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]OURNALEDITORIAL
KOMENCOMMENT
The recent fly-in to our area by two
vintage World War II bombers re-
called an epic war story of daring and
courage. It happened in early 1942 when
America was reeling from Japan's sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor.
The devastating blow in Hawaii and
rapid Japanese victories elsewhere in the
Pacific sank America's morale lower by the
day. President Franklin D. Roosevelt knew
something was needed to raise American
spirits and to threaten Japan's security.
Japan had the advantage. Much of the
U.S: fleet had been wiped out, and fears
were high Japan would soon invade Wash-
ington andother West
Coast states. Night-time
blackouts were ordered,
block wardens patrolled
neighborhoods, air-raid
warnings were practiced
and anti-aircraft guns
emplaced.
It was a frightening
By JOHN time. But even though
America was ill-equipped,
KOMEN to counter the threat,
FDR had the Army Air
Force drafted a secret plan to bomb Tokyo.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR"
Thus was born the Doolittle Raid on Ja-
pan's home soil.
In deepest secrecy, Lt. Col. James Doo-
little formed an attack team of volunteer
Air Force pilots, navigators, bombardiers,
engineers, gunners and radio operators.
He molded them into a disciplined force
of 80 men, equipped them with stripped
down B-25 Mitchell bombers and had them
repeatedly practice short runway take-
offs. They trained for four months without
knowing why.
It wasn't until the last moment that
Doolittle told his men why they must get
their bombers in the air quickly in the
shortest distance possible. It was because
they were going to do something that had
never been done before -- they were going
to launch their twin-engine B-25s from an
aircraft carrier.
Sixteen B-25s equipped with additional
fuel tanks and a simple but new bomb sight
were crane-lifted aboard the new aircraft
carrier Hornet near San Francisco: Then
they learned the details of their mission.
Tokyo was their destiLnation. Each of the
16 crews would have a s~pecific target; they
were to concentrate on military bases and
factories, steering clear of civilian facilities
such as hospitals and schools.
They would make their bombing runs,
and then head for the mainland of China.
They would land their B-25s at airfields
that presumably were prepared to receive
them in areas not controlled by the Japa-
nese.
It was a plan that if carried out care-
fully would mean each bomber would have
enough fuel to make it to China. Except the
Hornet was detected by' Japanese patrol
boats, and instead of launching with 400
tniles to go, they had to take off550 miles
from the target. It was April 18.
Twelve hours later they made it to the
Tokyo area, dropped their bombs where
they could, and veered off to the north
and China. Their fuel tanks ran dry; some
planes crashed on land, some crashed in
the sea near the coast; one landed in Vladi-
vostok, Russia. Three of the Doolittle raid-
ers were killed, and eight were captured by
the Japanese. All the rest eventually made
it home, including Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle.
The raid was a resounding success. It
caught the Japanese totally by surprise,
showing them their homeland was not a
haven safe from attack as their leaders had
guaranteed.
For the Doolittle raiders, it was mission
accomplished. And at home, Americans
realized anew they had the "right stuff' to
meet the challenges ahead.
Only four of the 80 Doolittle raiders re-
main. One of them lives not far away. Ed
Saylor was the flight engineer on the num-
"ber 15 Mitchell bomber. He is 92 and lives
in Puyallup. And he remembers April 18,
1942.
• John Komen, who lives on Mason
Lake, was for 40 years a reporter and edi-
tor, TV anchorman, national TV network
correspondent, producer, columnist, edito-
rial writer and commentator. His column,
Komen Comment, appears each week in the
Shelton-Mason County Journal.
ill.~ ShelloniMason County ':~ .... 1~
She~ton-Mason County Journal is a member of
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason
County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584.
Published weekly by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc.
at 227 West Cota Street, Shelton, Washington
Mailing address: P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584
Telephone (360) 426-4412 • www.masoncounty.com
Periodicals postage paid at Shelton, Washington
Easy steps can help protect youfrom credit card fraud
Aonumber of students and staff at ficials have hired a private investigator should also familiarize yourself with
lympic College were shocked to and have stopped using their credit card your bank or credit union's policies. By
earn last week that their credit transaction machines -- we'd like to use Washington state law, once you report
and debit card numbers had been stolen, this incident as a reminder to other Ma- the loss or theft, you have no further
Worse yet, school officials have not son County residents the importance of responsibility for unauthorized charges,
yet determined how or when the card safeguarding their banking information, according to the Washington State De-
numbers were compromised, and are The Use of credit and debit cards is more partment of Financial Institutions. Your
urging all individuals who spend money common these days than using cash, and maximum liability under federal law is
at the campus to pay by cash or check the use of checks appears to be going the $50 per card.
