MPR: Familiar times for 'The Greatest Generation'

Familiar times for 'The Greatest Generation'
By Cara Hetland
Minnesota Public Radio
September 16, 2001

South Dakota's World War II memorial is six figures - men and women representing different service branches. All six are saluting the flag. The figures stand on a floating dock over the Capitol lake. See additional images.
(MPR Photo/Cara Hetland)

With patriotic fervor stirred, thousands of people gathered in South Dakota's capital city to dedicate a memorial to its World War II veterans. While some remembered the war to end all wars, many people's thoughts were on a new war, against an elusive enemy.

A cool, steady rain did little to dampen the spirits of the more than 25,000 people who turned out in red, white and blue to honor the veterans of World War II and their country. Forty bands and 100 veteran's groups marched in a parade, despite the rain.

The crowd was more than double the number organizers had prepared for. When seating for nearly 10,000 around a lake on the Capitol grounds was full, people stood or set up their own chairs. It was massive.

George Thuringer was in Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He was aboard the battleship California in the galley. He remembers losing his shoes as he swam to nearby Ford Island. He was also aboard the California when it went to Japan several years later.

"We figured we evened the score anyway," he said Saturday.

Many of the World War II veterans believe some form of retaliation is appropriate. Leo Waeckerle (shown above with his wife, Leola flew on the Enola Gay, but not on the mission to drop the atomic bomb. Waeckerle says just like Japan, the terrorists of last week must pay.
(MPR Photo/Cara Hetland)

Thuringer says the attacks in Washington D.C., and New York City were worse than the strike on Pearl Harbor. An attack against civilian targets, he says, is harder to understand.

"It got innocent people that had nothing to do with any war games or anything like this," Thuringer said.

Many of the World War II veterans believe some form of retaliation is appropriate. Leo Waeckerle flew on the Enola Gay, but not on the mission to drop the atomic bomb. Waeckerle says just like Japan, the terrorists of last week must pay. "They better go after it and keep going until they clean out that bunch of people doing that kind of stuff. It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be a short time. But my idea is stay on it until get it all done," Waeckerle said.

The ceremony blended newsreel footage, and well-known tunes; taking the crowd back in time and returning to the present. Major General Philip Killey, is the adjutant general of South Dakota, thanked the veterans for their service, and for the freedom they provided the rest of us.

"Make no mistake about it," he said. "Your armed forces are ready and we commit to you, we will do whatever it takes on the battlefields of the 21st century to protect and preserve the freedoms and democracy that you our WWII veterans so gallantly preserved."

VOICES
Maj. Gen. Philip G. Kiley - Adjutant General of S.D., addressed more than 5,000 WWII veterans at the memorial ceremony. Listen to his comments.

Mary Bohr married her husband, Donald, when he came home from a two-week leave in WWII. She said it was sad because everyone knew the country was going to war. She talks about that feeling now, and her concern for six grandsons. Listen to her comments.

Gov. Bill Janklow wanted to acknowledge World War II veterans before they all died. He credited them as the true meaning of courage, commitment and patriotism. He thanked them for giving us the freedom we sometimes take for granted. "Today this country is at war again. Sometimes we're a little slow in America; sometimes we try so hard to think that we can reason, that we can deal, that we can negotiate, that we forget there are people out to destroy us and our way of life," Janklow said.

Janklow says the terrorists achieved something unique in uniting this country as never before.

South Dakota's WWII memorial is six figures - men and women representing different service branches. All six are saluting the flag. The figures stand on a floating dock over the Capitol lake. Across the lake - a backdrop of sorts - stood 4,000 high school and college musicians forming the largest band ever to perform in unison. Despite the size of the group, the wind caught much of the music leaving only echoes of a distant patriotic tribute.

Fireworks shot deep colors of purple, green and orange smoke over the crowd and then 68,000 red, white and blue balloons were released; the number of South Dakotans who served in World War II.

Cara Hetland covers South Dakota for Minnesota Public Radio. Reach her via e-mail at chetland@mpr.org.

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