Updated
23 March, 2007
As you may know, I also maintain
a web site about the Twin Bases of RAF Bentwaters
and RAF Woodbridge, http://Bentwaters.org.
From this, I now have
thousands of contacts from Americans who
served there. Below is a selection of the
emailed comments that I received following
the bombings in London on 7 July 2005.
Linn Barringer
13 July
This
world has become a very ugly place and
I seems only a Higher Power must intervene
to stop these evil killers, as it seems
no earthly one can. It was truely a shocking
thing and my deepest sypathy for those
affected people. Linn, were you and your
family affected in any way? I hope not. I
am proud of the British in the way they reacted
to such a crisis, which is inherit to them
from the past.
My God Bless them all, and pray the evil
cowards be found and punished to the fullest
extent.
Sincerely,
Harland
11 July
God speed to England
Scott
11 July
In contemplating
the horrific, senseless actions that took
place in London last week, I can only say,
we are all
Londoners... we in the US bleed for and with
you. During this
struggle with madness, we all have, Hope
and Glory.
I live in Washington,
D.C., and my Suffolk (Woodbridge)
ancestor went to Victoria, B.C. in 1875.
I have come to love
Woodbridge.
10 July
After having been in England for
some 7 years at various times, I can imagine
the your attitude. If those bloody terrorists
thought that bombs would elicit some weak
response perhaps they should have called
the IRA first.
May you find and punish the SOB's in your
own way.
John R.
10 July
My
British wife and I
were glued to the TV watching the coverage of these horrible events in London.
These Fanatics have been blowing up Embassy's, airplanes and trains
going on 50 years. I spent 33 years with Trans World Airline's and we lost over
400 employee's on account of terrorism way before 9/11. We may
disagree on Iraq, but it's time the civilized world gets together and
decides this
is truly a war, much different then we ever fought. Anyway our thoughts are
with the British people, it will not stop this family from making many trips
to the UK using your trains,subways or going weekly into New York City, from
our Long Island home.
I can tell you that people of the United
States have the highest regard for Mr. Blair
and the British people.
Regards
John D.
From: Cdalldorf@aol.com
[mailto:Cdalldorf@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 5:28 PM
To: linn@barringer.co.uk
Subject: Re: [WSi-News] London Bombings
9th July
Dear Linn:
What a terrible few days it has been reflecting
on the horrible attacks on civilians in London.
I have been in shock the past few days and
I am sorry to have been so silent.
I don't know if any reports
you have read or seen reflected on this at
all, but I was struck more by the preparation
and lessons learned by British authorities
in the wake of the IRA bombing campaigns
of the 1970's than comparisons to the Blitz.
When I was stationed at RAF Bentwaters and
RAF Woodbridge in the late 1970's, I had
been on the tube during evacuations and suspicious
parcels being identified. Underground crews
and the police did an amazing job in calmly
evacuating seemingly thousands and thousands
of people during rush hours to secure areas.
I know those days have helped in the brilliant
response that emergency workers and everyone
involved faced Thursday morning.
The pluckiness and the bravery of Londoners
has always been one of the great moral lifters
to the rest of the world and this week was
another historical example of what makes
London and indeed the United Kingdom so special.
I was truly taken by Mayor Livingston's
remarks about London as the City of the present
and future, a City of total integration of
all people. People of every race, color,
religious or nonreligious belief, political
philosophy, sexual orientation, and every
other differentiation between the people
of the world. London's increased openness
and freedom for all people, yes including
Islamic and Muslim people, is a beacon of
hope and embraces all of the good of global
humanitarian.
While it is necessary to take steps to increase
vigilance and preparation to prevent future
attacks of this kind, I do hope that London,
and the United Kingdom does not give in to
the actions of the terrorists in suspending
democratic freedoms and the openness of the
country to others. If this happens, terrorists
win and the people, all the people that make
up the great City of London and the United
Kingdom lose. In America, I must say we have
gone too far in suspending democratic principles
and openness. In many ways I feel that we
have given terrorists way too much credit
and exposure and power by overdoing suspensions
of our formally open society. I urge vigilance
but not at the expense of all that you and
the citizens of the United Kingdom have worked
so hard to attain and model for the rest
of the World.
I am and will continue to morn everyone
that lost their lives this week. I will meditate
for the return of health (physical and mental)
to all involved and deeply affected by the
horrific attack in the coming weeks and months.
I have my Union Jack flying from my balcony
of my condo here in Downtown Sacramento and
my heart is with all of you in these dark
days.
Chuck
9 July
...I also wanted to send my condolences on the cowardly bombings in London. My
wife and I were near Kings Cross in February. The news over here keeps saying
that the British are a strong lot and I just say "Damn right!" I
know you will all overcome this and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks again for the website,
Robert S.
