Wednesday, April 5th. I was at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee to watch the departure of the 23rd. HonorAir flight for Washington, D.C. Among the 135 veterans were four Americans who worked on The Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during World War II.
Mingling among the veterans I was struck by the common experience state-side of the Vietnam veterans and The Manhattan Project workers. Both groups have been victims of condemnation by their country. These patriots served their country during times of war and an ungrateful nation ignored them, scorned them and personally insulted them. It was a terrible national tragedy.
Similarities abound between these two groups, but it would be a grave injustice to ignore the radical differences between The Manhattan Project workers and the Vietnam veterans. The Manhattan Project workers would protest loudly at being included with the veterans of Vietnam. They humbly know they must never be honored in the same breath with soldiers who risked their lives for their country. I agree.
In the hierarchy of heroism, the Vietnam vets, are at the very pinnacle of sacrifice and service to country. They died in foreign lands or returned home both physically and mentally maimed. The workers in Oak Ridge, Tennessee were never in harm’s way.
There were important differences in how their service was embraced or not embraced by the country. Vietnam was a controversial war and many condemned the war, and condemned the returning soldiers. Soldiers were heckled, harassed and insulted in ways that today seem unimaginable. Many veterans never recovered from this toxic homecoming.
By comparison, The Manhattan Project workers were celebrated as heroes for helping end World War II. The nation’’s gratitude lasted years, but then turned to condemnation. In the early 1960’s when the international community, led by Japan, each August chastised the United States for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As with the Vietnam War, people believed if you condemn the event, you must condemn the participants too. The country turned on The Manhattan Project workers.
The injustice experienced by the Vietnam vets is wrong and intolerable. The nation now must try to honor their service, but the wound is deep and healing will be long and difficult.
Gratitude was denied for decades and many soldiers will be unable to offer forgiveness to their nation for the horrible treatment.
The Manhattan Project workers are victims of a more passive kind of injustice. Their nation has ignored their service and has pushed them into the shadows of history where they remain, ignored. HonorAir Knoxville has been a source of healing for many veterans. With their decision to expand the criteria for honorees to include Manhattan Project workers, HonorAir bravely embraced these ignored heroes of World War II. The national press should take note of this important event.