39:45.240
THE INDIANAPOLIS.
00:39:45.260 --> 00:39:47.070
- THAT'S AND HAST URANIUM THAT AMERICA
00:39:47.090 --> 00:39:48.210
OWNED AT THAT TIME.
00:39:48.230 --> 00:39:50.180
- SO YOU SUCCESSFULLY DELIVERED ALL THE STUFF
00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:53.250
FOR THE ATOMIC BOMB.
00:39:53.270 --> 00:39:55.130
AS YOU COME BACK, THE NIGHT YOU GET HIT,
00:39:55.150 --> 00:39:58.260
YOU'RE SLEEPING UNDER THE TURRET OUT ON THE
00:39:58.280 --> 00:40:02.160
-- THE FIRST TURRET ON THE DECK.
00:40:02.180 --> 00:40:04.210
WITHIN 12 MINUTES, THE SHIP IS GONE.
00:40:04.230 --> 00:40:07.200
DESCRIBE THOSE 12 MINUTES BECAUSE YOU
00:40:07.220 --> 00:40:09.100
WERE SOUND ASLEEP, AND 12 MINUTES LATER,
00:40:09.120 --> 00:40:11.150
THERE'S NO SHIP ANYMORE.
00:40:11.170 --> 00:40:13.060
- SINCE WE HAD DELIVERED OUR CARGO,
00:40:13.080 --> 00:40:15.280
THE CAPTAIN CAME ON THE SPEAKER AT THE CHANGE
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:19.130
OF THE WATCH IN THE EVENING AND SAID,
00:40:19.150 --> 00:40:23.170
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TOP SIDE AND SLEEP
00:40:23.190 --> 00:40:25.180
RIGHT OUT ON THE OPEN DECK.
00:40:25.200 --> 00:40:27.210
I MADE MY PALETTE, AND THEN THAT FIRST
00:40:27.230 --> 00:40:30.200
TORPEDO, I JUST KNEW THAT THE BOW OF THE
00:40:30.220 --> 00:40:34.150
SHIP WAS CUT OFF.
00:40:34.170 --> 00:40:36.210
AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS BACK CLOSE TO THE
00:40:36.230 --> 00:40:40.180
NUMBER TWO TURRET, AND THE MAGAZINE UNDER THE
00:40:40.200 --> 00:40:43.090
TURRET EXPLODED AND WENT THROUGH THE
00:40:43.110 --> 00:40:45.110
TOP OF THAT TURRET.
00:40:45.130 --> 00:40:49.020
AND YOU COULD FEEL AND HEAR ALL OF THAT WATER
00:40:49.040 --> 00:40:52.170
COMING IN BELOW DECK.
00:40:52.190 --> 00:40:54.170
THOSE FOUR BIG SCREWS ARE STILL PUSHING,
00:40:54.190 --> 00:40:57.060
PUSHING, PUSHING, AND YOU COULD JUST KNOW
00:40:57.080 --> 00:41:01.000
THAT SOMETHING DOWN BELOW IS HAPPENING.
00:41:01.020 --> 00:41:03.230
WELL, IT'S THE BULK HEADS DOWN THERE JUST
00:41:03.250 --> 00:41:06.110
CAVING IN, AND BEFORE I COULD GET BACK MID SHIP
00:41:06.130 --> 00:41:10.220
TO MY EMERGENCY STATION, THE FIRST
00:41:10.240 --> 00:41:13.170
HUNDRED YARDS OF THE SHIP IS UNDER.
00:41:13.190 --> 00:41:15.260
IT'S LISTING TO THE STARBOARD SO THAT
00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:18.160
NORMALLY, THE QUARTER DECK WOULD BE EIGHT
00:41:18.180 --> 00:41:20.290
FEET ABOVE THE WATER LINE, BUT THERE'S WATER
00:41:21.010 --> 00:41:23.270
ON THE QUARTER DECK.
00:41:23.290 --> 00:41:25.290
AND WE KNOW THAT THE SHIP IS SINKING, BUT
00:41:26.010 --> 00:41:29.100
FINALLY, WORD THEN TRICKLES DOWN.
00:41:29.120 --> 00:41:32.010
IT'S LIKE AN ECHO, "ABANDON SHIP!
00:41:32.030 --> 00:41:35.120
ABANDON SHIP." AND YOU COULD SEE IT COMING
00:41:35.140 --> 00:41:39.130
DOWN AND HEAR IT, DIFFERENT ONES FROM
00:41:39.150 --> 00:41:42.000
DIFFERENT STATIONS.
00:41:42.020 --> 00:41:44.020
I'M HOLDING ONTO THE RAIL, AND I OFTENTIMES
00:41:44.040 --> 00:41:46.260
SAY THERE'S TIMES WHEN YOU PRAY, AND THERE'S
00:41:46.280 --> 00:41:50.230
TIMES WHEN YOU PRAY ! AND I'M PRAYING.
