doolittle reunion to end

[Daveroo]

i read in smithsonian air and space that with just 5 men left and only 4 able to attend ,this will be the final year,its a shame "outsiders" cant..or wont be there to thank them for what they did...maybe late to do that..and they may know how valubale they were.but would be nice to give them a nice big thank you men...one final time...

[txnetcop]

Sad indeed...we are losing one of our greatest generations! What these men did at time when it looked the darkest for the allied front was nothing short of INCREDIBLE! May a grateful nation always remember their deeds done under extraordinary circumstances! God Bless them all!
Ted

[beana51]

The Doolittle Raid can never be underestimated.America was reeling from the "Day Of Infamy" as FDR said.. Fear,Paranoia,Confusion was the order of the day!...America needed more than speech's,it needed action.these were tough Americans then,hardened thru the Great Depression,and the Dust bowel.They enlisted by the thousands.For many combat boots were the only shoes they have known.The Kids were being Drafted,and enlisting,The girls and the Moms were just starting to see jobs in war plants starting...There was a real malaise thru out the land.No body then knew we would over come this..All was unknown at that time.
Then something wonderful happened.It was April 18, 1942,,Tokyo is aflame! By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital moral boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941...From that point ,there was no doubt in the minds of the people of America that we will win,and defeat Japan.. The streets were filled with cheering Americans upon learning that news .No doubt about.They knew it would be tough.Kids getting killed in far off places.In the Air,On the Sea,and in the jungles!...Rare was the home in America that did not proudly display that star,many were gold!....The Rest is History we all know the ending..But on that day The Doolittle Raiders embarked on a dangerous mission,with not a doubt in their mind they would succeed!.In doing so Made America invincible!."THEY" of course will live in great honor for as long as America is America!!

[Willy]

One thing to keep in mind about the Doolittle raiders. When they had to take off early from the USS Hornet, they knew their fuel situation was going be grim and they were going on what would be a suicide mission for some. They went anyway. And they became heroes.

[RedGreen]

I saw the goblets they use for the Doolittle Raiders' toasts during my visit to the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio last year.

http://www.doolittleraider.com/the_goblets.htm

Seeing all the upside down chalices really brought home the fact how the Greatest Generation is disappearing....and how it important it is for my generation to not forget what they did. :salute:

[Jagdflieger]

How sad. As they say, "time waits for no man" and I guess this is proof of that.

I am privileged to know LTC (Retired) Saylor, the crew chief of plane number 15, Democracy's Ace in the Hole.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/specials/doolittles-tokyo-raid/ (http://travelforaircraft.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/10113/)

http://travelforaircraft.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/10113/ (http://travelforaircraft.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/10113/)

[stansdds]

Quite sad.