NYT20020731.0191|NN 2002-07-31|NN 18:45|NN A4537|NN &|CC Cx1|NN f|SYM ;|: tad-z|JJ u|NN a|DT BC-ATOMIC-BOMB-0801|NN -|- COX|NNP 07|CD 31|CD 1808|CD BC-ATOMIC-BOMB-0801|NN -|- COX|NNP A|DT mission|NN to|TO end|VB a|DT war|NN By|IN DENISE|NNP GAMINO|NNP Cox|NNP News|NNP Service|NNP AUSTIN|NNP ,|, Texas|NNP -|- -|- Tom|NNP Karnes|NNP was|VBD dialing|VBG for|IN destiny|NN ,|, but|CC not|RB everyone|NN wanted|VBD to|TO cooperate|VB .|. 

Karnes|NNP sat|VBD in|IN his|PRP$ wood|NN -|- paneled|JJ office|NN in|IN a|DT Quonset|NNP hut|NN in|IN the|DT middle|NN of|IN the|DT Great|NNP Salt|NNP Lake|NNP Desert|NNP ,|, a|DT black|JJ telephone|NN to|TO his|PRP$ ear|NN .|. 
He|PRP was|VBD tracking|VBG down|RB men|NNS to|TO join|VB a|DT group|NN so|RB secret|JJ he|PRP could|MD n't|RB admit|VB it|PRP existed|VBD .|. 

On|IN his|PRP$ metal|NN desk|NN were|VBD names|NNS of|IN military|JJ men|NNS being|VBG ordered|VBN into|IN the|DT organization|NN .|. 
He|PRP was|VBD calling|VBG bases|NNS all|DT over|IN the|DT United|NNP States|NNPS to|TO line|VB up|RP their|PRP$ transfer|NN to|TO the|DT desert|NN outside|IN Salt|NNP Lake|NNP City|NNP .|. 

"|'' Where|WRB is|VBZ the|DT authority|NN ?|. "|'' asked|VBD one|CD officer|NN who|WP did|VBD n't|RB want|VB to|TO lose|VB a|DT valuable|JJ man|NN under|IN his|PRP$ command|NN .|. 

"|'' Who|WP says|VBZ this|DT ?|. "|'' another|DT commanding|JJ officer|NN asked|VBD Karnes|NNP .|. 

Each|DT time|NN ,|, Karnes|NNP said|VBD what|WP he|PRP had|VBD to|TO :|: "|'' Call|VB Air|NNP Force|NNP headquarters|NN if|IN you|PRP do|VBP n't|RB believe|VB me|PRP .|. "|'' 

If|IN they|PRP continued|VBD to|TO resist|VB ,|, he|PRP pulled|VBD out|RP a|DT secret|JJ code|NN for|IN their|PRP$ bosses|NNS .|. 

"|'' This|DT is|VBZ a|DT Silverplate|NNP request|NN ,|, "|'' he|PRP said|VBD .|. 

Silverplate|NNP :|: code|NN word|NN for|IN the|DT historic|JJ mission|NN that|WDT would|MD end|VB World|NNP War|NNP II|NNP .|. 

Almost|RB 1,800|CD men|NNS were|VBD assembled|VBN n|NN late|JJ 1944|CD to|TO join|VB the|DT top|JJ -|- secret|JJ unit|NN called|VBD the|DT 509th|CD Composite|NNP Group|NNP .|. 
Col.|NN Paul|NNP Tibbets|NNP ,|, the|DT pilot|NN who|WP would|MD drop|VB the|DT world|NN 's|POS first|JJ atomic|JJ bomb|NN over|IN Hiroshima|NNP ,|, Japan|NNP ,|, was|VBD commander|NN of|IN the|DT unit|NN and|CC chose|VBD the|DT men|NNS .|. 
And|CC the|DT first|JJ person|NN he|PRP chose|VBD to|TO join|VB him|PRP was|VBD Karnes|NNP ,|, though|IN he|PRP could|MD n't|RB reveal|VB the|DT mission|NN to|TO Karnes|NNP .|. 
Karnes|NNP ,|, 87|CD ,|, is|VBZ a|DT retired|VBN history|NN professor|NN who|WP lives|VBZ in|IN suburban|JJ Austin|NNP with|IN his|PRP$ wife|NN ,|, Virginia|NNP ,|, who|WP also|RB worked|VBD for|IN the|DT 509th|CD as|IN a|DT civilian|JJ bookkeeper|NN for|IN six|CD months|NNS .|. 