00:41:50.250 --> 00:41:55.140
I KNEW TO WHOM I WAS PRAYING, AND I TOLD HIM
00:41:55.160 --> 00:41:58.280
-- YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:03.170
MOM AND DAD BACK HOME, SIX YOUNGER BROTHERS,
00:42:03.190 --> 00:42:06.290
OLDER SISTER AND A YOUNGER SISTER AND A
00:42:07.010 --> 00:42:09.040
CERTAIN BRUNETTE THAT SAID THAT SHE WOULD
00:42:09.060 --> 00:42:12.090
WAIT FOR ME.
00:42:12.110 --> 00:42:14.150
I DON'T SAY THAT THE LORD SPOKE TO ME, THAT
00:42:14.170 --> 00:42:18.120
I COULD HEAR AUDIBLY, BUT I KNEW HE WAS
00:42:18.140 --> 00:42:21.190
TALKING TO ME.
00:42:21.210 --> 00:42:24.070
I COULD HEAR THE WORDS, "I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU
00:42:24.090 --> 00:42:26.120
NOR FORSAKE YOU.
00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:28.080
PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU, NOT AS THE WORLD
00:42:28.100 --> 00:42:30.270
GIVETH, GIVE I UNTO YOU.
00:42:30.290 --> 00:42:32.200
LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED.
00:42:32.220 --> 00:42:35.170
DON'T BE AFRAID." AND WITH THAT JUST RINGING
00:42:35.190 --> 00:42:38.270
IN MY EARS NEARLY, I KNEW THAT THE LORD WAS
00:42:38.290 --> 00:42:43.260
SPEAKING TO ME, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT.
00:42:43.280 --> 00:42:46.090
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T KNOW I'M GOING TO BE OUT
00:42:46.110 --> 00:42:49.020
THERE ANOTHER NEARLY FIVE DAYS, BUT I
00:42:49.040 --> 00:42:53.110
CLIMBED OVER THE RAIL AND JUMPED INTO THE
00:42:53.130 --> 00:42:56.060
WATER FEET FIRST.
00:42:56.080 --> 00:42:58.050
MY KAYPOK JACKET CAME UP OVER MY HEAD, AND I
00:42:58.070 --> 00:43:01.120
MADE MY WAY, THEN, OUT TO THE FIRST GROUP OUT THERE.
00:43:01.140 --> 00:43:06.020
MANY INJURED, WE'RE LOSING BOYS EVERY
00:43:06.040 --> 00:43:08.100
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF INJURIES.
00:43:08.120 --> 00:43:11.120
AND THEN DAYLIGHT COMES, AND YOU COULD
00:43:11.140 --> 00:43:14.220
LOOK OUT AT ANY TIME, AND YOU COULD SEE A BIG
00:43:14.240 --> 00:43:17.110
FIN OUT THERE GOING AROUND.
00:43:17.130 --> 00:43:20.190
AND IN FAIRNESS TO THE SHARKS, THEY WEREN'T
00:43:20.210 --> 00:43:22.290
ATTACKING US, BUT JUST LET SOMEONE GET OUT BY
00:43:23.010 --> 00:43:27.040
HIMSELF, AND EVERY LITTLE BIT YOU'D SEE A
00:43:27.060 --> 00:43:29.210
STRAGGLER OUT THERE, AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN,
00:43:29.230 --> 00:43:32.170
YOU'D HEAR A BLOOD CURDLING SCREAM, AND
00:43:32.190 --> 00:43:35.130
YOU'D SEE THAT BODY GO UNDER, AND THEN LIKE A
00:43:35.150 --> 00:43:39.050
FISH CORK, THAT KAPOK WOULD BRING IT TO THE SURFACE.
00:43:39.070 --> 00:43:42.250
NOW HE'S GOING TO BE WITH YOU, THOUGH, IN
00:43:42.270 --> 00:43:45.160
THAT HOT SUNNY WEATHER.
00:43:45.180 --> 00:43:48.200
HE MAY BE WITH YOU THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
00:43:48.220 --> 00:43:51.250
THAT 110 DEGREE SUN, YOU'RE BAREHEADED, AND
00:43:51.270 --> 00:43:54.190
YOU'RE SWIMMING.
00:43:54.210 --> 00:43:56.190
IT IS DECOMPOSING WITH YOU, AND THEY'RE
00:43:56.210 --> 00:44:01.020
BUMPING INTO YOU LEAVING THAT RESIDUE ON YOU.
00:44:01.040 --> 00:44:05.070
YOU'RE DESPERATE FOR WATER.
00:44:05.090 --> 00:44:08.150
THE SECOND DAY, WHEN WE WERE SO THIRSTY THAT
00:44:08.170 --> 00:44:12.130
BOYS WITH DARE TO DRINK SALT WATER.
