Dawn of the Nuclear Age

This photograph shows the first Nuclear Blast. It occurred on this day, July 16, in the year 1945 at the top secret "Trinity" site, 35 miles from Socorro, New Mexico. It was the culmination of the "Manhattan Project", one of the Nation's most intense, and successful R&D projects of all time. After seeing the blast, one of the key developers, Robert Oppenheimer, thought of the Hindu verse, "I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." Several weeks later, a similar bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Some view the bombing of Hiroshima as an act of Barbarism. Others view it as a quick means to end a brutal war, not wanted by, and not started by the United States.

The Finest Hour

This photograph shows Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Great Britain. It was on this day, June 18, in the year 1940 that Churchill gave his famous "Finest Hour" speech. An excerpt from the speech is presented below:

"The Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be freed and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.' "

Sometimes I worry that politicians of today are just not up for the task at hand. We need men like Churchill and Truman.

Army Nurses

This photograph was taken in 1942. It shows nurses training for Gas Warfare. While the women are pictured in a training exercise, and not an actual gas attack, I always thought that this photograph had sort of an eerie apocalyptic look to it.

Women Workers

This picture shows women working in the War Effort in World War II. With a large segment of the male population serving in the military, women stepped up and filled many jobs formerly considered as a man's work. Throughout World War II, women demonstrated that they could perform a variety of trades and professional jobs. When the men returned from war, many of the women remained in the workforce.

Something in the Water

This is an old picture of John H. Luedecke. John was one of the pioneers in the county where I grew up. I never knew him, because he died long before I came along. He was born in the 1880's.

As one of the first residents in the area, he started out on an un-improved, rented farm. It must have been a very hard life having to try and clear land, and scratch out a living in West Texas in the early 1900's.

Through hard work, and determination, John and Lizzie were able to buy their own ranch in 1923; 240 acres. (This ranch was right down the road from the one I grew up on). John guided the family through the great depression, years when hail destroyed the crops, and years when drought made life tough. In 1926 his daughter got her arm caught in an old washing machine. There was no doctor around, so John had to do surgery on the arm himself, removing the infection that had developed. Later when they found a doctor, the doctor commented that he could not have done a better job on the arm himself. They, and their children worked hard to improve the land. Their son, Alvin, built the windmill. Water was the lifeblood of any farm or ranch, so completing the windmill must have been a great day for this family. The family worked all day, but at night would lay out on a pallet together, and watch the stars. John's daughter remembered those times, and commented that the stars looked so close that you could almost reach out and touch them. She also remembered finding comfort in that windmill her brother built. The sound of the windmill was the sound of life to her. The windmill provided water for the stock and the family.

John died on June 21, 1944 from a heart attack while working on his farm.

So whatever happened to little Alvin, who helped clear the land, and build the windmill? Well, he grew up to be Major General Alvin R. Luedecke. He had important positions in World War II, and after the war was the Chief of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project. Did I mention that in his spare time he did a stint as President of Texas A&M University? There must have been something real special about the water coming out of that windmill, or maybe it was that time spent watching the stars with his family.

Sometimes I get tired of all the whining I hear. No one could have started with more humble beginnings, and less opportunity, yet no one could have accomplished more or contributed better than Alvin Luedecke. Our life, and our future is what we make of it. What we achieve is not about what other people allow us to accomplish, but what we decide to accomplish. Believing that others determine our success surrenders almost any hope of ever accomplishing anything.

Could John have ever dreamed that his son would accomplish all that he did? You betcha, and that is probably why he worked so hard. So today, we tip our Stetsons to John H. and his son Alvin R., two great Americans, and two real men. It would be hard to say who was the greater hero . . . the son who made such great contributions to his country, or the father who raised him.

Major General Alvin Luedecke died on August 9, 1998 in San Antonio.

General Alvin Luedecke with First Lady "Lady Bird" Johnson at White House Reception in 1963

Dinner Invitation from Chiang Kai Shek, president of China, to General A. R. Luedecke

Battle of Guadalcanal

This photograph shows an injured soldier from the Battle for Guadalcanal. The Guadalcanal campaign was the first major conflict in the Pacific between US and Japanese forces. The US achieved victory on this day, January 15, in the year 1943 by driving the Japanese forces off the island. I like this photograph because you can really see the look of concern on the soldiers' faces as they see their wounded comrade.