until they can find out where and when way of 8-track tape decks. If you are the victim of fraud.or theft,
the breach occurred. Using credit or debit cards is often contact local law enforcement and file a
On June 27 and June 28, the school much more convenient than carrying police report.
received about 20 reports of credit card cash or check books, but if you use them, While it may seem like a no-brainer,
fraud from people who used their cards it's important to become more vigilant in understanding these simple steps could
on campus. Since then, officials have monitoring your bank accounts, save you thousands of dollars -- and
seen "steady reports" of new complaints. While many bank customers receiveplenty of frustration.
The two-year community college, , a monthly credit card or bank account We're hoping that Olympic College
which has campuses in Bremerton and statement in the mail, it might also be a is able to act promptly and work with
Poulsbo, as well Shelton, has thousands good idea to sign up for your bank's on- area law enforcement to track down the
of students and hundreds of faculty and line or mobile account option so you can people responsible for the thefts, and
staff members walk through its doors watch for and respond to any fraudulent that they prosecute them once they are
each day. Nearly all of them carry a activity more quickly, found.
debit or credit card, and many use them Most financial institutions offer 24- College tuition is expensive - stu-
each day without a second thought, hour hotlines for customers to report dents don't need yet another financial
While we have not yet been told fraud, as well as lost or stolen cards, burden to worry about.
what steps Olympic College will take to Keep a list of your credit card and bank- If you have been a victim of credit or
proteqt future electronic transactions ing account numbers along with the debit card fraud at Olympic College, call
-- reports this week are that school of- hotline numbers in a secure place. You the campus security office at 475-7800.
Read book are willing to work and give have contracted with the Imposters
a • it to those who would not!" firm owned and operated by
Count de Tocqueville agreed: Terri and her husband for
be informed "The American Republic will the operation and manage- should be
endure until the day that ment of the district. Terri has
Congress discovers it can " demonstrated an exceptional illegal
Editor, the Journal bribe the public with the pub- knowledge of the functions of
Our country is undergoing lic's money." government. We have been
a profound economic trans- Winston Churchill said,impressed and totally satis- Editor, the Journal
formation. Most fear this "Socialism is the philosophy fled with her abilities in busi- Our veterans and current
change because they do not of failure, the creed of igno- ness and finance. She is an soldiers need your help. Were
know the cause. Some lash rance, and the gospel of envy; extremely hard worker and a you aware that China is mak-
out with false accusations its inherent virtue is the pleasure to work with. ing copies of our military's
at every political disagree- equal sharing of misery." Her education and profes-medals and sending them in
ment. A few will put down TV But the tide is turning! If sional experience has given bulk to this country for any-
remotes and pick up a book to you'are a looter, the end is her a thorough understand- one to purchase? Were you
learn: Others will not learn; nigh; if you are a moocher, ing. of the issues facing Mason aware that fake badges are
they are satisfied with their the well is dry; if you are a County. She has developedbeing sold in this country?
ignorance. For those who producer, say goodbye. John many contacts in both theI was in a business re-
want to learn, here are three Galt is coming! public and private sectors in cently and another customer
books available at our public the county. -- who could barely speak
library. Ardean A. Anvik I believe that Terri is English and clearly was not
1. "The Road to Serf- Star Lake (Elma) highly qualified to serve at military -- had a patch on
dom" by F. A Hayek (1899- the local government level the sleeve of his shirt that
1992): He wasa pre-eminent S-upport tJ'a and would prove to be a tre- said "Airborne." The design
economist and professor r mendous asset to the citizens and the rest of the wording
at the London School of of Mason County. was trying to copy that of the
Economics and later at the true Airborne's patch. I was
University of Chicago where Roger Ray so angry -- I really wanted to
he first published this book Shelton confront this guy and rip the
in 1944. Professor Hayek Editor, the Journal patch offofhis shirt (I didn't).
described socialism as "the I am a long-time resident A veteran told me that Con-
extensive redistribution of of Mason County and thereClub behind gress "planned" to address
incomes through taxation and are many reasons I enjoy liv- this issue but decided to wait
the institutions of the welfare ing here. We have a spirit ~ ~ until next year.
