Editorial
by Andy Anzanos

Not only was the Eighth Air Force  “Killed in Service” death rate higher  than that experienced for any other service during World War II but it also exceeded that of any major war (see table below). The Eighth Air Force lost 26,000 of its 200,000 combat personnel (or 13%).

Our 390th Bomb Group experience was typical of the total Eighth as indicated, in the chart, where we lost a total of  9.57% of our total Group personnel or 14.48% of our combat personnel.

The only other experience that comes close to this is the Confederate and Union sides of the American Civil War  where a respective 7.10%  and 6.34% death rate occurred. This was considered a high rate a lot of which  was attributed to poor medical techniques then available. Continual improvements came later.

The attributed basic cause for  the start of World War I was the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7, 1915 with the loss of 1198 lives. The war ended with the loss of 53,400 American lives. Therefore there were  45 lives lost for every caused life lost (53400/1198).

The World War II catalyst for America was the attack on Pearl Harbor with the loss of 2400 lives. The war ended with the loss of 291,560 lives. In this case there  were 121 lives lost for every caused life (291,500/2400 life).

Today we are at war with the world terrorists with 3,000 lives lost as a result of  9/11. A loss that exceeds both Pearl Harbor and the Lusitania. Compounding the significance is the fact that all of these lives were lost within our border. The risk to our domestic lives is now greater than at any time in our history. The attacks are real whereas it was only a fear of the atomic bombs of  the past.

We are at war today at less than one service death per 9/11 death which is relatively insignificant as compared to the two previous World Wars.

Our military forces of today are to be commended for accomplishing so much and keeping the casualties so unbelievably low compared to the past.  Let us hope they can keep the brunt of the fight away from our shores. We all have to pitch in to help protect our “home front” more than ever before.