On October 19, 1979 — along lower slopes of Japan's Mount Fuji — the largest, most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded propelled 5,500 gallons of gasoline into corrugated steel huts filled with U. S. Marines. The gas ignited, injuring 73 — 13 fatally. One week later, General Robert H. Barrow, commandant of the Marine Corps, visited 37 of the injured Marines at an Army burn center in Texas. On December 17, 1991, interviewed by Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, a Marine Corps historian, Barrow — a veteran of combat in World War II, Korea and Vietnam — recalled that he had been stunned as he met scores of horribly-burned survivors.

Marine General Robert Barrow on Meeting Marines Burned at Camp Fuji, Japan

Immediately after the 9/11 attacks on NYC and DC, U. S. and Canadian surveillance aircraft began a constant watch over Washington. When other areas needed similar protection — no one was certain if more attacks would follow — the U. S. sought the help of additional allies. On October 9, 2001, NATO AWACS aircraft began “flying shotgun over Washington.” I flew to Oklahoma to accompany one of the first such missions back into skies over America's capital city. For WTOP radio, I reported on aircrew members from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey undertaking one of the first such missions. The NATO teams continued Operation Eagle Assist until mid-May 2002.

Flying Shotgun Over Washington

In future wars, will human soldiers be replaced by weapons that think for themselves?  Lots of remotely controlled systems are already on the battlefield.  During several months of 2012, I spoke with scientists, analysts, and the nation’s then-top military officer about how remote engagement and autonomous systems might be changing the American way of war.

Robot Wars: A Documentary about Drones

Washington, D. C.-based broadcast journalist.

Robot Wars: A Documentary about Drones

Chas Henry

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