Seven decades. History, and a rememberance.

[Brad Johnson]

Not sure what prompted me but I pulled out my copy of "Trinity And Beyond" tonight. It's one of my favorite documentaries. It just dawned on me that the Trinity detonation was seventy years ago this summer, along with the subsequent end of WWII. It's sobering to know that kids born now will consider the first Gulf War is as old to them as WWII is to me.

Gawd I feel old.

(Not as old as 230RN, but old...    )

Brad

Edit to add... I didn't see zxcv's post about the Arizona Memorial until after I'd written the OP. The coincidence is beyond striking. I know we tend toward frivolity here at APS but to have two threads on the same day so intrisically linked to a non-current issue is fascinating. And moving.

[Hawkmoon]

Not sure what prompted me but I pulled out my copy of "Trinity And Beyond" tonight. It's one of my favorite documentaries. It just dawned on me that the Trinity detonation was seventy years ago this summer, along with the subsequent end of WWII. It's sobering to know that kids born now will consider the first Gulf War is as old to them as WWII is to me.

Gawd I feel old.

Suck it up, Buttercup.

Old age ain't for sissies.

[TommyGunn]

Not sure what prompted me but I pulled out my copy of "Trinity And Beyond" tonight. It's one of my favorite documentaries. It just dawned on me that the Trinity detonation was seventy years ago this summer, along with the subsequent end of WWII. It's sobering to know that kids born now will consider the first Gulf War is as old to them as WWII is to me.

Gawd I feel old. (Not as old as 230RN, but old...    )   Brad ...

That is a great documentary.  The films of the nuclear explosions are both beautiful and frightening.
Some of the things we did back then were just insane, like putting soldiers in trenches and exposing them to nearby nuclear detonations.   
Great music score on that film too.     

[HankB]

. . . Some of the things we did back then were just insane, like putting soldiers in trenches and exposing them to nearby nuclear detonations . . .

I remember seeing a picture of Gen. Groves and Robert Oppenheimer taken at the Trinity site standing next to remnants of the tower that held the bomb, taken, IIRC, one day after detonation; their only protection from lingering radiation was plastic booties on their shoes. 

[lee n. field]

Edit to add... I didn't see zxcv's post about the Arizona Memorial until after I'd written the OP. The coincidence is beyond striking. I know we tend toward frivolity here at APS but to have two threads on the same day so intrisically linked to a non-current issue is fascinating. And moving.

Do we?  Some.  At other times, not.

[230RN]

(Not as old as 230RN, but old...  Grumpy Old Man  grin )

A good-natured  

I was going to wisecrack on that Pearl Harbor thread that technically, I'm a Pearl Harbor Survivor.

After all, I was around during the attack.

(In Brooklyn, but what's a mere 5000 miles?)

But I didn't think it was appropriate for the subject matter.

I do remember the blackout curtains after we had so many merchant ships sunk right off the New York coast --in fact most of the eastern seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico.  The German subs would sight in on the ships with the lit-up skyline of New York behind them.

I also remember being scared at the rumble and approach of low, low flying heavy bombers forming up for ferry flights to Europe.  Or maybe coming in from the aircraft manufacturers all over the country.  

I really don't know whether they were coming in or going out, but they sure were flying low and scared the hell out of me.  They went right over our house.

(There were maybe 10 airports besides Idlewild (now JFK) and La Guardia and one was pretty close to where we lived.)

Terry, 230RN

[roo_ster]

A good-natured  

I was going to wisecrack on that Pearl Harbor thread that technically, I'm a Pearl Harbor Survivor.

After all, I was around during the attack.

(In Brooklyn, but what's a mere 5000 miles?)

But I didn't think it was appropriate for the subject matter.

I do remember the blackout curtains after we had so many merchant ships sunk right off the New York coast --in fact most of the eastern seaboard and in the Gulf of Mexico.  The German subs would sight in on the ships with the lit-up skyline of New York behind them.

Terry, 230RN

Were you a Democrat politician, you could claim to have shot down a Zero while singing Kumbaya with Rosa Parks.

[230RN]

"Were you a Democrat politician, you could claim to have shot down a Zero while singing Kumbaya with Rosa Parks."

Well worth a guffaw. :)

I would add, "from a rowboat."

Terry

[wmenorr67]

Don't forget with an assault rifle.


As to what is considered old or "ancient" history, as stated it is the perspective of the person and their age.  I being 47 years old was amazed to think that the "Miracle On Ice" was 35 years ago, doesn't seem like it was that long ago, and those college kids are now grown men and some have already passed on.

[Scout26]

And there are probably more then a few of us who might not be here had Operation Downfall been needed to end the war.

[waves arm]

[Doggy Daddy]

That's why I come to APS.  It makes me feel so young.     

[Nick1911]

I think about this too.  I remember working at Walmart, and setting up an endcap display with WWII 60th anniversary coffee table books.

Well, now it's going on 70 years.  That last 10 years went quickly, and lends some perspective to how honestly short a time frame we're really talking about.