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]

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.

[Handbasket]

After 7 years homeported in Japan & cruising up & down the coast of VN (I was on her the last 2 years), my ship's first stop returning to the 'States was Pearl Harbor. I recall being very moved by the sight of the Arizona Memorial, and spending some time with a book from the ship's library that had a map of who was where in PH on that day. My parents met while employed at Norfolk Navy Yard during the war.

Some may disagree, but IMO that was the day that set the US on the path to becoming the world superpower that it is today.

Jim, former EN2/c, USS Mars '67-'71

[D___M]

My Dad was there on the cruiser Helena on Dec. 7th and his ship was damaged. He and I never talked about it much. He became a high school teacher and every Dec. 7th, the principle would have my father speak to the kids about that day in a general assembly.

After my Dad died, my sister went to the school to request a copy of the video tape that was shot at one of these assemblies, but someone had misplaced it.

It's a shame that in this day of PC, they try to block references to war and other events from the kids that shape our country.

[Mr_Mark1]

A good friend of mine, an older Hawaiian lady living in California, was there that day in grade school (age 13, will be 86 yrs. old next week). They ran outside to see what the commotion was all about and were ordered immediately to a safe place in the school. She cannot tell the story without a tear coming down her cheek.

What a terrible thing so many experienced. I've seen the Memorial also (last Dec. about this time).

MM.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Dick_B wrote:
One of the best quotes of that day is from one of the Japanese leaders who said something like `we have awakened a sleeping giant' and truer words were never spoken.

I see you're another History buff! Those words are widely attributed to Commander-in Chief Yamamoto of the Japanese forces...

At the end of the attack upon Pearl Harbor, upon hearing of the mis-timing of the communique breaking diplomatic relations with the United States earlier that day, it is reputed Yamamoto said, "I fear all we have done today is to awaken a great, sleeping giant."; however, there is no documented evidence the statement was made.

Link to source

By the way:

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!

[Dick_B]

One of the best quotes of that day is from one of the Japanese leaders who said something like `we have awakened a sleeping giant' and truer words were never spoken.

[Jim_Cindy]

DWs father was at Pearl Harbor, sergant on an AA battery near the harbor. Thanks to a military family member we were allowed to go to the site of the battery. DW brought same sand back and spread it on her fathers gravesite. He never went back after the war.

[sh410]

PaPappy, fixed your link.

http://www.hullnumber.com/ALL-HANDS/The-Navy-Reports-on-Pearl-Harbor-DEC-1942

[path1]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
Good to remind young and old of the significance of Dec. 7th.....let us Never forget the sacrifice our men and women make who put themselves in harms way every single day! Thank You past, present and future Service Personnel!

X2

[ScottG]

My Dad was there that day and fortunately survived. He ultimately ended up in the Philippines under MacArthur. It all effected him very deeply though and he hated the very thought of war. He would always comment on how the children suffered. I know he saw some terrible things but for the most part, he never spoke of them.

[Acampingwewillg]

Good to remind young and old of the significance of Dec. 7th.....let us Never forget the sacrifice our men and women make who put themselves in harms way every single day! Thank You past, present and future Service Personnel!

[PapPappy]

One of the reasons that I started this thread, is that there is less and less being remembered about this chapter in our history.
I received an e-mail with the link below, which does a pretty good job of telling about what happened and how our men & women responded to the attack. Interesting reading.
It is from the DEC 1942 issue of "All Hands", a Navy publication.
Enjoy and remember.


http://www.hullnumber.com/ALL-HANDS/The-Navy-Reports-on-Pearl-Harbor-DEC-1942

[mockturtle]

Every December 7 I watch Tora! Tora! Tora!. Tonight's the night!

[Dr_Jay]

Thank you for the reminder that freedom has a cost, and that the Greatest Generation paid that cost in more than a full measure in WWII. Thank God that our preceding and following generations have also been willing and able. God bless the USA.

[Clattertruck]

My father was civil engineer working on expansion of Ft Wingate near Gallup, NM when the war came. I was eight years old when we were at a movie theater in Gallup, and the film stopped. A man came on stage and announced the attack on Pearl Harbor. We lived on a hill near the railroad. In the following days the troop and military equipment trains came going west at a rate of one about every 20 minutes. When a troop train stopped, the citizens of Gallup provided treats for them.

The son of a family friend still rests in the Arizona. He was twenty one years.
Ron