I was stationed in Japan during the Viet Nam war from 1967 -1969. I was "short "and ready to go home. The Japanese movers who were busy loading up all our belongings suddenly just left our typical little Japanese house and walked out and down the street to this market place. I was ignorant as to what was about to happen. Obviously, they …
I was stationed in Japan during the Viet Nam war from 1967 -1969. I was "short "and ready to go home. The Japanese movers who were busy loading up all our belongings suddenly just left our typical little Japanese house and walked out and down the street to this market place. I was ignorant as to what was about to happen. Obviously, they were not and they did not want to miss it. I, at the urging of one of the workers, followed him to the market. I will forever be thankful for this this gesture to go with him. There was a large crowd standing in the dirt street outside this small appliance shop where there was a small black and white TV on a pedestal facing outside to the street. I slowly realized what I was watching and the memory is still quite vivid and even better is the immense feeling of pride I felt in my America. This was my country accomplishing this awesome historic feat. We were not the most popular people in Japan during this time period. But there on this dirt street were Japanese people cheering and clapping and looking as amazed as i was as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Here I was a Capt. in the US Army unaware that today, July 20, 1969, was to become one of the most historic days in history. And these ordinary Japanese citizens made up of mothers carrying their children on their back, ordinary laborers and older women in traditional kimonos, survivors of WW 11 which had ended just 25 years previously, all gathering to witness something i was not aware was going to happen that day. This article reminds me of how complacent we have become to space exploration and travel and the incredible complexity involved. I am disappointed to note how little attention this landing of the booster and capture has received in the press. What an astounding accomplishment !!! Why Space X and Elon and his CREW do not receive more accolades and literally standing ovations for this is dumbfounding to me.
I was stationed in Japan during the Viet Nam war from 1967 -1969. I was "short "and ready to go home. The Japanese movers who were busy loading up all our belongings suddenly just left our typical little Japanese house and walked out and down the street to this market place. I was ignorant as to what was about to happen. Obviously, they were not and they did not want to miss it. I, at the urging of one of the workers, followed him to the market. I will forever be thankful for this this gesture to go with him. There was a large crowd standing in the dirt street outside this small appliance shop where there was a small black and white TV on a pedestal facing outside to the street. I slowly realized what I was watching and the memory is still quite vivid and even better is the immense feeling of pride I felt in my America. This was my country accomplishing this awesome historic feat. We were not the most popular people in Japan during this time period. But there on this dirt street were Japanese people cheering and clapping and looking as amazed as i was as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. Here I was a Capt. in the US Army unaware that today, July 20, 1969, was to become one of the most historic days in history. And these ordinary Japanese citizens made up of mothers carrying their children on their back, ordinary laborers and older women in traditional kimonos, survivors of WW 11 which had ended just 25 years previously, all gathering to witness something i was not aware was going to happen that day. This article reminds me of how complacent we have become to space exploration and travel and the incredible complexity involved. I am disappointed to note how little attention this landing of the booster and capture has received in the press. What an astounding accomplishment !!! Why Space X and Elon and his CREW do not receive more accolades and literally standing ovations for this is dumbfounding to me.