The Greatest Generation and the Latest Generation

Letter from the Editor
by Tim Holbert

Sixty years ago this summer, with the end of World War II on the horizon, Americans began to turn their attention toward rebuilding a world shattered by six years of brutality and destruction unmatched in all of human history. Nazi Germany had been utterly defeated, its surviving leaders rounded up and awaiting their fates that would soon be decided at Nuremberg. Imperial Japan, determined to fight to the bitter end, was growing ever more desperate, its soldiers and airmen resorting to suicide attacks on American forces at every turn, on land and at sea. With Okinawa lost, the Japanese military began training women, and even children, to defend their home islands in the event of the seemingly inevitable American invasion. Some prepared to fight using nothing more than sharpened bamboo spears. Both sides knew that the invasion would leave thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of Americans dead. The number of Japanese killed, military and civilian, would be astronomical. But instead of storming ashore in the face of blistering machine-gun and artillery fire reminiscent of Normandy and Iwo Jima, the American forces would enter the Japanese homeland relatively quietly and peacefully. On August 14, 1945, news arrived in the United States that Japan would surrender, fully and unconditionally, something that only a few weeks earlier had seemed to be out of the question. Despite the fierce objection of many in the Japanese military, Emperor Hirohito, persuaded by the deployment of the atomic bombs against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, capitulated to the Allied forces led by the United States. The terrible power of the bombs dropped on Japan killed many thousands, it is true; but war is hell, and the eventual peaceful occupation of Japan by the American forces saved hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions, of lives on all sides of the conflict.

With victory achieved, Americans did what they have done so often throughout their history: shown their decency and generosity by aiding their former enemies and building free, peaceful, and prosperous societies. Over the past sixty years, Germany and Japan have become two of the world’s wealthiest nations, and two of America’s strongest allies. This positive spirit was brought to America’s former enemies by her young soldiers, sailors, and airmen, who despite having suffered through years of war and depression, still believed in the ideas that made America great, and looked to share these ideas with others. This generation would rebuild Germany and Japan, then come home to build families and businesses, have children and then grandchildren, and lead America to victory in the Cold War. Some went on to further greatness; others retired to quiet lives. All were instrumental in achieving victory in World War II.

Now they are leaving us. Six decades after the end of World War II, only a fraction of the veterans who brought us victory remain. Yet there is still so much to learn from them. The mission of the World War II Veterans Committee from its inception has been to preserve the legacy of the Greatest Generation for future generations. In the past year, we have seen that mission continue with the creation of the National Memorial Day Parade and our various speaker programs. In November, the Committee will hold its Eighth Annual Conference, where veterans from around the country will meet to share their stories with hundreds of high school and college students, fellow veterans, and a public grateful for their service sixty years ago. World War II Chronicles continues to give voice to the Greatest Generation, publishing stories by and about World War II veterans.

As the veterans who fought and won World War II pass from the scene, it will be up to these future generations to preserve their legacy, and to pass on their stories. Every year, the World War II Veterans Committee sponsors an internship program, bringing college students to its offices to learn about, and from, World War II veterans. Each intern is assigned the task of researching a topic related to World War II, meeting with and interviewing veterans, then writing a story to be published in World War II Chronicles. As has become tradition, the summer issue of Chronicles has been turned over to them, these future journalists and historians who will be counted on to tell the stories of World War II veterans in the years to come. This year, the Committee welcomed:

Geraldine Genzardi. Geraldine is a senior at Alfred University in New York. She is a communications major with a minor in political science. She writes for her school’s newspaper, and next semester will serve as News Editor as well as Program Director for her campus television station. In the future, she hopes to study abroad and become involved in international relations.

Steven Mosley. Steven is a sophomore honor student at the University of Maryland. He is majoring in journalism and plans to pursue a career in broadcasting. Steven is an Eagle Scout and remains active in his community (His article, Uncommon Valor: An African American’s Service on Iwo Jima appeared in the spring, 2005 issue).

Ben McCarty. A senior at the University of Portland, Ben is a political science major with minors in communications and theology. He writes for his school’s newspaper, The Beacon, and is Sports Editor. After graduation, Ben plans to pursue a career in journalism or politics, and dreams of one day writing for Sports Illustrated.

Adriel Sanders. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Adriel is a senior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where she is a double major in political science and journalism. Adriel plans on attending law school after graduation, and hopes to become a corporate lawyer or lobbyist, and might one day run for Congress.

All four interns did an outstanding job, and if they are any indication, the World War II generation has left us one final, great legacy: children and grandchildren who respect the sacrifices made by those who came before them, and are eager to keep the spirit of the Greatest Generation alive.