Harry S Truman was the President Samuel Clemens may have been if Sam did not despise politicians as much as Harry Truman did. His motto was "the buck stops here," and it did indeed. He spoke his mind abruptly, much as I imagine Clemens might have. His to the point straight talk was the reason he was dubbed "Give 'em Hell Harry."

Truman's unlikely ascent to the highest office in the land came to fruition in April 1945 when Franklin Roosevelt died about three weeks into his fourth term. Had FDR not replaced his third-term Vice President with Truman, Henry Wallace would have succeeded him, and America may not even know the tough-talking former Senator from Missouri. Truman had made his mark in the Senate as head of the committee investigating war corruption and waste. The findings of the committee preserved billions of tax dollars.

He rarely met with Roosevelt during the three weeks he served as Vice President. Despite that he had not been briefed on the war strategy, this rather common man "assumed the reins" for the conclusion of World War II upon FDR's death. By then, the effort in the war was like trying to deliver the knockout blows to stubborn, but defeated, opponents. Unlike the fragmented German regime, however, Japan remained rather formidable and united, though significant victories by the US in the South Pacific had turned the tide of the ocean front.

Truman faced the ominous decision whether to pursue victory through battling it out, or knocking the Japanese to their knees suddenly and assuredly. If December 7, 1941 was a day that lived in infamy, August 6th and 8th, 1945 were the days hell was turned loose. Whether one sees it as 'right' or 'wrong' is certainly only one of perspective. In reality, never in the history of the world was more terror wraught by one people onto another people than those two hot August days.

Harry Truman, however, had lived up to his word. He made the decision without passing the buck, and he certainly gave them hell. Harry Truman was, above all else, a man who lived up to his word.

Of the many generals and admirals who contributed to allied victory in the world war, three would gain more gravity than the others: General Patton would posthumously be recognized as the 'greatest of the generals.' General Eisenhower, 'the leader of the generals' (and would succeed Truman as President). Finally, General Douglas A. MacArthur emerged as 'the new general in charge.'

MacArthur was very highly regarded by the

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