Karnes|NNP was|VBD Tibbets|NNP '|POS adjutant|NN ,|, the|DT man|NN in|IN charge|NN of|IN writing|VBG the|DT orders|NNS and|CC cajoling|VBG the|DT transfer|NN to|TO the|DT unit|NN of|IN servicemen|NN proficient|JJ in|IN bombing|NN ,|, mechanics|NNS ,|, ordnance|NN ,|, engineering|NN and|CC communications|NNS .|. 
Tibbets|NNP picked|VBD the|DT names|NNS ,|, and|CC Karnes|NNP made|VBD it|PRP happen|VBP .|. 

Tibbets|NNP hated|VBN paperwork|NN .|. 
Karnes|NNP thought|VBD it|PRP was|VBD a|DT breeze|NN .|. 

They|PRP were|VBD a|DT wartime|NN match|NN that|WDT changed|VBD the|DT world|NN .|. 

Japan|NNP surrendered|VBD within|IN days|NNS of|IN the|DT detonation|NN of|IN the|DT atomic|JJ bombs|NNS that|WDT killed|VBD 140,000|CD people|NNS in|IN Hiroshima|NNP on|IN Aug|NNP .|. 6|CD ,|, 1945|CD ,|, and|CC 70,000|CD in|IN Nagasaki|NNP three|CD days|NNS later|RB .|. 

The|DT story|NN of|IN the|DT 509th|CD is|VBZ a|DT tale|NN of|IN an|DT elite|NN outfit|NN that|WDT lived|VBD in|IN a|DT bubble|NN of|IN secrecy|NN and|CC endured|VBD the|DT taunts|NNS of|IN other|JJ war|NN -|- weary|JJ U.S.|NNP units|NNS that|WDT resented|VBD sharing|VBG a|DT small|JJ Pacific|NNP island|NN with|IN the|DT 509th|CD ,|, which|WDT appeared|VBD exempt|JJ from|IN combat|NN .|. 
Tinian|NNP Island|NNP was|VBD the|DT staging|NN area|NN where|WRB the|DT 509th|CD moved|VBD after|IN its|PRP$ creation|NN in|IN the|DT desert|NN .|. 

Karnes|NNP has|VBZ never|RB spoken|VBN publicly|RB about|IN his|PRP$ role|NN as|IN Tibbets|NNP '|POS right|JJ -|- hand|NN administrative|JJ aide|NN .|. 
He|PRP never|RB even|RB told|VBD his|PRP$ story|NN to|TO students|NNS in|IN his|PRP$ 40|CD years|NNS of|IN teaching|NN college|NN .|. 

War|NNP is|VBZ hell|NN ,|, he|PRP says|VBZ ,|, and|CC when|WRB it|PRP was|VBD over|IN ,|, he|PRP wanted|VBD to|TO come|VB home|NN and|CC rejoin|VB his|PRP$ young|JJ family|NN and|CC not|RB dwell|NN on|IN it|PRP .|. 
He|PRP earned|VBD a|DT doctorate|NN in|IN history|NN from|IN Stanford|NNP University|NNP and|CC taught|VBD Latin|NNP American|JJ history|NN at|IN Tulane|NNP University|NNP and|CC Arizona|NNP State|NNP University|NNP .|. 

Next|JJ week|NN marks|VBZ the|DT 57th|NNP anniversary|NN of|IN the|DT atomic|JJ bombings|NNS .|. 
As|IN always|RB ,|, Karnes|NNP '|POS mind|NN will|MD drift|VB to|TO memories|NNS of|IN his|PRP$ good|JJ friend|NN Tibbets|NNP ,|, 87|CD ,|, who|WP lives|VBZ in|IN Columbus|NNP ,|, Ohio|NNP .|. 

