World War II veteran Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk, navigator of the B-29 bomber that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, will be speaking in the Walker Conference Center Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.
The lecture is sponsored by the Arkansas Educational Television Network and the Elrod Center which has extensively involved with the World World II AETN program, “The War.”
The program will be showed in conjunction with Van Kirk and “Their Journey: A Veteran’s Tribute Tour.”
Through Elderserve, Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center, discovered a need to create written accounts of the memories of World War II veterans. That is how Duvall came in contact with Van Kirk who was born on Feb. 27, 1921, in Northumberland, Penn.
“Many of the World War II veterans are either dying or unable to tell their stories, and so it is important to hear them while we can,” said Duvall.
Ouachita students have interviewed more than 200 veterans since the project began and three publications of these interviews have been released.
According to Duvall, Van Kirk played an unbelievably significant role in the history of our nation through his role as navigator of the Enola Gay.
“Too many students don’t realize the significance of the Enola Gay,” Duvall said.
Van Kirk left for Japan at 2:30 a.m. Aug. 6, 1945. His crew dropped its bomb on Hiroshima at 09:15:15. It was the first of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
“I knew when we hit the coast of Japan we were well on the way to completing a successful mission, and the new bomb we carried would be a great help in shortening the war,” Van Kirk said in his biography.
After high school, Van Kirk attended Susquehanna University and joined the Air Cadet program of the U.S. Army Air Corps in October 1941. He has been decorated with the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, plus many Theater awards, according to AETN.
After reaching the rank of Major in August 1946, Van Kirk returned to civilian life and went back to his college career to earn a bachelor’s and master’s of science in chemical engineering at Bucknell University. He retired after 35 years at a major chemical company in 1985, AETN said.
Van Kirk now travels around the country sharing his story. He will be sharing his story alongside two documentaries.
“The War” explores a truthful look into the history and atrocities of World War II while the “Their Journey” documentary shows 47 Arkansas veterans as they experience the nation’s capital, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Arlington National Cemetery and the memorial built in their honor.
Duvall traveled to Washington D.C. and was able to help in the making of this documentary by serving as a Veteran Support Coordinator.
“It was one of the best things I’ve ever done; to get to take those veterans to the memorial and experience seeing it with who was being honored was a very meaningful experience,” said Duvall.
Student support of the lecture is a goal for Duvall and the Elrod Center.
“We are encouraging students to come and be involved,” said Duvall. “Many students are not aware of the significance of the Enola Gay.”
“The War” will air in seven parts on AETN beginning Sunday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.. and “Their Journey” will premiere as part of a live event beginning at 4 p.m. Sept. 23. n
