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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 23, 1992                   TAG: 9202240203
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: D-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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PROFESSOR'S LETTER GETS A D

AS AN AIR Force veteran with 20 months' service in the Asiatic-Pacific area (Operations Analysis, Far East Air Forces), I disciplined myself from writing an angry letter around Pearl Harbor anniversary time. Plenty of other veterans had their say.

Now, two months later, along comes Assistant Professor Frank Munley (letter, Feb. 5), jumping on President Bush for not apologizing for our nuclear attacks against Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I've got to take my shot.

First, give the professor a D for fuzzy thinking and omitting well-documented historical facts.

For example: Did the Japs apologize for their rape of the Philippines or their atrocities in Korea? No, treachery and brutality was then part of their national character. The A-bomb reformed them, I think.

To follow the road to peace suggested in hindsight by Professor Munley would involve some trust in the Japs. Huh, no way. Gen. LeMay's bombers carried the appropriate answer to end the conflict. Enola Gay crew, we vets love you. EDMUND J. KAY ROANOKE

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