Each|DT year|NN on|IN Aug|NNP .|. 6|CD ,|, "|'' I|PRP always|RB think|VBP of|IN Paul|NNP Tibbets|NNP and|CC how|WRB he|PRP handled|VBD unbelievable|JJ responsibility|NN ,|, "|'' Karnes|NNP said|VBD .|. 

Karnes|NNP met|VBD Tibbets|NNP when|WRB the|DT 29|CD -|- year|NN -|- old|JJ bomber|NN pilot|NN walked|VBD into|IN Karnes|NNP '|POS office|NN at|IN Wendover|NNP Army|NNP Air|NNP Field|NNP on|IN the|DT Utah|NNP -|- Nevada|NNP border|NN .|. 
Karnes|NNP was|VBD the|DT personnel|NNS and|CC classification|NN officer|NN .|. 
He|PRP was|VBD only|RB a|DT captain|NN ,|, but|CC he|PRP had|VBD been|VBN left|VBN in|IN charge|NN at|IN Wendover|NNP the|DT day|NN Tibbets|NNP surprised|VBD them|PRP by|IN landing|VBG a|DT B|NNP -|- 29|CD ,|, a|DT new|JJ plane|NN no|DT one|CD at|IN Wendover|NNP had|VBD seen|VBN .|. 

Tibbets|NNP had|VBD just|RB been|VBN ordered|VBN to|TO organize|VB a|DT combat|NN force|NN to|TO drop|VB a|DT bomb|NN being|VBG developed|VBN by|IN a|DT secret|JJ enterprise|NN known|VBN as|IN the|DT Manhattan|NNP Project|NNP .|. 
He|PRP was|VBD searching|VBG for|IN a|DT remote|JJ installation|NN to|TO train|VB bomber|NN crews|NNS and|CC support|NN units|NNS in|IN total|JJ secrecy|NN .|. 

Tibbets|NNP instantly|RB liked|VBD the|DT isolation|NN and|CC vast|JJ size|NN of|IN Wendover|NNP and|CC the|DT surrounding|VBG Bonneville|NNP Salt|NNP Flats|NNP .|. 
And|CC he|PRP immediately|RB liked|VBD Karnes|NNP ,|, who|WP showed|VBD him|PRP around|IN the|DT base|NN .|. 

In|IN Karnes|NNP ,|, Tibbets|NNP found|VBD a|DT kindred|JJ spirit|NN -|- -|- and|CC a|DT handball|NN partner|NN .|. 
Both|DT were|VBD smart|JJ ,|, disciplined|VBN ,|, quiet|JJ men|NNS who|WP thrived|VBD on|IN efficiency|NN ,|, perfection|NN and|CC self|NN -|- reliance|NN .|. 
Each|DT had|VBD skills|NNS the|DT other|JJ admired|VBN .|. 
Tibbets|NNP was|VBD a|DT decorated|VBN ,|, top|JJ -|- gun|NN pilot|NN ,|, but|CC Karnes|NNP could|MD wrangle|NN the|DT military|JJ rule|NN book|NN as|RB well|RB as|IN Tibbets|NNP could|MD fly|VB .|. 

"|'' I|PRP do|VBP n't|RB recall|VB ever|RB having|VBG to|TO tell|VB Tom|NNP to|TO do|VB anything|NN ,|, "|'' Tibbets|NNP said|VBD in|IN an|DT e-mail|JJ this|DT week|NN .|. 
"|'' He|PRP was|VBD so|RB knowledgeable|JJ he|PRP just|RB got|VBD things|NNS done|VBN ,|, allowing|VBG me|PRP to|TO concentrate|VB on|IN other|JJ matters|NNS .|. 
I|PRP was|VBD very|RB lucky|JJ to|TO have|VB Tom|NNP .|. 
"|'' 

Tibbets|NNP quickly|RB returned|VBD to|TO Wendover|NNP after|IN that|DT first|JJ visit|NN to|TO set|VB up|RP his|PRP$ headquarters|NN .|. 
His|PRP$ first|JJ order|NN appointed|VBD Karnes|NNP adjutant|NN for|IN the|DT 509th|CD .|. 