00:44:12.150 --> 00:44:15.230
THEY'D TEAR OFF SOME OF THEIR CLOTHING AND PUT
00:44:15.250 --> 00:44:19.010
SOME WATER UP IN A PIECE OF CLOTH AND PUT
00:44:19.030 --> 00:44:21.170
THEIR HEAD ON IT AND DRINK SOME SALT WATER.
00:44:21.190 --> 00:44:24.140
BUT WITHIN THE HOUR -- YOU COULD NEARLY TIME
00:44:24.160 --> 00:44:27.190
IT -- WITHIN THE HOUR, THEY DON'T KNOW
00:44:27.210 --> 00:44:30.150
STRAIGHT UP, AND HERE WE ARE DOWN MAYBE 25 OR
00:44:30.170 --> 00:44:36.020
30 BOYS THAT ARE GONE OUT OF THE 80 NOW.
00:44:36.040 --> 00:44:40.040
- IN YOUR GROUP, THERE'S 80.
00:44:40.060 --> 00:44:43.080
YOU START WITH 80 IN YOUR GROUP.
00:44:43.100 --> 00:44:45.080
- JUST IN MY GROUP. - JUST IN YOUR GROUP?
00:44:45.100 --> 00:44:46.290
- THAT'S RIGHT.
00:44:47.010 --> 00:44:48.210
WORD DIDN'T GET OFF THE SHIP.
00:44:48.230 --> 00:44:51.150
THEY WOULD SAY THAT HAD RECEIVED A TORPEDO, BUT
00:44:51.170 --> 00:44:54.270
WE SAW SOMETHING OUT THERE, AND IT APPEARED
00:44:54.290 --> 00:44:59.270
TO BE A LITTLE RAFT, AND OF COURSE YOU
00:44:59.290 --> 00:45:02.140
HOLLER, AND THEY BACK AT YOU.
00:45:02.160 --> 00:45:04.210
UNTIL THAT LITTLE RAFT GOT CLOSE ENOUGH, WE
00:45:04.230 --> 00:45:08.180
COULD SEE THAT THERE WERE FIVE SAILORS
00:45:08.200 --> 00:45:11.160
AROUND THAT RAFT, AND AS THEY CAME IN, WE
00:45:11.180 --> 00:45:15.030
COULD SEE NO ONE IS ON THE RAFT, BUT FIVE
00:45:15.050 --> 00:45:18.140
SAILORS ARE AROUND IT.
00:45:18.160 --> 00:45:20.150
WELL, WHAT WAS ON THE RAFT, THE ONE THING
00:45:20.170 --> 00:45:23.060
THAT WE DESPERATELY NEEDED, WHICH WAS A
00:45:23.080 --> 00:45:25.160
KAPOK CLAP JACKET.
00:45:25.180 --> 00:45:27.270
THEY HAD TAKEN KAPOK JACKETS OFF OF BOYS
00:45:27.290 --> 00:45:30.000
THAT ALREADY EXPIRED.
00:45:30.020 --> 00:45:32.020
THE FIRST THING THEY TELL US, TAKE OFF YOUR
00:45:32.040 --> 00:45:34.280
KAPOK JACKET, AND WE'D TAKE IT OFF, AND TWO
00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:37.190
BOYS WOULD SQUEEZE OUT OPPOSITE DIRECTION, PUT
00:45:37.210 --> 00:45:41.040
IT UP ON THAT RAFT.
00:45:41.060 --> 00:45:43.000
THAT 110 DEGREE SUN IS DRYING THAT KAPOK OUT.
00:45:43.020 --> 00:45:47.190
SO HERE WE ARE, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE
00:45:47.210 --> 00:45:49.210
FOURTH DAY. MORE DEAD.
00:45:49.230 --> 00:45:53.130
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE RAFT IS.
00:45:53.150 --> 00:45:55.150
I'VE DRIFTED AWAY FROM THAT, AND NOW THERE'S
00:45:55.170 --> 00:45:59.260
DEBRIS EVERYWHERE OUT THERE.
00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:02.250
AND AGAIN, WE SEE THOSE B-29s AT 30.000 FEET,
00:46:02.270 --> 00:46:07.150
BUT NO ONE'S LOOKING FOR US.
00:46:07.170 --> 00:46:09.180
AND THEN I LOOK AT THIS ONE SAILOR, AND I SAW
00:46:09.200 --> 00:46:13.090
IN HIM WHAT I HAD SEEN SO MANY DO, AND I WENT
00:46:13.110 --> 00:46:17.010
OVER AND SHOOK HIM BECAUSE HIS HEAD WAS
00:46:17.030 --> 00:46:18.260
DROPPING IN THE WATER.
