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A Date... which will live... in infamy..

guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Remembering those who lost their lives on the morning of December 7, 1941. Just a reminder of those brave 1,177 men. We will never forget. RIP and God Speed.

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Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese government also launched as attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. . .

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This was one of the things I always hated about my birthday. It's always a reminder that one of the worst days in U.S. history occurred.

R.I.P. all the brave souls who perished in the attack.
 
I'm going to Hawaii in a month for a wedding, and truth be told, the only thing I want to do is go to the Pearl Harbor Memorial.
 
Yes, it was a tragic event and even more tragic was the never ending warfare state that followed.

However, I most definitely would not want to be honored at a national memorial. I think it would be best to remember them as individuals rather than collectively.
 
70 years ago was the last day of life on Earth for 2,459 American soldiers. Let us never forget Pearl Harbor, nor the struggles of our vets who serve our country so well.

God Bless them all and God Bless America. That is all.
 
dougp said:
I'm going to Hawaii in a month for a wedding, and truth be told, the only thing I want to do is go to the Pearl Harbor Memorial.
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I was there for 7 nights in August for our honeymoon. It was an amazing experience. We had an actual PH Survivor in our tour group. Watching him walk up in front of everyone and salute all of the names on the wall was a moment I won't forget. Make sure you take a tour of the USS Missouri as well if you have the time.
 
We were at the 60th anniversary. Pretty damned solemn occasion. There are getting to be fewer and fewer Pearl Harbor survivors...and even fewer Arizona survivors.

When we were out on the memorial itself, there were some little Asian kids (maybe 3-6 years old) running around the deck, laughing, yelling, having a good time. All of a sudden, one of them faceplanted into the deck...
My immediate thought...
"Yeah! One of the dead reached up and tripped her! Time for some payback!"


rasczak said:
This was one of the things I always hated about my birthday. It's always a reminder that one of the worst days in U.S. history occurred.

R.I.P. all the brave souls who perished in the attack.
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When I was a kid, my best friend's b-day was December 7th. He also hated that part of it.
 
WT said:
70 years ago was the last day of life on Earth for 2,459 American soldiers. Let us never forget Pearl Harbor, nor the struggles of our vets who serve our country so well.

God Bless them all and God Bless America. That is all.
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Not to diminish; but there were Americans dying in Europe as volunteers against Germany as well as in Asia against Japan that same day.
 
BoomerD said:
We were at the 60th anniversary. Pretty damned solemn occasion. There are getting to be fewer and fewer Pearl Harbor survivors...and even fewer Arizona survivors.

When we were out on the memorial itself, there were some little Asian kids (maybe 3-6 years old) running around the deck, laughing, yelling, having a good time. All of a sudden, one of them faceplanted into the deck...
My immediate thought...
"Yeah! One of the dead reached up and tripped her! Time for some payback!"




When I was a kid, my best friend's b-day was December 7th. He also hated that part of it.
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So few that I heard on the news today that the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will disband at the end of the year.
 
God bless the brave souls we lost that day!

A day that affected a great many lives. My dad was drafted less than a year later and took part in the invasion of Japan at Okinawa. Upon returning he was introduced to my mother by one of the men he met in the service, so in a strange way this was the first in a chain of events that led to me being born.
 
GuitarDaddy said:
God bless the brave souls we lost that day!

A day that affected a great many lives. My dad was drafted less than a year later and took part in the invasion of Japan at Okinawa. Upon returning he was introduced to my mother by one of the men he met in the service, so in a strange way this was the first in a chain of events that led to me being born.
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My dad volunteered a little early at the ripe age of 17; he and many others falsified the application to get in. He was in the 4th Marines at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
He met my mom, a nursing school grad at his mustering out post at Klamath Falls.

:thumbsup:
 
Linflas said:
So few that I heard on the news today that the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will disband at the end of the year.
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From the Arizona:
348 survived.
Only 33 are still alive.

On a personal note, I no longer have any family members and inlaws that were in WW2.
Father (Europe, 44), Father in law, 2 Uncle in Law, Mother-in Law and a Grandfather in Law that fought in the Philippine campaign of 41-42 and 44-45 have all past away
 
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skyking said:
My dad volunteered a little early at the ripe age of 17; he and many others falsified the application to get in. He was in the 4th Marines at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima.
He met my mom, a nursing school grad at his mustering out post at Klamath Falls.

:thumbsup:
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My dad tried to volunteer after the bombings, but his dad made him finish high school first. Enlisted in the Navy right after but I don't believe he ever saw actual combat.
 
EagleKeeper said:
From the Arizona:
348 survived.
Only 33 are still alive.

On a personal note, I no longer have any family members and inlaws that were in WW2.
Father (Europe, 44), Father in law, 2 Uncle in Law, Mother-in Law and a Grandfather in Law that fought in the Philippine campaign of 41-42 and 44-45 have all past away
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My Grandfather is still alive, he served on a Navy ship in the Med during WWII.
 
JulesMaximus said:
My Grandfather is still alive, he served on a Navy ship in the Med during WWII.
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My Grandfather was in Germany. Sadly, he passed away a couple of years ago, but he left me his army issue watch. I wear it, but the band is getting too small for my fat wrists.
 
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