Almost|RB overnight|JJ ,|, Wendover|NNP became|VBD a|DT high|JJ -|- security|NN base|NN filled|VBN with|IN off|IN -|- limit|NN areas|NNS covered|VBN in|IN barbed|VBN wire|NN .|. 
No|DT one|NN was|VBD allowed|VBN to|TO talk|VB about|IN what|WP they|PRP saw|VBD or|CC heard|VBN ,|, even|RB though|IN most|JJS of|IN the|DT 509th|CD had|VBD no|DT idea|NN why|WRB they|PRP were|VBD there|RB ,|, except|IN that|DT 15|CD B-29|NN s|VBZ were|VBD being|VBG modified|VBN to|TO carry|VB a|DT heavy|JJ load|NN .|. 

Karnes|NNP and|CC his|PRP$ staff|NN read|NN outgoing|JJ mail|NN to|TO make|VB sure|JJ no|DT secrets|NNS slipped|VBD out|RP .|. 
Karnes|NNP hated|VBN to|TO pry|NN ,|, and|CC skimmed|JJ over|IN personal|JJ portions|NNS of|IN the|DT letters|NNS .|. 
Phone|NNP calls|NNS were|VBD monitored|VBN .|. 
An|DT undercover|JJ force|NN of|IN Manhattan|NNP Project|NNP security|NN agents|NNS infiltrated|VBN the|DT base|NN and|CC bars|NNS in|IN the|DT little|JJ town|NN of|IN Wendover|NNP (|( population|NN 103|CD )|) to|TO spy|VB on|IN airmen|NNS .|. 

Karnes|NNP knew|VBD the|DT 509th|CD was|VBD preparing|VBG for|IN a|DT special|JJ bombing|NN mission|NN ,|, but|CC he|PRP had|VBD no|DT idea|NN what|WP kind|NN of|IN bombs|NNS were|VBD involved|VBN .|. 

"|'' I|PRP had|VBD a|DT friend|NN ,|, the|DT finance|NN officer|NN .|. 
He|PRP said|VBD that|IN they|PRP had|VBD split|VBN the|DT atom|NN and|CC that|IN we|PRP were|VBD going|VBG to|TO drop|VB an|DT atomic|JJ bomb|NN ,|, "|'' Karnes|NNP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' I|PRP said|VBD ,|, `|`` No.|NN "|'' '|POS 

A|DT noncommittal|JJ "|'' mmm-mm|JJ ,|, "|'' was|VBD the|DT most|JJS Karnes|NNP could|MD ever|RB get|VB out|IN of|IN Tibbets|NNP on|IN matters|NNS of|IN the|DT bomb|NN .|. 
By|IN spring|NN ,|, the|DT 509th|CD prepared|VBN to|TO move|VB to|TO Tinian|NNP Island|NNP ,|, near|IN Guam|NNP and|CC Saipan|NNP .|. 
That|DT would|MD put|VB the|DT B|NNP -|- 29|CD s|VBZ about|IN 1,500|CD miles|NNS from|IN Japan|NNP -|- -|- a|DT 13|CD -|- hour|NN round|JJ -|- trip|NN flight|NN .|. 
Karnes|NNP was|VBD deluged|VBN with|IN orders|NNS for|IN inoculations|NNS ,|, equipment|NN ,|, transfers|NNS and|CC promotions|NNS .|. 

Karnes|NNP arrived|VBD on|IN Tinian|NNP on|IN May|NNP 18|CD ,|, 1945|CD ,|, as|IN part|NN of|IN an|DT advance|NN team|NN that|WDT flew|VBD in|IN the|DT five|CD C|NNP -|- 54|CD transport|NN planes|NNS of|IN the|DT 509th|CD .|. 
On|IN May|NNP 29|CD ,|, 1,200|CD men|NNS arrived|VBD on|IN the|DT troopship|NN Cape|NNP Victory|NNP after|IN a|DT five|JJ -|- week|NN trip|NN from|IN Seattle|NNP .|. 