00:46:18.280 --> 00:46:20.180
HE RAISED UP, BUT HE COULD NEARLY CARE LESS.
00:46:20.200 --> 00:46:23.160
THE SECOND TIME I DID THAT, HE'S STILL ALIVE.
00:46:23.180 --> 00:46:27.270
THE THIRD TIME, IT'S TOO LATE, SO IT'S JUST
00:46:27.290 --> 00:46:30.030
MCKISSICK AND MYSELF.
00:46:30.050 --> 00:46:32.080
AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN -- I CAN
00:46:32.100 --> 00:46:35.150
HEAR IT TODAY -- ALL OF THE SUDDEN,
00:46:35.170 --> 00:46:37.220
"LOOK! LOOK! I SEE A PLANE! I HEAR A PLANE!"
00:46:37.240 --> 00:46:41.240
AND I COULD HEAR A PLANE, AND I LOOKED AND
00:46:41.260 --> 00:46:44.290
LOOKED AND LOOKED.
00:46:45.010 --> 00:46:47.000
LIEUTENANT GUINN FLYING THAT VENTURA -- I CALL
00:46:47.020 --> 00:46:50.260
IT A B-25 WITH WHEELS ON IT -- FLYING OUT OF PALOU.
00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:54.270
HE HAD BEEN UP SOME 5.000 FEET.
00:46:54.290 --> 00:46:58.150
HE'S HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS RADIO ANTENNA.
00:46:58.170 --> 00:47:01.150
HE CALLS THE COPILOT.
00:47:01.170 --> 00:47:03.200
HE SAID, "TAKE OVER CONTROL.
00:47:03.220 --> 00:47:05.250
I'M GOING TO GO AFT AND PULL IN MY RADIO
00:47:05.270 --> 00:47:09.090
ANTENNA." THE STABILIZER ON THAT HAD COME OFF,
00:47:09.110 --> 00:47:15.190
AND HE WAS GOING TO PUT A SOCK OR SOMETHING ON IT.
00:47:15.210 --> 00:47:18.290
BUT AS HE TURNED IT OVER TO THE COPILOT AND
00:47:19.010 --> 00:47:21.250
GOES AFT, HE LOOKS THROUGH THE BOMB BAY
00:47:21.270 --> 00:47:25.210
DOOR, AND HE GLANCES DOWN AT THE WATER.
00:47:25.230 --> 00:47:29.050
HE SAW THE OIL ON THAT WATER.
00:47:29.070 --> 00:47:31.190
THE SUN HIT THAT, AND THAT TOLD LIEUTENANT
00:47:31.210 --> 00:47:34.180
GUINN, THERE'S A JAP SUB DOWN THERE.
00:47:34.200 --> 00:47:38.030
HE LOADED HIS BOMBS.
00:47:38.050 --> 00:47:40.020
HE'S COMING IN ON A BOMBING RUN.
00:47:40.040 --> 00:47:42.150
WE SEE HIM, "LOOK! HE'S COMING IN!"
00:47:42.170 --> 00:47:45.080
WE'RE WAVING AND SPLASHING, BUT WHEN HE
00:47:45.100 --> 00:47:47.210
GETS DOWN UNDER 500 FEET OR SO, HE SEES
00:47:47.230 --> 00:47:51.190
BOYS AS FAR AS HIS EYES COULD TAKE HIM.
00:47:51.210 --> 00:47:55.100
AND LATER, HE SAID, "YOU WERE SCATTERED
00:47:55.120 --> 00:47:57.220
OVER 25 MILES." BUT I SEE HIM TODAY AS
00:47:57.240 --> 00:48:02.190
HE CAME DOWN OVER MCKISSICK AND MYSELF.
00:48:02.210 --> 00:48:05.090
HE'S CIRCLING.
00:48:05.110 --> 00:48:07.170
I CAN SEE HIM TODAY IN THAT COCKPIT.
00:48:07.190 --> 00:48:09.220
HE'S SAYING, I KNOW YOU'RE DOWN THERE.
00:48:09.240 --> 00:48:13.200
DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
00:48:13.220 --> 00:48:15.210
BUT HE GOES BACK UP, AND HE HAS TO GO UP
00:48:15.230 --> 00:48:19.050
FIVE TO SEVEN THOUSAND FEET BEFORE HIS RADIO
00:48:19.070 --> 00:48:22.210
WOULD REACH BACK AT PALOU.
00:48:22.230 --> 00:48:24.290
HE DOES SO, AND HE ANNOUNCED, "DUCKS ON THE POND."
00:48:25.010 --> 00:48:29.090
HE GIVES THEM OUR COORDINATES.
00:48:29.110 --> 00:48:32.100
HE GETS HOLD OF ADRIAN MARX, A PILOT OF THE P.B.Y.