Roosevelt Declares War on Japan

This photograph shows President Franklin Roosevelt signing the Declaration of War against Japan, which he did on this date, December 8, 1941. This occurred after Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

War Effort

Today we feature a photograph of a Woman Worker in the War Effort in World War II. During the war, a large fraction of the United States workforce was occupied in fighting the war. At the same time, there was a huge demand for workers to build the planes, tanks, and other equipment needed to fight the war. In order to fill the jobs, many women entered the workforce in jobs previously reserved for men. This picture shows a woman working on the B-24 Liberator bomber.

The first Liberator bomber rolled off the Willow Run production line on this day, November 28, in the year 1942. Today we tip our hats to all the women stepped forward to new and difficult jobs to help the Allies win the war.

MacArthur Returns

General Douglas MacArthur was the commander of the United States military operations in the Philippines. In 1941 and 1942 his headquarters were located on an Philippine island fortress of Corregidor. The Japanese were keenly interested in capturing or killing this key US commander. His location was known, and was the subject of intense Japanese bombing. President Roosevelt, concerned for MacArthur's security, ordered him to relocate to the safety of Australia. MacArthur obeyed, and issued his infamous quote, "I shall return".

He did return. On this date, October 20th, in the year 1944, MacArthur returned to the Philippines. The photograph above shows him as he lands on the beach of the Philippine Island of Leyte.

World War II Ends

Some felt that our recent "Picture of the Day" showing a Good Bye kiss in World War I was a little stiff . . . that on such an occasion an embrace would have been in order. Well, by World War II, things had loosened up a little bit, and proper good-byes and welcome homes were being given. This picture is the famous picture of a Sailor kissing a Nurse. It was taken on this day (August 14) in the year 1945 at a Times Square celebration of the Victory over Japan in World War II.

Battle of Guadalcanal

This is a photograph of an American Soldier injured in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first assault on Japanese forces in the Pacific in World War II. The battle began on this day (August 7) in the year 1942.

Children in Bomb Shelter

This is an interesting image from 1941. It shows children in a bomb shelter in Britain. The children are huddled in a trench, watching the skies.

Potsdam Conference

Today we feature an interesting photograph of Stalin, President Truman, and Winston Churchill. These were the three most powerful men in the world at the time. The photograph was taken at the Potsdam Conference, which was a meeting to figure out how to move forward in the world after World War II. The Potsdam Conference began on this day (July 17) in the year 1945.

Battle of Okinawa

Today we feature a picture of an American Soldier fighting at the Battle of Okinawa. The battle of Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles in American History. 12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese were killed in the fighting. It was on this day (June 22) in 1945 that American troops achieved victory in the Battle of Okinawa.

Winston Churchill

Today we feature a photograph of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. It was on this day (June 18) in 1940 that Winston Churchill gave his famous speech in which he urged his countrymen to take courage so that future generations would say, "this was their finest hour."

D-Day Invasion

Today we feature a famous photograph of General Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking to paratroopers just before they are to be dropped behind enemy lines at Normandy for the D-Day invasion. The invasion of Normandy occurred on this day in 1944. I love this photograph because of the look of resolve and determination on the faces of the men. While many would not live through the next 24 hours, you see no fear in their eyes, just determination. It was not that they did not understand the danger, it was simply that they understood the importance of the cause. To heroes in the armed forces, past and present, we say thank you.

The Battle of Midway

Today we feature a photograph of the Battle of Midway in World War II, which was fought on this day in 1942. The Battle was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater. It occurred about six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. During the battle of Midway, the United States Navy defeated a Japanese attack against Midway (located northwest of Hawaii) and destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser while losing a carrier and a destroyer.
The battle was a devastating defeat for Japan, and is considered the most important naval battle of World War II. The battle permanently weakened the Japanese Navy, through the loss of over 200 naval aviators. It also allowed the US to go on the offensive.
The Japanese plan of attack was to lure America's few remaining carriers into a trap and sink them. The Japanese also intended to occupy Midway Atoll to extend Japan's defensive perimeter. This operation was in preparation for further attacks against Fiji, Samoa, and the invasion of Hawaii.
Had the Japanese captured Midway, the northeastern Pacific Rim would have been defenseless. Japanese success also would have removed the last capital ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet, ensuring Japanese naval supremacy in the Pacific.

World War II Beach Landing

This is a photograph of the landing of American troops on Attu, Aleutian Islands in World War II. Landing boats are transporting soldiers and their weapons onto the beach at Massacre Bay. It was on this day in 1943 that American forces secured the Aleutian island of Attu from the Japanese during World War II.