spangler@kvue.UUCP (Lance Spangler) (02/14/85)
It seems some people never forget. This article was gleaned from a
United Press International wire story, which has been rewritten to avoid the
conflicts some USENET'ers are worrying about these days.
(Washington) --- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA to
nearly everyone except newspaper writers) announced today (2-12) that the
agency has refused to take back the Distinguished Service Medal awarded to
German rocket engineer Arthur Rudolph. You may remember, Rudolph left the
United States last year after a Justice Department probe into his World War
Two activities in Germany.
He voluntarily surrendered his American citizenship amid charges
he had used slave labor to build Nazi V-2 rockets during the last years of
World War Two. According to Justice Department spokesmen at the time of the
investigation, it was believed he participated in the persecution of laborers
from concentration camps from 1943 to 1945.
Rudolph worked for NASA after US authorities brought him to the United
States following the end of WW II. He was a director of the Saturn 5 rocket
project and played a key role in putting men on the moon.
The whole affair came about after Elizabeth Holtzman, a New York
District Attorney wrote to President Reagan, requesting that the medal be
withdrawn.
But the Chief of Special Events for NASA, Eugene Marianetti said in
a letter to Holtzman that...quoting now..."To rescind the medal would serve
no useful purpose since it has nothing in common with the allegation brought
against him."
PERSONAL OPINION FOLLOWS -
I for one am glad to see a government official refuse to bow to the
pressure of a special interest group. While having only read about Rudolph's
accomplishments, it's apparent to me that the United States does owe the man
gratitude for helping build the rocket that put us on the moon.
To take away a token symbol of our thanks would be a slap in the face to a man who has probably lost more in his life than most of us would ever have.
I'm not condoning his alledged actions during World War Two, only saying that enough is enough.
The only thing we have to Lance Spangler
fear is computing itself. Senior News Producer
:-) KVUE Television
Austin, Texas
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