‘Good War’

I was caught between tears and laughter after viewing “Saving Private Ryan” and reading Tom Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation.” Currently, there is a rush of motion pictures and books to glorify World War II and even call it a good war!

For an octogenarian disabled American veteran, the so-called “good war” only brings back bloody memories and the feeling of guilt of ethnic cleansing on a massive scale with atom bombs. I was right there on the Ryukyu campaign and witnessed the last wave of Japanese kamikaze bombers plunging into the sea.

War is hell, regardless of where it is fought, and please stop telling our young generation that WWII is a good war and ours is the greatest generation because we had fought and won it.

T. KEN CHEUNG

Pasadena