00:48:32.120 --> 00:48:36.080
MARX SAYS, "WE'RE GASSED UP.
00:48:36.100 --> 00:48:38.240
WE'RE READY TO COME.
00:48:38.260 --> 00:48:41.140
I HAVE THE LOCATION OUT THERE." HE SAYS HE SAW
00:48:41.160 --> 00:48:44.120
MORE SHARKS THAN HE SAW BOYS, AND THEY SAT THAT
00:48:44.140 --> 00:48:48.040
BIG GOOSE DOWN, AND WHEN I SAY THEY SAT IT
00:48:48.060 --> 00:48:50.270
DOWN, I SAW IT WHEN THIS CAME DOWN.
00:48:50.290 --> 00:48:54.270
AND YOU TALK ABOUT PUTTING A PLANE IN A STALL.
00:48:54.290 --> 00:48:59.240
THAT TAIL WAS DOWN, AND THEY'RE HOLDING
00:48:59.260 --> 00:49:04.060
THOSE TWIN ENGINES UP.
00:49:04.080 --> 00:49:06.010
BUT THAT TAIL CAUGHT AND ON A SWELL AND
00:49:06.030 --> 00:49:08.290
PINCHED THE PLANE.
00:49:09.010 --> 00:49:10.180
ONE ENGINE, ONE MOTOR, WOULD NEVER RUN AGAIN.
00:49:10.200 --> 00:49:14.150
SO HE'S ONLY GOT ONE PROP NOW, AND ALL HE
00:49:14.170 --> 00:49:17.240
CAN DO IS RUN THE SWELLS AND PICK UP
00:49:17.260 --> 00:49:21.050
STRAGGLERS.
00:49:21.070 --> 00:49:22.290
HE CAME DOWN MY TROUGH, AND THEY JUST THROW OUT
00:49:23.010 --> 00:49:25.290
SOMETHING FOR ME TO GRAB HOLD OF.
00:49:26.010 --> 00:49:28.200
I CAME OUT OF MY KAPOK JACKET, AND THEY DRUG
00:49:28.220 --> 00:49:30.270
ME IN THE PLANE.
00:49:30.290 --> 00:49:33.030
AND I MIGHT JUST SAY THEY PICKED UP 56, BUT
00:49:33.050 --> 00:49:38.220
IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FUSELAGE OF A
00:49:38.240 --> 00:49:40.270
P.B.Y., YOU WOULD SAY, "IT WON'T HOLD 56." IT WILL
00:49:40.290 --> 00:49:45.000
IF YOU TIE SEVEN OUT ON THE WINGS.
00:49:45.020 --> 00:49:48.210
HE CAN'T TAKE OFF.
00:49:48.230 --> 00:49:50.290
ALL HE CAN DO IS WAIT FOR THE DOYLE TO COME
00:49:51.010 --> 00:49:53.130
IN, AND WHEN THE DOYLE COMES IN, THEY TAKE US
00:49:53.150 --> 00:49:56.210
OUT OF THE PLANE.
00:49:56.230 --> 00:49:58.220
THEY TOOK ME ABOARD THAT DESTROYER AND
00:49:58.240 --> 00:50:01.270
TUCKED ME BELOW DECK AND GAVE ME KEROSENE OR
00:50:01.290 --> 00:50:05.050
DIESEL FUEL BATH TO GET THAT OIL OFF.
00:50:05.070 --> 00:50:09.210
BUT ANY PLACE NEARLY WHERE YOUR FLESH HAD
00:50:09.230 --> 00:50:13.110
RUBBED, NOW IT'S JUST ROTTEN.
00:50:13.130 --> 00:50:17.000
AND WHEN THEY CLEANED THAT OFF, THEN BLOOD,
00:50:17.020 --> 00:50:20.060
BLOOD, BLOOD, AND WHAT CAN YOU PUT ON IT?
00:50:20.080 --> 00:50:24.030
WELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE WRAPPED IN VASELINE GAUZE?
00:50:24.050 --> 00:50:29.050
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO ME, BASICALLY.
00:50:29.070 --> 00:50:32.150
AND THEN FROM THERE, THEY CUT TO A HOSPITAL
00:50:32.170 --> 00:50:34.260
SHIP, THEN, AND I CAME TO GUAM.
00:50:34.280 --> 00:50:37.220
THERE, ON THE SIXTH AUGUST, THERE WAS A
00:50:41.120 --> 00:50:45.090
GENTLEMAN HERE THAT WAS FROM THE LOUISVILLE
00:50:45.110 --> 00:50:48.280
COURIER JOURNAL.
00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:51.200
HE SAID, "HEY, MARINE, DID YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
00:50:51.220 --> 00:50:55.010
CARGO WAS THAT YOU WERE GUARDING?"
