ANDREW CUTLER
Publisher/Editor
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
WYATT HAUPT JR.
News Editor
JADE McDOWELL
Hermiston Editor
THURSDAy, APRIL 8, 2021
A4
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
When every
day is an
emergency,
oversight is
required
N
ow more than a year on, state legis-
lators across the country are taking
steps to check the nearly unlimited
emergency powers governors have assumed
to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s about time.
A year ago, few of us would have envi-
sioned an emergency that would prompt a
governor to shut down large segments of
the economy for undetermined lengths of
time, to close private and public schools and
colleges, to forbid religious services and
private gatherings, declare some businesses
“essential” and others not, to rewrite the
terms of rental contracts, and restrict access
to common health care procedures — all by
decree and without the explicit consent of
the people’s elected representatives.
The COVID-19 outbreak presented a
clear and present danger as it unfolded in
the early spring. Little was known about the
disease when it arrived in the United States,
but the catastrophic experiences of victims
in other countries — China, Iran and Italy
in particular — demonstrated the need for
some swift action to curb infections.
Most Americans understood the need
and accepted, even if reluctantly, that the
exigencies of the situation required that
governors use the powers available to them
under state law to meet the immediate emer-
gency.
State laws generally give governors
extraordinary powers to deal with emer-
gencies. But in only a few instances did
lawmakers have the forethought to put into
place mandatory legislative oversight or
time limitations on emergency declarations.
And in those states, such as Oregon,
where the law gives legislatures discretion-
ary authority to weigh in, few have cast
votes to either affirm or challenge emer-
gency declarations and the diktats issued in
their name.
Until now. The New York Times reports
there are now more than 300 proposals
across the country that would curb guberna-
torial emergency powers.
Good.
We appreciate the necessity for quick and
decisive action in the early hours and days
of an emergency. Governors must be able
to restore a semblance of order and safety
without delay. But as the days stretch into
weeks, the people, through their representa-
tives, must be heard.
No elected official should be allowed
to rule indefinitely by decree. Emergency
powers should be limited in duration and
subject to mandatory legislative oversight.
A benevolent dictatorship in all but name is
nonetheless tyranny.
EDITORIALS
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East
Oregonian editorial board. Other columns,
letters and cartoons on this page express the
opinions of the authors and not necessarily
that of the East Oregonian.
LETTERS
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters
of 400 words or less on public issues and public
policies for publication in the newspaper and on
our website. The newspaper reserves the right
to withhold letters that address concerns about
individual services and products or letters that
infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters
must be signed by the author and include the
city of residence and a daytime phone number.
The phone number will not be published.
Unsigned letters will not be published.
SEND LETTERS TO:
editor@eastoregonian.com,
or via mail to Andrew Cutler,
211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801
Pendleton aviators play key role in World War II
BRIGIT
FARLEY
PAST AND PROLOGUE
“A
pril is the cruelest month,”
wrote T. S. Eliot in his poem
“The Waste Land.” April has
certainly seen its share of tragedies through
the centuries. But 79 years ago, on April
18, combat aviators training here at Pend-
leton Field helped lift the spirits of a town
and nation in shock from a war they hoped
never to see.
As the 1940s dawned in America,
the world situation was perilous. Nazi
Germany had conquered Europe, Mussoli-
ni’s forces threatened North Africa and
Japan was creating a colonial empire in the
Pacific. Despite these looming threats, the
ongoing Great Depression kept Americans
preoccupied with domestic affairs. But
President Franklin Roosevelt was quietly
preparing the country for what he knew
would come. It is safe to say few Pendleto-
nians suspected that their town would play
a key role in this process.
Aviation became a major priority for
military planners as World War II began.
First utilized in World War I primarily for
reconnaissance, it had made great — and
deadly — strides by 1940. During Nazi
Germany’s conquest of Poland and Western
Europe, its air force had used bombing with
devastating effect and supplemented frontal
assaults with airborne infantry. As the U.S.
ramped up its own efforts, the War Depart-
ment searched for suitable training and
operations facilities.
Pendleton got the nod on Nov. 29, 1940.
The city’s designation as an Army Air
Corps base surprised some locals, but it
made sense. The city had a working airport,
having offered United Air Lines passen-
ger service for a few years already, and it
was close to major Pacific Northwest cities,
yet far enough inland to avoid becoming a
target for surprise attacks.
In the next few months, the base took
shape — runways underwent expan-
sion, construction of housing commenced
and personnel began arriving, including
members of the 17th Bombardment Group.
Flight operations were well underway when
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec.
7, 1941. Just days later, Nazi Germany and
Italy declared war on the U.S. The country
grimly braced itself to fight on two fronts.