Tinian|NNP Island|NNP had|VBD been|VBN captured|VBN from|IN Japan|NNP ,|, and|CC the|DT Seabees|NNP ,|, the|DT construction|NN arm|NN of|IN the|DT Navy|NNP ,|, had|VBD built|VBN two|CD large|JJ airfields|NNS .|. 
The|DT 509th|CD took|VBD North|NNP Field|NNP and|CC stayed|VBD in|IN relative|JJ isolation|NN from|IN other|JJ B|NNP -|- 29|CD units|NNS on|IN the|DT island|NN .|. 

Karnes|NNP handed|VBD out|IN bunk|NN assignments|NNS ,|, choosing|VBG the|DT mess|NN officer|NN ,|, Chuck|NNP Perry|NNP ,|, to|TO share|VB his|PRP$ tent|NN .|. 
Karnes|NNP had|VBD his|PRP$ own|JJ Jeep|NNP ,|, and|CC went|VBD to|TO the|DT beach|NN and|CC to|TO evening|NN movies|NNS shown|VBN by|IN other|JJ units|NNS as|RB often|RB as|IN he|PRP could|MD .|. 
But|CC at|IN the|DT movies|NNS ,|, he|PRP had|VBD to|TO remove|VB the|DT distributor|NN cap|NN on|IN his|PRP$ Jeep|NNP so|IN the|DT vehicle|NN would|MD n't|RB be|VB stolen|VBN ,|, perhaps|RB by|IN jealous|JJ airmen|NNS who|WP resented|VBD the|DT 509th|CD .|. 

Not|RB until|IN the|DT day|NN before|IN Tibbets|NNP and|CC his|PRP$ crew|NN flew|VBD to|TO Hiroshima|NNP was|VBD the|DT 509th|CD told|VBD what|WP was|VBD happening|VBG .|. 
The|DT word|NN spread|VBD :|: "|'' This|DT is|VBZ it|PRP .|. 
This|DT is|VBZ the|DT big|JJ mission|NN .|. "|'' 

Karnes|NNP and|CC hundreds|NNS of|IN other|JJ men|NNS from|IN the|DT 509th|CD stood|VBD along|IN the|DT flight|NN line|NN as|IN Tibbets|NNP and|CC the|DT Enola|NNP Gay|NNP took|VBD off|RP at|IN 2:45|NN a.m.|NN on|IN Aug|NNP .|. 6|CD ,|, a|DT warm|JJ ,|, tropical|JJ night|NN .|. 
Three|CD B|NNP -|- 29|CD s|VBZ had|VBN gone|VBN ahead|RB to|TO check|VB the|DT weather|NN at|IN Hiroshima|NNP and|CC two|CD other|JJ possible|JJ bomb|NN sites|NNS .|. 
Two|CD other|JJ B|NNP -|- 29|CD s|VBZ left|VBN in|IN two|JJ -|- minute|NN intervals|NNS after|IN Tibbets|NNP so|RB their|PRP$ crews|NNS could|MD take|VB photos|NNS and|CC drop|NN devices|NNS to|TO measure|VB radiation|NN and|CC other|JJ effects|NNS of|IN the|DT bomb|NN .|. 

Tibbets|NNP got|VBD the|DT word|NN only|RB an|DT hour|NN from|IN Hiroshima|NNP that|IN the|DT city|NN 's|POS weather|NN was|VBD clear|JJ .|. 
As|IN they|PRP approached|VBD ,|, Tibbets|NNP braced|VBD for|IN Japanese|JJ anti-aircraft|JJ fire|NN .|. 
None|NN came|VBD .|. 
Early|RB in|IN the|DT flight|NN ,|, the|DT crew|NN had|VBD inserted|VBN a|DT plug|NN of|IN uranium|NN into|IN the|DT 9|CD ,|, 000|CD -|- pound|NN bomb|NN ,|, nicknamed|VBN "|'' Little|NNP Boy|NNP .|. 
"|'' 

Ninety|CD seconds|NNS from|IN the|DT bomb|NN drop|NN ,|, Tibbets|NNP put|VBD the|DT plane|NN on|IN auto|JJ -|- pilot|NN .|. 
The|DT crew|NN slipped|VBD on|IN dark|JJ glasses|NNS to|TO prepare|VB for|IN the|DT blinding|VBG flash|VBP of|IN the|DT bomb|NN .|. 
At|IN 8:15|NN a.m.|NN Hiroshima|NNP time|NN ,|, the|DT pneumatic|JJ bomb|NN -|- bay|NN doors|NNS opened|VBD and|CC "|'' Little|NNP Boy|NNP ,|, "|'' equivalent|JJ to|TO 20,000|CD tons|NNS of|IN TNT|NNP ,|, fell|VBD out|RP .|. 

