bomber crew member to speak By Kirsten Buys FARMINGTON HILLS — More than 60 years after Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk helped the U.S. Army drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, he remains steadfast that it was the right thing to do. The B-29 bomber that carried the bomb was named the Enola Gay after pilot Paul Tibbets’ mother. Twelve members of the now-defunct United States Army Air Force manned the bomber, dropping the bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, just before the end of World War II. “We did it for a purpose and that purpose was to save a lot of lives,” Van Kirk said from his Georgia home. “From my perspective, we saved a lot more lives than we took by dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” A captain in the Army and 24 years old at the time, Van Kirk said the entire crew was behind the mission and “nobody went crazy, nobody had a breakdown” due to the experience. “Not at the time and not afterwards,” he said. “Everybody has a chance, if they don’t want to go. Nobody backed out.” Van Kirk will be speaking about his experience, sharing videos and pictures, and answering questions at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at the William M. Activities Costick Center, 28600 11 Mile Road. Now 87, Van Kirk went on to be an engineer for DuPont, retiring in 1985. He tells his story across the country about once a month, sometimes with the only other surviving crewmember, Dick Nelson. “I hope people get an understanding of why we dropped the bomb and that the country was right in making the decision to drop the bomb,” he said. “If they want to learn a little more about history and the history of World War II and the history of their country, then they should come listen to me — I lived it.” The event is sponsored by Southeast Michigan Mensa, the local chapter for the international organization that focuses on intelligence and expanding the mind. Harley Berger said the local chapter brings speakers in monthly in an effort to help educate themselves and the public. “Part of our mission is education and providing cultural opportunities, and it just seemed like an appropriate thing to do,” Berger said. “Something like this is an important thing. The gentleman is 87 years old. You’re just not going to have the opportunity to learn history firsthand like that — for how much longer?” Previous presentations Mensa has hosted include those on the sinking of the Titanic, an expert on birds of prey, a woman who helped to hide Jews from the Nazis in her Holland home, a 103-year-old poet, and rocket scientists. “We just have an obligation to history to be aware of it and take advantage of the opportunity to learn firsthand like this when we can,” Berger said. At 5:30 p.m. before the event and at 8 p.m. after the event, Van Kirk will be signing copies of Tibbets’ book, “Return of the Enola Gay.” There will be a charge for any other items signed. Advance tickets for Mensa members are $7, or $10 for non-members, with a discounted price for groups of 10 or more. Only 200 tickets are available, so those wishing to attend are urged to call (248) 232-3946 or e-mail mensatickets@ gmail.com to purchase tickets. More information also is available on the organization’s Web site, www.locals emm.com. You can reach Staff Writer Kirsten Buys at kbuys@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1030. |