00:50:55.030 --> 00:50:57.280
WE SAID, "NO, SIR.
00:50:58.000 --> 00:50:59.220
WE DIDN'T KNOW." HE SAID, "YOU KNOW, TODAY,
00:50:59.240 --> 00:51:01.130
HIROSHIMA." AND THEN THERE'S A FOUR-STAR
00:51:01.150 --> 00:51:05.070
ADMIRAL THAT CAME IN AND SAT ON THE COT NEXT
00:51:05.090 --> 00:51:09.160
TO ME AND TALKED TO ME AND PINNED THE PURPLE
00:51:09.180 --> 00:51:14.100
HEART ON ME.
00:51:14.120 --> 00:51:17.070
- WHEN THE ADMIRAL PUT THAT PURPLE HEART ON
00:51:17.090 --> 00:51:19.180
YOU -- ALL YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU'RE JUST
00:51:19.200 --> 00:51:21.250
FRESH OUR OF THE WATER, THOSE FIVE DAYS IN THE
00:51:21.270 --> 00:51:23.250
WATER -- WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MY BELOVED
00:51:23.270 --> 00:51:26.140
WHEN HE PUT THAT PURPLE HEART ON YOU?
00:51:26.160 --> 00:51:28.050
- I LEARNED TO RESPECT HIM FOR ALL
00:51:28.070 --> 00:51:31.260
THAT I COULD IMAGINE THAT HE'S HAVING TO GO
00:51:31.280 --> 00:51:36.180
THROUGH, ALL THE BATTLES ALL OVER THE PACIFIC.
00:51:36.200 --> 00:51:42.010
WE'RE LOSING BOYS BY THE THOUSANDS,
00:51:42.030 --> 00:51:45.020
LITERALLY THOUSANDS EVERY DAY.
00:51:45.040 --> 00:51:48.050
AND THEN I COULD SEE HIM, AND THEN NOW HE'S
00:51:48.070 --> 00:51:53.120
PINNING THAT PURPLE HEART ON ME.
00:51:53.140 --> 00:51:56.150
HE WISHED ME GODSPEED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
00:51:56.170 --> 00:52:01.000
AND THANKED ME FOR EVERYTHING.
00:52:01.020 --> 00:52:03.190
AND HE SALUTED, AND I COULDN'T SALUTE BACK TO HIM.
00:52:03.210 --> 00:52:09.120
OKAY, BUT I CAN SEE IT. I CAN SEE IT TODAY.
00:52:09.140 --> 00:52:15.000
[MUSIC]
00:52:15.020 --> 00:52:20.110
- TALKING ABOUT THESE GUYS RIGHT HERE.
00:52:20.130 --> 00:52:22.210
THESE WERE THE MARINES ON THE INDIANAPOLIS.
00:52:22.230 --> 00:52:26.110
WHICH ONES MADE IT?
00:52:26.130 --> 00:52:28.050
- OKAY, MCCOY, AND THIS GUY,
00:52:28.070 --> 00:52:32.170
AND DOWN HERE HUGHES AND RICH AND ED HARRELL
00:52:32.190 --> 00:52:39.140
RIGHT HERE.
00:52:39.160 --> 00:52:41.050
THAT'S FIVE OUT OF THAT WHOLE GROUP MADE IT.
00:52:41.070 --> 00:52:45.190
- WHO ARE THESE?
00:52:45.210 --> 00:52:51.020
- SPOONER AND REAGAN AND THAT ONE. THOSE JUST
00:52:51.040 --> 00:52:58.290
CAME ABOARD, BUT AFTER THE PICTURE WAS MADE.
00:52:59.010 --> 00:53:04.140
- OKAY.
00:53:04.160 --> 00:53:06.110
- AND SO THESE ARE THE MARINES THAT MADE IT?
00:53:06.130 --> 00:53:08.060
- THOSE ARE THE NINE MARINES THAT MADE IT.
00:53:08.080 --> 00:53:10.030
ALL OF THEM ARE GONE.
00:53:10.050 --> 00:53:11.260
I'M THE LAST MARINE STILL ALIVE.
00:53:11.280 --> 00:53:14.050
[MUSIC]
00:53:14.070 --> 00:53:24.160
- MY NAME IS MARK DURFEE.
00:53:24.180 --> 00:53:26.070
I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
00:53:26.090 --> 00:53:27.240
MEMORIAL DAY TO ME MEANS WHAT MY
00:53:27.260 --> 00:53:30.000
GRANDFATHER SACRIFICED.
00:53:30.020 --> 00:53:31.210
HE WAS TAKEN P.O.W. BY THE GERMANS ON 12 OF '44.