Tibbets|NNP and|CC his|PRP$ crew|NN had|VBD exactly|RB 43|CD seconds|NNS to|TO get|VB away|RB before|IN the|DT bomb|NN exploded|VBD .|. 
The|DT Enola|NNP Gay|NNP climbed|VBD ,|, and|CC Tibbets|NNP fought|VBD to|TO turn|VB the|DT plane|NN in|IN the|DT air|NN -|- bending|VBG ,|, 155|CD -|- degree|NN the|DT crews|NNS had|VBD been|VBN practicing|VBG off|RP Tinian|NNP for|IN months|NNS .|. 
He|PRP pushed|VBD off|RP the|DT dark|JJ glasses|NNS because|IN he|PRP could|MD n't|RB see|VB to|TO fly|VB .|. 

When|WRB the|DT bomb|NN exploded|VBD as|IN planned|VBN 1,890|CD feet|NNS over|IN Hiroshima|NNP ,|, Tibbets|NNP '|POS mouth|NN tingled|JJ ,|, and|CC 
he|PRP tasted|JJ the|DT lead|NN fillings|NNS in|IN his|PRP$ teeth|NNS .|. 

A|DT minute|NN later|RB ,|, the|DT shock|NN wave|NN hit|VBD .|. 
The|DT crew|NN was|VBD horrified|JJ by|IN the|DT purple|JJ mushroom|NN cloud|NN that|WDT climbed|VBD to|TO 10|CD miles|NNS and|CC looked|VBD as|IN if|IN it|PRP would|MD engulf|NN the|DT Enola|NNP Gay|NNP .|. 
More|RBR shocking|JJ was|VBD the|DT city|NN of|IN Hiroshima|NNP ,|, which|WDT was|VBD on|IN fire|NN and|CC bubbling|VBG like|IN tar|NN .|. 

"|'' We|PRP were|VBD all|DT appalled|VBN ,|, "|'' the|DT pilot|NN said|VBD in|IN his|PRP$ book|NN "|'' The|DT Tibbets|NNP Story|NNP .|. "|'' 

Back|RB on|IN Tinian|NNP ,|, Karnes|NNP had|VBD gone|VBN to|TO bed|NN .|. 
But|CC he|PRP did|VBD n't|RB sleep|VB long|JJ .|. 
Someone|NN woke|VBD him|PRP to|TO say|VB Gen.|NN Hap|NNP Arnold|NNP ,|, chief|NN of|IN the|DT Army|NNP Air|NNP Forcesin|NNP Washington|NNP ,|, was|VBD on|IN the|DT phone|NN and|CC asking|VBG for|IN him|PRP .|. 
Arnold|NNP told|VBD Karnes|NNP ,|, "|'' Tibbets|NNP is|VBZ going|VBG to|TO be|VB landing|NN in|IN three|CD to|TO four|CD hours|NNS ,|, and|CC I|PRP want|VBP to|TO give|VB him|PRP the|DT Distinguished|NNP Service|NNP Cross|NNP ,|, and|CC it|PRP is|VBZ your|PRP$ job|NN to|TO write|VB up|RP the|DT explanation|NN .|. "|'' 

"|'' I|PRP had|VBD no|DT idea|NN how|WRB you|PRP wrote|VBD up|RP an|DT award|NN .|. 
I|PRP 'd|MD never|RB written|VBN up|RP any|DT award|NN ,|, "|'' Karnes|NNP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' So|IN I|PRP got|VBD all|DT of|IN my|PRP$ sergeants|NNS out|IN ,|, and|CC they|PRP 're|VBP all|DT digging|NN through|IN their|PRP$ (|( books|NNS .|. )|) "|'' 

When|WRB an|DT unsuspecting|JJ Tibbets|NNP descended|VBD from|IN the|DT Enola|NNP Gay|NNP on|IN Tinian|NNP ,|, he|PRP barely|RB managed|VBD to|TO palm|VB his|PRP$ pipe|NN as|IN Gen.|NN Carl|NNP Spaatz|NNP ,|, commander|NN of|IN the|DT Strategic|NNP Air|NNP Forces|NNPS ,|, stepped|VBD forward|RB to|TO pin|VB the|DT medal|NN on|IN his|PRP$ bomb|NN flight|NN coveralls|NNS .|. 

