TWO U.S. generals will be on Tinian to join historians, academicians, veterans and educators in a two-day symposium on the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombs used in World War II.
Local historian Don Farrell, chairman of the symposium committee, said Gen. Howie Chandler, vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, and Maj. Gen. Douglas Owens, vice commander for Pacific Air Forces, have already confirmed their attendance.
“The Manhattan Project and Tinian: An Educational Symposium” will be held at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino on Aug. 5 and 6.
“Preparations are going very well and we see no great problems,” Farrell told Variety.
He said Northern Marianas College donated the use of a VTC equipment to allow students on Saipan and Rota to view the discussion.
However, he said, the viewers cannot participate in the discussion due to “tight schedule.”
Farrell said the symposium will allow people to learn what really happened on Tinian with the atomic bombs.
He said all presenters will bring their slide shows with photographs that have not been seen before.
“All panelists have already confirmed their attendance,” he said.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and CNMI Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan will deliver opening remarks at 8 a.m. on Aug. 5
Among the five speakers is Dr. Roger Meade, who for 25 years was the archivist for the Los Alamos national Laboratory.
Meade published “Critical Assembly: A Technical History of Los Alamos during the Oppenheirmer Years, 1943-1945,” which discusses the hundreds of scientists and experts that J. Robert Oppenheimere gathered at Los Alamos, New Mexico, to create the bomb.
Guest speaker John Coster-Mullen is the author of “Atom Bombs: The Top Secret Inside Story of Little Boy and Fat Man.” He is considered by many as a leading source for information on the two atomic bombs.
Another speaker is Jim Petersen, founder of the Wendover Air Field Historical Society, who will discuss the formation of the 509th Composite Bomb Group, the unit created to drop the bombs.
Guest speaker Professor Anderson Giles, whose father participated in the invasions of Tinian and Saipan with the 4th Marine Division, produced two documentaries about the 509th.
Nancy Barlit, author, oral historian and past president of the Los Alamos Historical Society, will present a slide show depicting the early years of Los Alamos Laboratory.
Book signings will begin in the hotel lobby immediately following the symposium.
Chandler will be flying in from the Pentagon to deliver the keynote address.
On Aug. 6, Farrell said the symposium guests and members of the Tinian community will meet at the North Field atomic bomb pits at 8:30 a.m. for a memorial service.
The Blue Knights Honor Guard, 36th Wing Andersen AFB, Guam, will present the colors.
“A t 9:15:17, the moment that the Little Boy uranium bomb exploded over Hiroshima, an Air Force bugler will sound taps for a moment of silence,” Farrell said.
Owens will then deliver his special remarks, after which he and Chandler will be joined by local dignitaries in placing a wreath at the North Field Historical Monument in memory of all those who perished during the war.
“The people of Tinian are very thankful to the sponsors who made this event possible, in particular the NMI Council for the Humanities, which funded the travel for the guest speakers,” Farrell said.
Other sponsors include the Tinian legislative delegation, NMC, Tinian Fleming Hotel, IT&E and the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.
Farrell said Guam radio personality Ray Gibson of K-57 will also join the symposium to broadcast live from the hotel.
Comments
A horrible moment in mankind's history. But it had to be done. Millions of lives hung in the balance.
Pray that the Bravo and Manhattan Projects are the last in the world. The former is a US experiment against the innocent, the latter to bring Japan to her knees.