My Dad shook hands with and personally thanked Paul Tibbets at a Bob Evans restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in early 2005. You see, my Dad had been in training for the land invasion of Japan when the war ended. Odds are that if it had not been for Mr. Tibets and his crew Dad's chances of seeing the end of the war would not have been good. And it follows that I would not be here today. Mr. Tibbets was very hard of hearing but warmly received my Dad's thanks. My Dad passed approximately a month later.
We used to see Mr. Tibbets around town occasionally and Dad always spoke highly of him. He had not wanted to bother the man but had always wanted to thank him. In the month following their handshake Dad mentioned several times he was glad to have had the chance to do so.
tim