00:53:31.230 --> 00:53:35.110
BETWEEN HIS SACRIFICE AND THE SACRIFICE OF MY
00:53:35.130 --> 00:53:37.100
THIRD GREAT GRANDFATHER ELIAS DURFEE, MADE IT
00:53:37.120 --> 00:53:40.250
THROUGH ANTIETAM, GETTYSBURG, AND THE
00:53:40.270 --> 00:53:40.290
WILDERNESS ONLY TO DIE IN A CONFEDERATE P.O.W.
00:53:43.030 --> 00:53:45.070
CAMP WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN AT HOME.
00:53:45.090 --> 00:53:48.110
THEIR SACRIFICE AND THEIR SERVICE INSPIRED
00:53:48.130 --> 00:53:50.230
ME TO GO SERVE, AS WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT
00:53:50.250 --> 00:53:53.130
MEMORIAL MEANS TO US.
00:53:53.150 --> 00:53:55.110
- MY NAME IS SARAH COMPTON, AND I AM THE
00:53:55.130 --> 00:53:57.210
SURVIVING SPOUSE OF FIRST SERGEANT
00:53:57.230 --> 00:53:59.230
JONATHAN COMPTON.
00:53:59.250 --> 00:54:01.180
MEMORIAL DAY HAS ALWAYS HAD A GREAT
00:54:01.200 --> 00:54:04.000
SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR FAMILY, EVEN WHEN MY
00:54:04.020 --> 00:54:06.090
HUSBAND WAS LIVING, BUT EVEN MORE SO NOW
00:54:06.110 --> 00:54:09.010
THAT HE'S GONE.
00:54:09.030 --> 00:54:10.250
AND HERE NOW IN THE METROPLEX AREA, WE
00:54:10.270 --> 00:54:13.100
HONOR MY HUSBAND. THERE'S A WALK.
00:54:13.120 --> 00:54:18.230
WE CARRY THE LOAD, AND WE CARRY JONATHAN
00:54:18.250 --> 00:54:21.060
WITH US EVERYWHERE.
00:54:21.080 --> 00:54:23.050
- MY NAME IS KYLE ROGERS.
00:54:23.070 --> 00:54:24.290
I WAS IN THE NAVY FOR FIVE YEARS.
00:54:25.010 --> 00:54:26.200
I WORKED AS A HOSPITAL CORPSMAN.
00:54:26.220 --> 00:54:28.020
I WENT TO AFGHANISTAN TWICE WITH THE THIRD
00:54:28.040 --> 00:54:29.160
COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION.
00:54:29.180 --> 00:54:31.020
AND NATURALLY BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S A
00:54:31.040 --> 00:54:33.150
HANDFUL OF MEN THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT
00:54:33.170 --> 00:54:35.290
AREN'T WITH US ANYMORE.
00:54:36.010 --> 00:54:37.210
SO FOR ME, MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME TO TAKE A
00:54:37.230 --> 00:54:41.030
MOMENT ASIDE FROM ALL THE CELEBRATIONS AND
00:54:41.050 --> 00:54:43.220
JUST TAKE THE TIME TO RAISE A TOAST TO THEM,
00:54:43.240 --> 00:54:47.290
TELL A FUNNY STORY ABOUT ONE OF THEM AND
00:54:48.010 --> 00:54:52.000
GO ON ENJOYING THE LIBERTIES THAT I GET TO
00:54:52.020 --> 00:54:54.170
ENJOY NOW THAT THEY DON'T GET TO ANYMORE.
00:54:54.190 --> 00:54:57.190
- MY NAME IS TIM. I'M RETIRED AIR FORCE.
00:54:57.210 --> 00:55:00.050
WHAT MEMORIAL MEANS FOR ME IS TIMES TO REMEMBER
00:55:00.070 --> 00:55:02.200
ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN
00:55:02.220 --> 00:55:04.250
THE PAST FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT A LOT OF
00:55:04.270 --> 00:55:07.130
AMERICANS TAKE FOR GRANTED THESE DAYS.
00:55:07.150 --> 00:55:09.250
IT'S A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE, ALLOW US
00:55:09.270 --> 00:55:11.260
TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, AND TO GET
00:55:11.280 --> 00:55:14.100
TOGETHER AND JUST ENJOY THE FREEDOMS THAT WE
00:55:14.120 --> 00:55:15.290
HAVE IN AMERICA.
00:55:16.010 --> 00:55:17.260
- I'M DARYLL.
00:55:17.280 --> 00:55:19.170
I'M AN ACTIVE DUTY ARMY CHAPLAIN, AND ONE OF
00:55:19.190 --> 00:55:21.160
THE THINGS WE LIVE BY -- WE NURTURE THE
00:55:21.180 --> 00:55:23.290
LIVING, WE CARE FOR THE FALLEN OR THE WOUNDED,
00:55:24.010 --> 00:55:28.000
AND WE HONOR THE DEAD OR THE FALLEN.