state." of rugged individualism and .a i rg rou n~, s it is illegal to iml~rsonate
2. "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn a straightforward approach law enforcement and fire-
Rand (1905-1982): Written with an appreciation of the Editor, the Journal fighters, why has Congress
in 1957, she described pro- intangible elements thatI'm the treasurer of the failed to make it illegal to
phetically the beginnings of make life worth living. One, Puget Sound Enduro Riders, impersonate our military?
socialism in America that we of these very important ele- an off-road motorcycle club Please contact your elected
are now experiencing under ments is the arts, crafts and with more than 75 membersofficials -- local, state and
President Obama. music of the area shared at from the Belfair, Olympiafederal -- and push for a
3. "Democracy in America" the Mason Area Fair and and Shelton areas. The club law making it illegal to im-
by Count Alexis de Toc- other events that require is in full support of the Sand- personate our military. Our
queville (1805-1859): Written an exhibition hub to make erson Field Fairgrounds Fu- military earn their medals
in 1835, this book describes them happen in a cohesive ture Use Plan. and patches -- no one else
the miracle that is the USA and appropriate way. We For more than 30 years, should be allowed to pass off
from a French historian's have children and parents our club has held at least the impression that they are
point of view. involved with FFA and 4-H one and sometimes as manymilitary.
Compare President Ken- that need a venue to display as three events at the fair-
nedy's quote: "Ask not what what they have learned and grounds. All the years the
your country can do for you; achieve community recogni- county ran the facility, we
ask what you can do for tion. These elements of our shared the grounds with wed-
your country" to Karl Marx's lives have a long-lasting ef- ding receptions, birthday par-
quote: "From each according fect on the continuing history ties, church festivals, gun and
to his ability, to each accord- of us as a community. Please knife shows and 4-H events.
ing to his need". These quotes support the continuation of There were Easter egg hunts
demonstrate the conflicting the fair and the fairgrounds and horse events so we would
visions between the JFK and stand behind Rachel and avoid the area. Many times
model of economic respon- John Hansen in their valiant we saw people practicing for a
sibility and the Karl Marx effort, play or square dancing, work-
model of economic slavery, ing in the Search and Rescue
The Obama doctrine uses Marvin (Mick) McCartney Building, planting flowers
taxation and regulation to Sheltonor working in the yard. The
confiscate and redistribute fairgrounds were truly an all-
wealth -- the very essence Jtt y _e=.re s around facility for the com-
of socialism. Obamacare is Vote munity and many clubs.
economic bondage to Karl Our club believes in sup-
Marx. Thomas Jefferson porting the community and we
wrote: "I predict future hap- Editor, the Journal hope the port does too. If the
piness for Americans if they Terri Jeffreys is an inde- Future Use Plan is approved,
can prevent the government pendent candidate for Mason we believe the community will
from wasting the labors of County Commissioner, Dis- come back to using the facility
the people under the pretense trict 3. This letter is written as it did in the past.
of taking care of them." Hein her support. ,
continued: "Democracy will As a commissioner of a Dave Bowers
cease to exist when you take small water and sewer dis- Tumwater
money away from those who trict in Mason County, we
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
$37 per year for Mason County addresses,
$51 per year in state of Washington but outside
Mason County, $61 per year out of state.
Owned and published by
She~ton-Mason County Journal, Inc
Susan Guerrero
Shelton
Kudos to
Shelton
Editor, the Journal
Continued hoorays for
the Shelton High School
NJROTC students. As a
Highclimber graduate and
veteran, I am doubly proud
of our student cadets. Hardly
a week goes by that they are
not involved in a community
activity. Their next big proj-
ect will be helping attendees
park at the Mason Area Fair.
Those of us who support
the NJROTC wish to thank
See Letters on page A-5
Kari Sleight, publisher
Newsroom:
Adam Rudnick, associate
editor
Natalie Johnson, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter
Advertising: Composing room:
Dave Pierik, Sr. Acct. Executive William Adams, graphics
Sharee Miller, ad representative
Maggie Burich, ad representative Pressroom:
Kelli Alexander, ad representative Kelly Riordan, production manager
Travis Miller, press operator
Front office: Mary Northover, press operator
Donna Kinnaird, bookkeeper
Margot Brand, circulation
Cricket Carter, mailroom
supervisor
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 12, 2012