Pearl Harbor

[PapPappy]

While I'm pretty sure that there are not many of the men and women who were there on that day in History, who are still out driving their RVs around, I don't doubt though, that there are plenty of children and grandchildren of people who were lost that day.

Fortunately, my own Father was not there, and did survive the war, but I know that it changed a lot of who we are as a nation.

We can't drive our RV's over to Hawaii, to visit the history, so it's sometimes forgotten.
Just wanted to shout out to make sure that this is a day in our history that we do not forget.

Thanks to all our past and current men & women in uniform.....this is a day of remembrance and respect.

[Water-Bug]

ChopperBill wrote:

SRT wrote:

Water-Bug wrote:
No, Henry Ford did that. At the peak of WWII, we could build bombers faster than the Germans could shoot them down. Except for the A bomb, Germany was outpacing us in technology. Today, we have virtually no manufacturing, and IMHO we will pay dearly for it in the future.

I have the same thoughts about your last sentence. We have "exported" our manufacturing infrastructure and it will bit us in the butt in the future. JMHO.

"Remember Pearl Harbor" Seems most folks forgot.

My statement wasn't meant to detract from the remembrance of Pearl Harbor but rather to give credit to hard working Americans who made this country great. I've been to Pearl Harbor and seen the memorial. I've also been to Midway, where one of the greatest naval battles of the war was fought, and seen building there that still stood and had the repaired holes from being straffed by Japanese Zeros. I've been to the Aleutians and seen the remains of quanset huts and airfields where the Japanese actually landed on American soil. I remember more than most.

[mockturtle]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Wow.....our sincere condolences on your Mother's passing Francesca. What a beautiful tribute to her. God Bless!

I'm sorry to hear of your mother's death, Francesca. She served honorably and left a great legacy.

[Less_Stuff]

On December the 7, 1963 I sailed out of Pearl Harbor on the USS Rupertus.
The significance was not lost on me.
Realizing how lucky I was that my destroyer was not under attack.

Good fortune has stayed with me and I have been back to Pearl.
Even fortunate enough to attend a friends Navy retirement ceremony on the fantail of the USS Missouri.

Pearl Harbor is a special place and event for me.

[FlatBroke]

SRT wrote:

Water-Bug wrote:
No, Henry Ford did that. At the peak of WWII, we could build bombers faster than the Germans could shoot them down. Except for the A bomb, Germany was outpacing us in technology. Today, we have virtually no manufacturing, and IMHO we will pay dearly for it in the future.

I have the same thoughts about your last sentence. We have "exported" our manufacturing infrastructure and it will bit us in the butt in the future. JMHO.

"Remember Pearl Harbor" Seems most folks forgot.

[SRT]

Water-Bug wrote:
No, Henry Ford did that. At the peak of WWII, we could build bombers faster than the Germans could shoot them down. Except for the A bomb, Germany was outpacing us in technology. Today, we have virtually no manufacturing, and IMHO we will pay dearly for it in the future.

I have the same thoughts about your last sentence. We have "exported" our manufacturing infrastructure and it will bit us in the butt in the future. JMHO.

[gmctoyman]

I also was disappointed in the absence of recognition of the sugnifiance yesterday of December 7. I guess it's just a matter of the passing of those who were affected, either directly, or indirectly, by the event.

My folks (dad) moved to Hickam AAF in ’47, of course dragging my sister and I along. He flew the B-17 rescue flights. I believe the H model, with the Mahogany life boat strapped under the belly. I still have stark memories of the destruction that was still evident, and going over to Pearl to see the sunken ships.

I started school over there, AND also have some stark memories of getting some swimming lessons from Ester Williams in the new Hickham elevated pool.

[Kit_Carson]

Only a small article appeared in our local newspaper yesterday. SHAMEFUL!! Seems with each passing year less and less is reported. RIP all warriors of that fateful day.

[D_E_Bishop]

Two years ago in DC I had the great fortune to meet several WWII survivors that were at the Memorial. They were members of a group taken free of charge by an organization called Honor Flight to DC to see the Memorial. I was wearing a Submarine Force tee shirt and they accepted me as one of them and I talked to several of them for some time. It would take days and days and page upon page to relate their stories. They are True American Heroes.

I served in Pearl Harbor in the late 50's and early 60's and as part of our training viewed many classified films from that day, it is unbelievable what happened on that day in 1942.

Back to the Guys in DC, when we parted company, they thanked me for my service during the Cold War. Men who had probably never related most of what they told me to anyone, men who saw and lived through horrible things, Thanked Me for serving. I hope someday to be proven to be half as good as those men.

Please support them in all the ways you can, they are America and what it stand for.

[TurnThePage]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Wow.....our sincere condolences on your Mother's passing Francesca. What a beautiful tribute to her. God Bless!

Indeed! x1000

[Acampingwewillg]

Wow.....our sincere condolences on your Mother's passing Francesca. What a beautiful tribute to her. God Bless!

[Francesca_Knowl]

Francesca Knowles wrote:



Though none of my relatives were at Pearl Harbor, my two Uncles, my Father, and even my MOTHER enlisted in the Navy the week following that terrible day. All served until the war was over, and all but Mom are gone now.

THANKS TO YOU ALL, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE!

Here quoting myself, with apologies.

I want to thank the O.P. for posting this thread in honor of all those who died at Pearl Harbor and for all those who, inspired by that terrible event, stepped up to serve Our Country's interest...that decision taken perhaps at least in part so that the deaths and losses incurred at Pearl Harbor were not in vain.

My Mother- Yeoman second Class Maryjane "Smitty" Smith Keep- died today, during the moments when I wrote the above words. I was unaware at the time that I wrote them that she was already on her way to join those of her generation that had gone before.

I think it beautiful and entirely appropriate that she went away to join them on this, the 72nd anniversary of an event that so shaped her life.

She was the bravest person I ever knew.

Goodbye, Mama!

[jwmII]

I was just starting school as WW2 ended and I still remember the kids who started then who had no fathers. I would go home and ask why so and so didn't have a father? The answer I got every time was that their father was lost in the war. Many people paid the price of freedom in many,many different ways. Unfortunately the price is still being paid today. Thanks to all the military today.

[southbound]

Thank you for the rememberence of Pearl Harbor Day. Very little was mentioned in the media. I can remember when Dec 7 1941 was mentioned by all tv and radio stations. Now hardly anyone mentions it. My husband was stationed in Pearl Harbor in the early 80's and the Arizona memorial was a moving experience. while we were there I thought of the history of Pearl Harbor and what it ment to our country. To all who have served and are serving thank you. I make sure my children never forget.

[Scott16]

I joined the Navy on December 7 1981, on the 40 year Anniversary. Reported to boot camp in San Diego on January 20 1982. My First ship station sent me to Pearl Harbor Naval base.
I spent a total of 19 years stationed at Pearl Harbor, on four ships and two shore duty stations. I work at the Pearl Harbor Shipyard now. I just went over 10 years on December 1st. One of the old timers who worked(now retired)at ship yard told me a story of his Father at the ship yard during the attack in 1941. He was operating a Portal Crane on rail tracks by the Piers and he would raise his Crane to full height and run up and down the track to try and knock down low flying Japanese planes during the attack. He was not injured during the attack. The story was repeated during the Pearl Harbor Shipyard 100 year Anniversary in 2008 during, a TV news interview, locally.
Everyday i look at the Arizona Memorial, its right out my work building window. I still get that funny feeling in my Stomach and say a silent prayer.
Scott