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December 7th, 1941

sanquintinsince73 - 12-7-2010 at 01:09 AM

I am eternally grateful to, and forever indebted to, the brave men and women of the "Greatest Generation" who perished on December 7, 1941.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcSE9fPaiJg



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_5aoptI5j0

[Edited on 12-7-2010 by sanquintinsince73]

USS Samual Gompers AD37 salutes the men

mcfez - 12-7-2010 at 07:41 AM

http://socioecohistory.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/sacrifice-at...

pearl_harbor.jpg - 48kB

And

djh - 12-7-2010 at 07:56 AM

And those who's lives were forever changed by the day:

My dad was a 19 y/o radioman in the USCG, going about his job in the PNW when it all started.... USCG became part of the Navy, and my dad was suddently in the Pacific Fleet, first on a battleship, and then a destroyer (both were eventually sunk by torpedos . . . he didn't know how to swim, of course !)

He survived the war, the sinkings, the injuries (physical and emotional), but was forever changed. I grew up listening to the few stories that he would tell . . . (much of it he tried to forget) . . . generally storytime was at bedtime in the small room my brother and I shared.

Dad, like many of the Greatest Generation is gone. Quietly did his / their duty and tried to move on to a better life and world.

I just missed the draft in the 70's by about 6 mos., due to my age and when the war ended. I am fortunate that I've never had to stare into the face of war and all of its horrors, but I am forever grateful to my dad, and all of the American men and women who served - on this day, and the following years.

David K - 12-7-2010 at 08:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73
I am eternally grateful to, and forever indebted to, the brave men and women of the "Greatest Generation" who perished on December 7, 1941.



All I can say is DITTO! :light:

sanquintinsince73 - 12-7-2010 at 09:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
And those who's lives were forever changed by the day:

My dad was a 19 y/o radioman in the USCG, going about his job in the PNW when it all started.... USCG became part of the Navy, and my dad was suddently in the Pacific Fleet, first on a battleship, and then a destroyer (both were eventually sunk by torpedos . . . he didn't know how to swim, of course !)

He survived the war, the sinkings, the injuries (physical and emotional), but was forever changed. I grew up listening to the few stories that he would tell . . . (much of it he tried to forget) . . . generally storytime was at bedtime in the small room my brother and I shared.

Dad, like many of the Greatest Generation is gone. Quietly did his / their duty and tried to move on to a better life and world.

I just missed the draft in the 70's by about 6 mos., due to my age and when the war ended. I am fortunate that I've never had to stare into the face of war and all of its horrors, but I am forever grateful to my dad, and all of the American men and women who served - on this day, and the following years.

True American hero, your father.

Lest we FORGET ?

MrBillM - 12-7-2010 at 10:04 AM

Watching the a.m. news starting at 0630, probably 60 percent was Julian Assange in court and 20 percent the Tax compromise.

At 0750, they finally mentioned Pearl Harbor. Briefly.

Bob H - 12-7-2010 at 10:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
He survived the war, the sinkings, the injuries (physical and emotional), but was forever changed. I grew up listening to the few stories that he would tell . . . (much of it he tried to forget) . . . generally storytime was at bedtime in the small room my brother and I shared.

Dad, like many of the Greatest Generation is gone. Quietly did his / their duty and tried to move on to a better life and world.


Your Dad is a hero! My hand is over my heart this morning looking at my American Flag in front of my house!

I think a whole lot about my Dad today also as he was a Merchant Marine in the US Navy, both for World War II and the Korean War. He too did not like to talk about his wartime experiences. But, my Dad was always a hero in my eyes.

Here's a great link to study the history (timelines) of all of this and more.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/pearl/timeline/index.htm

sanquintinsince73 - 12-7-2010 at 10:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Watching the a.m. news starting at 0630, probably 60 percent was Julian Assange in court and 20 percent the Tax compromise.

At 0750, they finally mentioned Pearl Harbor. Briefly.

I watched the "Today" show this morning briefly from 0700-0730 and no mention at all of Pearl Harbor. August 6th they are all over the place of how we killed thousands with the atom bomb.

durrelllrobert - 12-7-2010 at 11:22 AM

my dad was on a 16" gun crew aboard the USS Tennesee that survived 2 bomb hits at Pearl Harbor, was repaired and fought in the Aleutian Islands and Tarawa in 1943, the Marshall Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Mariana Island, Palau Islands, the Battles of Leyte Gulf and Surigao Strait in 1944, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945.

The final assualt off Okinawa on April 12th 1945 was the last for my dad. It was by a kamikaze plane that carried a 250 lb bomb which, with what was left of the plane, went through the wooden deck and exploded. Twenty-two men were killed or fatally wounded, with another 107 (one of which was my dad) injured. The dead were buried at sea, and the wounded transferred the following day to the casualty-evacuation transport Pinkey.

Bajajorge - 12-7-2010 at 01:12 PM

Which Lib news channel did you have on?
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Watching the a.m. news starting at 0630, probably 60 percent was Julian Assange in court and 20 percent the Tax compromise.

At 0750, they finally mentioned Pearl Harbor. Briefly.

Thank you

djh - 12-7-2010 at 02:17 PM

Thank you for your kind words, sanquintinsince73, Bob H, and durrelllrobert.

Here's to our dads, and our country's many many silent heros.

