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WWII veteran visits Tinian after 63 years
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Posted on Nov 11 2008
For the first time in 63 years, a bomb unit officer of the American armed forces in the Marianas campaign during World War II will be visiting Tinian today to revisit the site of the atomic bombs that ended the war.
Anthony Praxel was on Tinian at the time of the dropping of Fat Man and Little Boy on Nagasaki and Hiroshima but he said he didn’t even know that such atomic bombs existed and were on Tinian.
He said there was a special secret unit that handled it.
“We came late in the war. We were very young. We were planning an invasion of Japan and I didn’t know it. But the atomic bombs saved many lives, including ours,” said Praxel, who was then a 20-year old 2nd lieutenant of the 9th Bomb Group, 313th Bomb Wing, 99 squadron.
Praxel, now 83 years old, arrived early morning yesterday in time to join the annual Veterans Day celebration at the American Memorial Park, where he received a medallion accorded all World War II veterans who fought in the Marianas campaign.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, first lady Josie Fitial and VFW Post 3457 Commander Mariano G. Fajardo presented the medallion to Praxel.
He related that his unit was assigned to five bombing missions. “We were also involved in dropping supplies in POW camps in Japan,” recalled Praxel.
From Tinian, he stayed in the Philippines for several years. “I went to pilot school and was called back to duty and served in the Korean War with the Air Force,” he said.
Praxel, who retired in 1968, said he had been planning for so long to visit Tinian. He was supposed to come during the 60th anniversary but due to some reasons, he could not make it.
“I had a great time in two days here. It is really a pleasure to be here today. I appreciate the warm atmosphere,” Praxel said.
Asked what was the most dangerous situation he went through during the war, he said the Marines saved his life twice while on a mission to Iwo Jima, Japan.
Praxel was accompanied from Hawaii by two other war veterans, Brian Norton and Bruce Petty of USS Yorktown, who both served in Vietnam in the 19506.
They joined local veterans during the celebration yesterday that included CNMI Marine Scouts Manny “Kiyu” Villagomez, Santiago Babauta, Ignacio Sablan, Antonio Tenorio and Nicolas Muna.