9 July
I've been thinking of you since I heard
the news last week, and hope you and
your family and friends are all well.
Diabolical, what they're doing.
Best regards,
Dan B.
9 July
My wife work's
for a large store called Wal-Mart. One of
her boss's there is from Germany and had
3 friend's that lived in London who were
killed in that terrorist attack. Who
would of thought in this small northern Arizona
town we would know someone who's life was
touched with tragedy by those awful terrorist's!
Glenn M.
9 July
Hi Linn,
I got your email message just before I was
going to write and express my condolences
and concern. I am glad to know that that
you, your family, friends and acquaintances
are all okay. I honesty did not know if
the WWII and blitz spirit was still alive
and well, because I was unsure how much
of this heritage was passed on to the subsequent
generations after WWII. It soon became
apparent after the attack that it was.
Best regards
Tom McG.
8 July
So glad to hear
all is well with you and yours. All of the
UK is in the hearts, minds and prayers of
America.
Skip B.
8 July
On
behalf of myself, and I am sure the many
people you have helped to reunite through
the wonderful website, our thoughts and prayers
are with you and all of the citizens of London
and the UK. Because of 9/11, we understand
what an awful thing it is when terrorist
strike at our home. The people of Great Britain
stood strong against Hitler's thugs and stood
by our side after 9/11. We are here for
you in any possible. Be strong. There is
no one as strong as the British! God Bless.
Ramona M.
67 ARRS, RAF Woodbridge
1976-1979
9 July
Hello Linn,
Fred gave me your message and thank you very much. So far so good.
As for the rest of it I have this to say.
Rule Brittania... Brittania rules
the waves... Britons never ever will be
slaves!!
Best wishes Pamela O. (see below - LB)
8 July
My wife Pamela does have family and friends
in the London area. Is there anywhere a list
of those who have fallen because of the bombs.
Regards
Fred O.
(I provided the publicly announced telephone number - LB)
8 July
The Brits are made of sterner stuff, bombings
do not sway them. They did not surrender
to Nazi Germany because of Hitler's blitz
and they will not surrender now.
"We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them in the towns,....
We will never surrender!" Sir Winston Churchill.
This is a WAR, albeit not a normal one, if there is such a thing now.
To all Brits; Those of us Amercians who were in England on September 11, 2001
felt how you were with us then and you should know we are with you now.
Chris B.
8 July
I am also sorry
about the events that transpired in London
yesterday; however, the English are some
of the strongest people on earth. Take care
of yourself!
V/r
TOM C. F., MSgt, USAF
Officer Accessions Flight Chief
8 July
Having lived among the British people and
worked with them for over 3 and 1/2 years,
I am convinced that it would take a lot more
than this barbaric,
cowardly act to get them down. After all, as you mentioned, 3 straight months
of nightly bombing in 1940 by Hitler didn't break them. I have
always considered that courage shown by the people of London and indeed all
the British people to be one of the most heroic acts in the history of
civilization! and also the skill and heroism of the RAF!! and I think finally,
at long last, the leadership of Winston Churchill is being fully
recognized by historians. And all the while, Americans were sitting still until
it came home to us in Dec of 1941.
Please be aware that all of the Americans I know are with you as the people
of London recover from this act and go ahead with their lives.
Your friend,
Tom S.
8 July
Glad to hear all is well with you and yours.
We get BBC America here, so had pretty good coverage.
My son, who is stationed in Germany, was at Victoria Station just two days
before. Too close for comfort.
My wife's niece would have been on one of the trains, but her baby sitter
was late and she missed her usual train. Way too close for comfort.
Cheers,
Ron R.
8 July
Just wanted to extend my sympathies to the
British people for the cowardly and murderous
attack on London. ( I was going to post this
on the BW site but didn't know where to send
it.)
As a former NYC firefighter, the people of London are in my thoughts and prayers.
Stay strong and exterminate the ba****ds!
John D.
RAF Bentwaters 1970-72
8
July
My thought's and sympathy go out to all the
family's who have lost friends and relatives
and can only hope the wounded, injured and
people of England recover from this
terrible incident.
Glenn M.
8 July
Please let me express
my sadness and outrage. The
web site you manage about the Twin Bases
means a lot to us... I'm sure I told you
my father was in England in the 40's as our
countries stood together during W.W.II...
I was there 90-92.
There are a lot of people who really do not
understand we are at war... a different kind
of war...
You and your countrymen are in our thoughts and prayers.
Ed J.
MSGT, USAF (RET)
8 July
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during
this time of sorrow in your country.Please
remember all the victims of terrorist throughout
the world.
Roy & Doreen C.
|
