WWII Roundtable continues with film, discussion Ashley Peaches (Monday, November 24) Over 60 people attended the World War II Roundtable fall film presentation of “The Purple Heart” last Thursday in Plumb Hall. The film was shown as part of a bi-yearly portrayal and discussion of World War II. Many of those that were in the audience were retired veterans. “I was told this morning that there was a movie about the bombing on Pearl Harbor,” said Ron Burbridge, retired Emporia citizen and Korean War veteran. “I’m a history buff, so I’m always looking at WWII things. I had two brothers in WWII but my folks wouldn’t let me go because I was underage.” Most of the students that were in attendance were there because it was extra credit for a history class. “I did learn something new about the Doolittle Raid,” said Ben Reynolds, freshman athletic training major. “I learned quite a bit.” Some of the veterans became emotional during the discussion after the movie. They spoke of the memories that they were experiencing and the hardships wars cause. “When I was a kid, people I associated with were in the war – uncles, neighbors, and they always had a tale to tell,” said Dennis Schroeder, Lyon County resident and Vietnam veteran. “These guys that served in WWII are dying off. There’s so few of them left. In another five years, they’ll be gone. That story will be lost. They were pretty tough old boys.” One elderly veteran became teary eyed as he spoke of how hard it was for his parents to know that he was off fighting in the war. “The Purple Heart” (1944) tells of the story depicted in the popular Hollywood drama “Pearl Harbor” (2001) but “The Purple Heart” shows what happened after Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle’s famous air raid in 1942, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After the air raid on Japan, eight of the 80 men that comprised 16 B-52 flight crews, were captured by Japanese troops in Japan controlled China. The men were put to trial for murder and crimes against humanity. After failed negotiations between the prisoners and their captors concerning the plans of their mission, they were found guilty and sentenced to death. However, the movie ends with them marching proudly out of the courtroom. This was an American wartime propaganda film, meaning that it was somewhat fictionalized. It was also in black and white and the names of the people were changed. “One could hardly imagine that they would make a film like that today,” said Loren Pennington, emeritus professor of history. “We’re a lot more skeptical today than we were then. It affected people a lot more than it would today. You can look at it and say ‘How could they be taken in by that?’ – very easily.” In real life, three of the eight men were executed by firing squad the day after their October 14, 1942 trial. According to Christopher Lovett, professor of social sciences, when the film was made, most of the details about what actually occurred during the trial and afterwards was unknown, resulting in a few historical inaccuracies. One of the three men that were executed was Sergeant Harold Spatz, a native of Lebo. Spatz was 20 years old at the time of his execution. “The main reason we’re doing this (film) is because it features someone from the area,” Pennington said. Senator Jim Barnett of Kansas’ 17th District was in attendance. Spatz was his uncle. “Uncle Harold knew that they were unlikely to return (from this mission),” Barnett said. “It speaks so highly of the heroism of all of those that put their life on the line.” Barnett’s mother, Spatz’s sister, was also present along with Spatz’s brother, Robert. “It’s kind of unreal,” said Jean Barnett, Spatz’s sister and Emporia resident, when asked what she thought of the film. “If you’ve never lived through the time of propaganda you never realize how very, very effective it was,” Jean Barnett said. As a result of his efforts in what was known as a suicide mission, Spatz received the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and an unnamed medal from the Chinese government. All of these were on display for attendees to look at after the film, along with the wings that flyers now receive when they enlist. Spatz never saw any of these awards. They were all delivered to his family years later because, although he was executed in 1942, his family did not learn of any of the incidents, or of his death, until 1945. “My son now lives and works in the very area where Uncle Harold was imprisoned, tortured and executed,” Jim Barnett said. “Thank goodness that peace can come about through these types of efforts.” The film was presented by the Department of Social Sciences, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Alpha Theta and the Lyon County Historical Society. The Bulletin - WWII Roundtable continues with film, discussion