Like you, I think of my dad and our country's history alot on this day. I wish for so many things for our country and for our children that still seems elusive in America . . . .

a side note:

My dad's father, who died before I was born, went to England (the slow way) at 16 years old, lied about his age, and - still in his teens, became the youngest pilot in the English Air Force in WWI !! My brother still has some of his military papers. Apparently, he was quite a determined "kid".

sanquintinsince73 - 12-7-2010 at 02:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by djh
Thank you for your kind words, sanquintinsince73, Bob H, and durrelllrobert.

Here's to our dads, and our country's many many silent heros.

Like you, I think of my dad and our country's history alot on this day. I wish for so many things for our country and for our children that still seems elusive in America . . . .

a side note:

My dad's father, who died before I was born, went to England (the slow way) at 16 years old, lied about his age, and - still in his teens, became the youngest pilot in the English Air Force in WWI !! My brother still has some of his military papers. Apparently, he was quite a determined "kid".

Right on!! You know a big part of me worries about the direction that this great nation is headed in and what the future holds for my kids. I wasn't around in the 40's or 50's, but I listen to music from that era and it seems like such a different America than the one we live in now. People actually had pride and were not afraid to show it and even though the right to do so is guaranteed by our constitution, God help you if you ran around burning our national ensign. Now we have people demanding things that they are not entitled to, carrying the flag of other nations, while stomping or burning ours. In his farewell speech Ronald Wilson Reagan said that he still sees the "shining city on a hill, the beacon of hope for many", People like your father and thousands others helped build that city.

bajamedic - 12-7-2010 at 04:02 PM

I had the opportunity to take my grandkids to Pearl Harbor two weeks ago, they received a lesson in freedom that their schools books cannot or will not teach. The emotion and tears that are shed even today helped them realize just how important freedom really is and that it does come with a cost to the individuals and their families, my eternal thanks to all that assure our freedom. JH

DavidE - 12-7-2010 at 04:28 PM

My dad was a sailor aboard the Panay. When the imperial japanese army invaded china he was evacuated first to subic bay then to australia.

May our great grandchildren's, great grandchildren never forget the sacrifices that out fathers made in order to keep the USA free.

Marc - 12-7-2010 at 08:57 PM

I read the book "Day of Infamy" on a duty weekend in 1959 in Pearl Harbor. I spent most of my time reading and sunning myself sitting and in the captain's chair on the bridge of my ship, the Destroyer USS Renshaw. As I read the horrific story I could just turn my head to see where the events described in the book happened. This was on Bravo Dock across from the sub base and within full view of Ford Island and USS Arizona.

The Arizona monument was yet to be built and just a bit of the stacks could be seen above water in 1959. Photos of the attack show structures that were still standing when I served there; the water tower and warehouses near the dry docks and others.

On December 7, 1960 there were two Japanese Destroyers docked at Pearl. Time heals? I don't know.

[Edited on 12-8-2010 by Marc]

Nappo - 12-8-2010 at 10:18 PM

My best friend's father was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He does not participate in the festivities as he wants to remain aloof. I have talked to him about the events and without going into them they are incredible.
My father also served..WWII - From VA - lost almost all his buddies to a last minute decision. So many of us have these same stories - Great to share - May they all rest in peace. These men were true heroes for our country and just the fact that we can post on this site is an honor to them.

Bob H - 12-8-2010 at 10:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Nappo
So many of us have these same stories - Great to share - May they all rest in peace. These men were true heroes for our country and just the fact that we can post on this site is an honor to them.


Very well said! None of us can ever give enough honor and glory to those who served back in those days... and to those involved in today's conflicts!!

Bravo to each and every one of them.

Skipjack Joe - 12-8-2010 at 11:25 PM

I was always so envious of them when they told me their stories. Our lives are so common compared to theirs.

Mom told me about the time during the bombing when she stumbled and couldn't make it to the truck taking everyone out of town. She held on to the tailgate as they dragged her into the moving vehicle.

Then there was the aunt that was petrified with fright knowing she would end up in a camp if the Germans found the Jew she was hiding in the trash can next to her.

Or the finger they found by the house upon returning after a bombing raid. The ring on it shined as though it was still new.

Lotsa stories from the past ...

sanquintinsince73 - 12-8-2010 at 11:51 PM

I love to sit around and listen to their stories. Up in Chino, CA they have the Chino Air Museum filled with WWll aircraft. Sometimes you will find an old timer there willing to share his adventures in aerial combat. Yeah, they did "Awaken a sleeping giant". Today that giant sleeps again but I have confidence that when disturbed from his sleep he will rise again and defend his freedom.

[Edited on 12-9-2010 by sanquintinsince73]

Cypress - 12-9-2010 at 05:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sanquintinsince73 Today that giant sleeps again but I have confidence that when disturbed from his sleep he will rise again and defend his freedom.

But 9/11 got our attention.

Martyman - 12-9-2010 at 09:20 AM

I sing in a choir up here in NorCal. We have a concert this Saturday night (12-11) which is partly a tribute to the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The "Day of Infamy" speach by FDR is played and we sing a number of period and patriotic songs.
It seems to me like that whole generation was chocked full of heroes.

sanquintinsince73 - 12-9-2010 at 11:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
I sing in a choir up here in NorCal. We have a concert this Saturday night (12-11) which is partly a tribute to the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. The "Day of Infamy" speach by FDR is played and we sing a number of period and patriotic songs.
It seems to me like that whole generation was chocked full of heroes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPJZTRqQ1Xw