Forgotten War, Forgiven Guilt

"Forgotten War, Forgiven Guilt" is the author's personal endeavor to tell the complete, accurate history of the 13th Air Force. His vivid, dramatic tale includes how this relatively small band of fighter planes fought the then-greatest naval airpower in the world to a standstill -- thereby halting Japanese expansion in the Pacific and ensuring an eventual allied victory.

In addition to the numerous air battles and rescue missions conducted by the 13th Air force, Witts also describes the atrocities of the Japanese that were more bestial, of longer duration and more widespread than those of Hitler's Germany.

"Unlike Germany, which apologized, prosecuted its criminals and compensated its victims, Japan remains in smug and resolute denial," says Witts. "'Forgotten War, Forgiven Guilt' is my attempt to rectify the historical omission of the 13th Air Force, as well as questions why Japan has never been held accountable for its atrocities."

According to Milton Friedman, economist and Nobel Laureate, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, this book is a highly personal and passionate commentary on the 13th Air Force by someone who was there.

As he approaches his 83rd birthday, David A. Witts is about to embark on a new career as an author --which came about by pure accident.

In 1998, Witts donated his WWII memorabilia to the Hoover Institution. His personal compilation included maps, photographs, flying equipment, Japanese battle flags and paraphernalia collected during his 50-mission tour with the 13th Air Force in the South Pacific. The archivist was so impressed with this collection he asked Witts to include a historical record of the 13th Air Force.

Much to Witts surprise, there were no official records of the more than 300 planes and its men who flew in the 13th Air Force between 1943-1946.

Culling memories from nearly 60 years ago, Witts spent four years penning "Forgotten War, Forgiven Guilt', released in July, 2003, by Barbed Wire Publication.

This book is his effort to rectify the historical omission of the 13th Air Force, as well as question why Japan has never been held accountable for its atrocities directed at U.S. airment during WWII.

Witts is no stranger to confrontation. In 1942, he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation before serving as a First Lieutenant with the Army Air Corps.

Following World War II, he studied law at Southern Methodist University and began his legal practice in Dallas in 1948.

Over the years, he has served on numerous professional and civic boards, including services as vice president of the Dallas Junior Bar Association, chief counsel of the Texas House of Representatives, Governor's Texas Criminal Justice Task Force and founding member of the World Association of Lawyers.

Witts and his wife, Jean, reside in Dallas.