Feature Article on WWII. Topic: WAR
Written by Rich Wallace in August, 1995
SIDNEY AIRMEN PLAYED ROLE IN DECISIVE BOMBING OF JAPAN |
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| The dropping of the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That subject, now being revisited by the print and television
media, has stirred considerable debate and emotion. A recent television special on ABC in
particular has drawn fire for its attempt to create a feeling of guilt among Americans
today for the decision of President Truman to use the weapon. Before the historical
revisionists have their day, the voices of our fighting men need to be heard. They
remember. As the dramatic events of the war in the Pacific were coming to a close, three
Sidney men were first hand witnesses to those events that are now being recast by others.
One was a casualty and two survived. This is their story. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt decided that the funding and development of a powerful new weapon should be given top priority. The idea for the weapon was first conceived by Albert Einstein and communicated to President Roosevelt in 1939. Cast in a cloak of complete secrecy, the "Manhattan Project" involved the efforts of over 100,000 men and women at various locations in the country and ultimately cost two billion dollars. Amazingly, over the next four years, the secrecy of the project was maintained. Enrico Fermi and other top European scientists, forced from their countries because of the war in Europe, were critical to the eventual success of the program. Although now well known because of the subsequent events that occurred there, Los Alamos, New Mexico was hardly a dot on the map when preliminary testing of various facets of the atomic bomb began. Most of the people stationed there had no idea of the significance or end result of their work. That included young second Lt. James Brecount. Brecount was assigned to the test site by Special Order dated June 11, 1945. He had enlisted directly after high school as an aviation cadet. After eighteen months as a cadet and considerable training, Brecount was offered an opportunity to become an officer. He quickly accepted, and found himself headed for New Mexico. He became a bombardier on a B-29, and he was going to war! |
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| Second Lt. James Brecount
is shown here as a young serviceman before reporting to Los Alamos, N.M., where he took
part in observation flights following detonation of atomic bombs. [ Back ] [ Next ] [ Up ] [ New Search ] |
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