00:55:28.020 --> 00:55:30.030
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO AS A
00:55:30.050 --> 00:55:32.040
CHAPLAIN, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I RECOMMEND
00:55:32.060 --> 00:55:34.050
ANYBODY DO AT MEMORIAL DAY, IS JUST REMEMBER.
00:55:34.070 --> 00:55:36.110
SO WHETHER YOU GO TO A NATIONAL
00:55:36.130 --> 00:55:38.210
CEMETERY, WHETHER YOU HAVE A PICNIC WITH YOUR
00:55:38.230 --> 00:55:40.220
FAMILY AND COOK OUT, JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND
00:55:40.240 --> 00:55:42.200
REMEMBER THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN.
00:55:42.220 --> 00:55:45.120
- MY NAME IS BRIAN. I'M A RETIRED U.S. ARMY
00:55:45.140 --> 00:55:47.190
AIRBORNE INFANTRY MAN WITH SIX COMBAT TOURS.
00:55:47.210 --> 00:55:50.170
MEMORIAL DAY IS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME FOR ME
00:55:50.190 --> 00:55:53.220
BECAUSE I DID LOSE MANY GUYS OVER THERE, AND I
00:55:53.240 --> 00:55:56.280
SPEND MEMORIAL DAY HONORING THEIR MEMORY,
00:55:57.000 --> 00:56:00.140
BUT I WANT AMERICANS TO ENJOY THE DAY BECAUSE
00:56:00.160 --> 00:56:03.270
THAT'S WHY WE FOUGHT.
00:56:03.290 --> 00:56:06.020
- I'M REX KING. I'M A NAVY VETERAN COMBAT DISABLED,
00:56:06.040 --> 00:56:08.260
VIETNAM. BOTH OF MY PARENTS SERVED IN WORLD WAR II,
00:56:08.280 --> 00:56:12.080
AND KNOWING WHAT I KNOW FROM VIETNAM AND THE
00:56:12.100 --> 00:56:16.210
NUMBER OF LETTERS I HAD TO WRITE HOME, WE ARE
00:56:16.230 --> 00:56:19.200
HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED BY BUILDING GOLD
00:56:19.220 --> 00:56:22.210
STAR FAMILY MONUMENTS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.
00:56:22.230 --> 00:56:25.180
[MUSIC]
00:56:25.200 --> 00:56:30.270
- TODAY, WE'VE UNCOVERED SOME TRULY
00:56:30.290 --> 00:56:32.090
REMARKABLE HISTORY.
00:56:32.110 --> 00:56:33.290
WE NOW KNOW THAT GOD'S HAND WAS INVOLVED IN
00:56:34.010 --> 00:56:35.200
EVERY ASPECT OF BRIAN BIRDWELL'S SURVIVAL.
00:56:35.220 --> 00:56:37.260
WE KNOW THAT THE HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL ATOMIC
00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:40.250
BOMBS USED IN WORLD WAR II TOOK LESS LIVES THAN
00:56:40.270 --> 00:56:44.100
THE ENEMY SLAUGHTERED BY HAND, AND WE ALSO
00:56:44.120 --> 00:56:46.250
KNOW THE DRAMATIC EVENTS AND SAVED LIVES
00:56:46.270 --> 00:56:49.210
ARE OFTEN THE RESULT OF THE LITTLE GUYS, THE
00:56:49.230 --> 00:56:52.030
UNSUNG HEROES WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.
00:56:52.050 --> 00:56:54.190
WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND HEARD ONLY SCRATCHES
00:56:54.210 --> 00:56:56.210
THE SURFACE.
00:56:56.230 --> 00:56:58.130
SO FOR ME INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF TODAY'S
00:56:58.150 --> 00:57:00.190
TOPICS, I INVITE YOU TO DISCOVER EVEN MORE
00:57:00.210 --> 00:57:02.220
HIDDEN HISTORY AT OUR WEB SITE:
00:57:02.240 --> 00:57:04.270
OR YOU CAN GO TO THE APP STORE ON YOUR SMART
00:57:06.190 --> 00:57:08.120
DEVICE AND DOWNLOAD THE "WALL BUILDERS" APP, AND
00:57:08.140 --> 00:57:10.100
YOU CAN ALSO GO TO OUR "WALL BUILDERS" FACEBOOK
00:57:10.120 --> 00:57:12.090
PAGE AND LIKE US THERE.
00:57:12.110 --> 00:57:14.030
AND BE SURE TO STAY TUNED TBN FOR MORE
00:57:14.050 --> 00:57:15.290
EXCITING CHAPTERS IN AMERICA'S HIDDEN HISTORY.
00:57:16.010 --> 00:57:19.060
[MUSIC]
00:57:19.080 --> 00:57:25.130

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America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

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America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

America's Hidden History | Memorial Day

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