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From: thill@ssc-bee.UUCP (Tom Hill)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Bitburg (Time for forgiveness)
Message-ID: <337@ssc-bee.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-May-85 10:31:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-bee.337
Posted: Fri May  3 10:31:44 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 4-May-85 09:18:17 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 39



I found this letter to the editor in the Wednesday, May 1, 1985 edition
of the Seattle Times.  There were six or seven others but this one caught
my eye and I hope that it catches yours.

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There has been a lot of opposition and little support for the president's
visit to a German cemetery.  Through this I have been saying, "When will
these people show just a little forgiveness?"

But just when my self-righteousness was at its peak, I heard a report
that the SS soldiers in that cemetery were the very men who committed the
massacre at Malmedy.  Suddenly it was my ox that was being gored.  I was
in that battle area and near enough to the Malmedy massacre to consider 
it my concern.

As you might expect, my first reaction was emotional.   I was ready to
join forces with those opposed to the cemetery visit.

But then I began to remember more about those days and those battles.
I remembered what war did to me and to those around me.  In fact, I
remember some other atrocities that were never reported in a newspaper.
I remember German prisoners who never saw a prison camp because they
"tried to escape."  I remember an operation where my sergeant, who was
Jewish, could hardly bring himself to pass his orders to us.  His orders
from our officers were that in this operation we were to take no prisoners.

Mr. President, I am not only ready to forgive, but earnestly suggest it
is time that you also ask forgiveness for the things American soldiers did.


						-- Frank Baker

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Tom Hill