Let us go back 64 years and recapture my days in Germany where I was waiting for my discharge papers, and the trip home. Pres. Truman, who became President after FDR died, made the important decision to use the Atom Bomb. He had warned the Japanese Military, but they did not believe his threat and refused to surrender, so he bombed Hiroshima on Aug. 6th The result was horrendous and frightening and still the Japanese would not surrender. They intended to fight on all islands. To avoid the deaths of an estimated 200,000 American he told the Japs, “Surrender or we strike again”. On Aug. 9th we blasted Nagasaki. Japan relented and asked to halt all attacks until arrangements can be agreed upon for complete surrender, which was finally completed on Sept, 2nd.
Prior to this final decision, we, the photo unit, now stationed in Frankfurt, were concerned that we would be transferred to the airforce heading for the ASia Continent to aid in fighting Japan. We were now attached to the 13th Photo Intell. Unit part ot the Air Force. Whle statined in Franfurt, our main job was to clean up the mess caused by bombing. We used the Nazi prisoners to help us and I was in charge of a fifteen or twenty group. I was not armed. I carried a stick which was useless and unnecessary. The prisoners were happy to be in American hands. As I reflect back to those days, I had no inkling regerding the treatment of Jews and the death camps. The newspapers we read did not report or know about these atrocities.
While cleaning out an office building, a box of slides was presented to me . I opened the box and these slides had the imprint Fotoshop, 42nd St, Made in USA. They were slides of American Aircraft. I assumed they were used for identfication. Whether for American use or GErman, I had no idea. But the impact of meeting up with this, presented me with a sign (simmen). I will be heading home, soon. And maybe go to work in the Fotoshop. Which really happened.
