A memorial for a past adversary

In 1941, Romania joined the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union because it hoped to retake the territories the USSR seized in 1940.

As a major oil supplier for Germany, Romania's Ploesti oil fields took on significant strategic value, and the U.S. launched a risky, low-level bombing raid in August 1943.

Due to a series of mistakes and a stalwart air defense network, the raid was a massive failure. Of the 177 B-24s that took off, only 92 returned. More than 300 of the 1700 airmen were killed, 100 were captured, and another 80 were interned in Turkey after their planes were forced to land there.

Despite these hostilities, and the ensuing 40 years of Cold War, today there is a monument to the Americans killed in Romania during the war. Situated in Bucharest's Gradina Cişmigiu park, the Monumentul Eroilor Americani was completed in 2002 and bears this inscription:

"In memory of the 378 U.S. servicemen killed in the line of duty in Romania during World War II for the freedom of Europe and the glory of the United States of America. Their heroic sacrifice will forever live in our memory, and our thoughts, full of piety and admiration, will accompany their journey down the endless road to eternity.

'To the fallen of Romania,

To you who fly on forever, I send that part of me which is bound to you for all the time. I send to you those of our hopes and dreams that never quite came true. The joyous laughter and tears of our boyhood. The mysteries of our adolescence. The glorious strength and tragic illusions of our young manhood. All these that were and perhaps would have been i leave in your care out there in the blue.' - John Riley Kane, COL, USAF (Ret)"

On the right side of the memorial is the Romanian translation of the first part (not the quote).

"In memoria celop 378 militari americani cazut la datorie in Romania in timpul celuidi al doilea razvoi mondial pentu libertateu Europei si floria statelor unit ale americii.

Jertfa epoca o vom pastra vesnie in amintire lar gindurcle noastre piase sipline de admiratie levor insoti meren cala oria pe nesfirsitele drumur ale eternitatii."

In 2004, Romania applied for membership in NATO, and in accordance with Article 10 of the NATO treaty, was accepted by unanimous agreement. In doing so, it committed itself to the principle found in Article 5, that "an armed attacked against one ... shall be considered an attack against them all."

It is remarkable to me that a former adversary can become a friend, and that a friend can become an ally. It gives me hope that the enemies of today can, in time, also be the friends of tomorrow. After a week in Bucharest, this is the greatest souvenir that I will bring back with me.