Karnes|NNP ,|, like|IN the|DT hundreds|NNS of|IN others|NNS gathered|VBD along|IN the|DT flight|NN line|NN ,|, was|VBD jubilant|JJ .|. 
He|PRP knew|VBD the|DT war|NN would|MD soon|RB be|VB over|RB and|CC he|PRP would|MD be|VB heading|VBG home|NN .|. 
A|DT yearof|NN secrecy|NN and|CC hard|JJ work|NN wasover|NN .|. 

Three|CD days|NNS later|RB ,|, another|DT B|NNP -|- 29|CD from|IN the|DT 509th|CD bombed|VBN Nagasaki|NNP .|. 
Five|CD days|NNS later|RB ,|, Japan|NNP surrendered|VBD and|CC World|NNP War|NNP II|NNP was|VBD over|IN .|. 

Today|NN ,|, Karnes|NNP is|VBZ frustrated|VBN that|IN some|DT of|IN his|PRP$ fellow|NN historians|NNS ,|, the|DT ones|NNS he|PRP calls|VBZ "|'' revisionists|NNS ,|, "|'' question|NN the|DT wisdom|NN and|CC morality|NN of|IN the|DT bombings|NNS .|. 
What|WP matters|NNS ,|, he|PRP believes|VBZ ,|, is|VBZ that|IN his|PRP$ generation|NN thought|VBD the|DT bomb|NN should|MD be|VB dropped|VBN .|. 

"|'' We|PRP were|VBD not|RB bloodthirsty|NN guys|NNS ,|, "|'' he|PRP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' We|PRP were|VBD convinced|VBN then|RB ,|, and|CC I|PRP still|RB am|VBP ,|, that|IN we|PRP ended|VBD the|DT war|NN a|DT year|NN or|CC two|CD earlier|RBR .|. 
And|CC what|WP the|DT casualties|NNS would|MD have|VB been|VBN ,|, who|WP knows|VBZ -|- -|- but|CC heavy|JJ .|. "|'' 

"|'' On|IN Tinian|NNP ,|, and|CC probably|RB elsewhere|RB ,|, the|DT Seabees|NNP were|VBD building|VBG enormous|JJ hospitals|NNS while|IN we|PRP were|VBD there|RB ,|, "|'' he|PRP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' Those|DT hospitals|NNS were|VBD not|RB for|IN us|PRP .|. 
They|PRP were|VBD for|IN (|( an|DT expected|VBN invasion|NN of|IN Japan|NNP )|) .|. 
And|CC then|RB the|DT casualties|NNS were|VBD going|VBG to|TO be|VB terrible|JJ .|. "|'' 

Karnes|NNP carries|VBZ the|DT image|NN of|IN hundreds|NNS of|IN hospital|NN beds|NNS in|IN his|PRP$ mind|NN .|. 
In|IN his|PRP$ heart|NN ,|, he|PRP holds|VBZ the|DT unshakable|JJ conviction|NN that|IN the|DT mission|NN he|PRP helped|VBD organize|VB saved|VBN America|NNP from|IN disaster|NN .|. 

Denise|NNP Gamino|NNP writes|VBZ for|IN the|DT Austin|NNP (|( Texas|NNP )|) American|NNP -|- Statesman|NN .|. 
E-|NNP mail|NN :|: dgamino|NN (|( at|IN )|) statesman|NN .|. com|NN 
Story|NNP Filed|NNP By|IN Cox|NNP Newspapers|NNS For|IN Use|NN By|IN Clients|NNS of|IN the|DT New|NNP York|NNP Times|NNP News|NNP Service|NNP NYT-07|NN -|- 31|CD -|- 02|CD 1845|CD EDT|NNP 