After Pearl Harbor, crews of the 17th
group began to fly patrols along the Pacific
Coast, hunting for Japanese submarines. In
February 1942, they were abruptly trans-
ferred to Columbia Air Base in South Caro-
lina. Officially, they would continue with
patrols along the Atlantic Coast, but in fact
something bigger was in the works. As Brit-
ish Prime Minister Winston Churchill had
sent the Royal Air Force to bomb Germany
during the Blitz, so President Roosevelt
ordered a raid on Japan, to boost morale in
the U.S. and shake the confidence of Japa-
nese citizens in their leadership.
The man charged with this mission
specialized in the difficult and daring. He
had been the first pilot to cross the United
States in 12 hours. Then-Col. James
Doolittle recruited 79 Pendleton-trained
volunteers for what he described only as a
dangerous undertaking.
Unaware of the operational details,
the crews likely wondered why they were
practicing takeoffs from short runways.
On April 2, the crews and 16 B-25 bomb-
ers were all on board the aircraft carrier
Hornet and steamed west from San Fran-
cisco with Task Force 18. Only after depar-
ture did crew members learn that they
would launch from the carrier to bomb the
Japanese mainland.
Grainy footage from the April 18 launch
shows Col. Doolittle piloting the first of
16 heavy bombers into strong winds from
the Hornet’s deck, farther from Japan than
planned owing to fear of detection. His
comrades followed and headed for Japan,
where they dropped bombs on industrial
sites in Tokyo and nearby major cities.
The raid itself proved to be the easy part.
Afterward, the crews were to go to China
— a dicey task since Japan occupied much
of China — to land near a safe National-
ist Chinese stronghold, but bad weather
and depleted fuel supplies scrambled these
plans. Doolittle and his crew ditched their
bomber over Eastern China and fortunately
reunited quickly, with the help of Chinese
civilians. The other crews met various fates,
but nearly all survived to be repatriated to
the U.S.
Doolittle initially believed the raid had
failed. Damage to Japan was minimal
and the Americans had suffered losses of
men and materials. The nation disagreed,
newspapers announcing in bold, enthu-
siastic headlines the news of this daring
mission. And when Pendleton learned that
all the raiders, save Doolittle, had trained at
Pendleton Field, citizens were elated — and
newly hopeful that the tide of war would
turn.
Pendleton’s flyers had struck the first
blow against Japan. As one of the speakers
memorably declared at the city’s celebratory
parade, this “would not be the last rodeo”
for Japan’s opponents in the Pacific.
The road to Tokyo remained long and
hard, but Pendleton’s intrepid aviators had
demonstrated it was not impossible.
———
Brigit Farley is a Washington State
University professor, student of history,
adventurer and Irish heritage girl living in
Pendleton.
YOUR VIEWS
Wolfe the clear choice for
UEC District 3
Umatilla Electric members have the
opportunity to vote for a true leader and
champion for local development in Bryan
Wolfe.
All members who have received a
ballot have until Saturday, April 10, to
return it in order to make their voice
heard in the upcoming election. Bryan
has more than earned my support for
another term on the board.
First, he has helped fulfill the mission
of a cooperative — putting members first
through fiscally responsible budget deci-
sions that have resulted in larger annual
membership checks. Bryan and the
board have also ensured members have
access to utilities and financial assistance
through the difficult times of 2020.
Second, he has created a busi-
ness-friendly environment by maintain-
ing low electric rates, which allows both
large- and small-scale developments to
do business here. This investment will
pay dividends well into the future.
And third, he has helped create a
strong support system for the employees
and line workers who serve our members.
The combination of these three priori-
ties have made Umatilla Electric a stron-
LETTERS DEADLINE FOR MAY 18 ELECTIONS
The East Oregonian does not run endorsements of more than 400 words.
The East Oregonian will institute a deadline for letters to the editor, so we can be fair with
all the letters we receive and allow for responses before Election Day, if necessary.
We run the letters on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please submit your endorsement letters to the editor by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7. You can
email them to editor@eastoregonian.com, or mail them to East Oregonian, c/o Andrew
Cutler, 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton, OR 97801.
We will publish our last letters on Saturday, May 15. Any letters received after the dead-
line will not run. Election Day is May 18.
ger organization, and Wolfe has my vote
to keep up the good work.
Brian Medelez
Hermiston
Wolfe investing in the
future for UEC
Bryan Wolfe has his priorities straight
when it comes to Umatilla Electric’s role
in our community. He also has the long-
term vision and track record of strong
leadership to earn reelection to the UEC
Board of Directors.
In Bryan’s eight terms on the board he
has championed local development and
local members. He has played an integral
role in maintaining low rates to create a
business-friendly environment, leading
to billions of dollars in economic devel-
opment. He has also ensured members
receive the maximum returns in annual
checks through wise financial invest-
ments.
Umatilla Electric is truly a member-
owned cooperative, and Bryan puts those
members first. As our region continues to
grow, these investments will ensure we’re
all seeing the benefits of new develop-
ment.
Bryan Wolfe has earned another term
on the UEC Board of Directors. Please
join me in voting for him.
Bill Kik
Hermiston