Decisions in the Unknowing...

In all my positions as an engineer, CPA, Professor, and Licensed Construction Supervisor, I have often been forced into making timely decisions without the benefit of knowing all the facts. Why would anyone put themselves in that position? Because, a decision was needed and no decision is a decision. Clearly, I thought at those times that no decision was the worst choice.

I have just read 'COUNTDOWN 1945' by Chris Wallace. I deviated from my usual mystery literature and inspiring books on life because of my profound interest in Harry S. Truman. I liked Harry. He was an honest and practical man thrown into the limelight of political power when all around him thought he was not up to the job. He was! Mr. Truman was always Mr. Truman who served as President. He'd rose in politics midst some of the more questionable southern Boss political organizations. FDR made him his VP not out of respect but out of his potential source of Southern votes. Truman knew nothing about the Manhattan Project until FDR died.

Still, thrown into this position, after listening to generals, foreign statesmen, political advisors, scientists and thinking about the potential loss of American soldiers, our and European citizens as well as Japanese lives he made a difficult decision twice.

In an unknowable situation without a perfect path forward, Truman acted.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author