interesting quote WWII veteran

[commanding]

11 years after its publication I finally got the book "the greatest generation" by Brokaw. Now I have time to read it (being recently retired). Lots of good stuff. One I had to skip ahead and read was the story on Andy Rooney of 60 minutes...mainly because I don't really like andy rooney very much, for his criticism of General George Patton, which in my mind, angers me. However, I did read one quote in the part about Andy Rooney I wanted to share. Rooney was from a priviledge background and was kind of anti-war up until he was drafted. He then volunteered for duty as a writer for stars and stripes. he went to the front /action to write.
When Rooney got to Europe and entered the concentration camp at Buchenwald, he saw for himself what had only been rumored before.
and here is a quote:

"When he arrived, he was stunned by what he encountered, and embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself for ever having considered refusing to serve in the Army, he wrote...For the first time I knew that any peace is not better than any war."

I thought that was a very, very poignant observation and statement.

[Avon]

To put it mildly, Andy Rooney is eccentric! At least Andy Rooney has what it took to acknowledge he was wrong, and he did this decades ago. He was just one of millions of US citizens who were isolationist. Rooney also felt bad because he previously felt the US should not have been fighting Germany, for it was the Japanese who attacked the USA at Pearl Harbor. He seemed to overlook the fact that Germany declared war on the USA after we declared war on Japan. The USA later declared war on Germany.
Look how long it took "Hanoi Jane" (Fonda) to acknowledge she was wrong.

[commanding]

yes, Rooney being anti-war and an isolationist in pre-military days...and not liking to submit to any authority...it is no wonder he did not like General George S. Patton. Still it was a pretty good quote, even if it did take him a while to "spit it out" after the war.

[Imp]

Look how long it took "Hanoi Jane" (Fonda) to acknowledge she was wrong.

She acknowledged she was wrong? When did that happen?

[James]

"When he arrived, he was stunned by what he encountered, and embarrassed. I was ashamed of myself for ever having considered refusing to serve in the Army, he wrote...For the first time I knew that any peace is not better than any war."

I thought that was a very, very poignant observation and statement.

We could use some of that these days, instead of fatties who only care about X Box and cheeseburgers.

[Mastermind]

Rooney has not changed. he is still a pacifist. His writings of recent years prove that. However, I have to hand it to him...he did the tough assignments....even volunteered for them. He actually flew with the US 8th AAF in 43 when the chances of coming back from some missions were practically nil...His courage is not ever to be questioned. I personally loath his politics...in my estimation, he is a very devout Marxist...and probably has been since his college days.

I don't care...really. In America, that's cool. I would go back to fight another war to protect his right to be any damn thing he wants to be ...to support any kind of politics he believes in...that's what we're about....at least, we used to be before this current bunch of America haters took power.

Like I say, People always get the government they deserve.

[Laconian]

Really, it took him seeing Buchenwald to know we fought a just war? Big of him to admit it. Good for him that he answered the call. But there were thousands of folks that did their duty (and died doing it), because it was their duty not because they personally agreed with it.

[I can't think of a name]

I saw a show on the 8th Air Force and Andy Rooney was one of the commentators. He told a story about how "hydraulics power" failed on a B-17 leaving the Ball Turret Gunner stuck in the thing. The plane had to do a belly landing killing the gunner.

I went to an Air Show at Elemendorf AFB in Alaska and got to go inside a B-17. I asked the guy inside about that story and he knew immediately where I got the story from without me even mentioning Rooney. He went off on Andy Rooney about he didn't know crap it is an electric ball turret etc... I enjoyed that. And Ali G making him look like an Asshole.

[INAT]

I saw a show on the 8th Air Force and Andy Rooney was one of the commentators. He told a story about how "hydraulics power" failed on a B-17 leaving the Ball Turret Gunner stuck in the thing. The plane had to do a belly landing killing the gunner.

I went to an Air Show at Elemendorf AFB in Alaska and got to go inside a B-17. I asked the guy inside about that story and he knew immediately where I got the story from without me even mentioning Rooney. He went off on Andy Rooney about he didn't know crap it is an electric ball turret etc... I enjoyed that. And Ali G making him look like an Asshole.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpDyJObCKOY


You gotta love old people.Or at least respect them.

[commanding]

Rooney has not changed. he is still a pacifist. His writings of recent years prove that. However, I have to hand it to him...he did the tough assignments....even volunteered for them. He actually flew with the US 8th AAF in 43 when the chances of coming back from some missions were practically nil...His courage is not ever to be questioned. I personally loath his politics...in my estimation, he is a very devout Marxist...and probably has been since his college days.

I don't care...really. In America, that's cool. I would go back to fight another war to protect his right to be any damn thing he wants to be ...to support any kind of politics he believes in...that's what we're about....at least, we used to be before this current bunch of America haters took power.

Like I say, People always get the government they deserve.
totally agree! well said

[commanding]

Really, it took him seeing Buchenwald to know we fought a just war? Big of him to admit it. Good for him that he answered the call. But there were thousands of folks that did their duty (and died doing it), because it was their duty not because they personally agreed with it.
again...totally agree! IMO, when you are called, you do your duty, not because you support the war, not because you love the president, not because you want to prevent the spread of communism, or quash Al Quaida, but simply because it is your duty and you are honor bound to answer the call.

Honor. Duty.